Navratilova's not quite done
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published September 8, 2006
NEW YORK - Still nimble a month before her 50th birthday, Martina Navratilova extended her Grand Slam career for at least another match Thursday night.
Hours after losing in women's doubles, she teamed with Bob Bryan to beat Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Frantisek Cermak 6-3, 6-4 and reach the mixed doubles semifinals.
"Do I look tired?" Navratilova asked the cheering crowd.
Near the end of the victory, she raced toward the sideline chasing a shot. Running out of room, she tiptoed over a low retaining wall and wound up three rows into the seats.
Navratilova, who has won 58 Grand Slam events in singles and doubles, says this is her final tournament as a pro. She retired in 1994 but returned in 2000 to play doubles, occasionally dabbling in singles.
Navratilova drew cheers every time she and Nadia Petrova won a point in their doubles quarterfinal, which they lost to the top-seeded and defending champion pair of Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur 7-6 (7-1), 6-3.
"You're only as old as you feel, and I certainly don't feel 49," Navratilova said. "I just wanted to inspire people."
"It was a tough occasion. I've played against Martina and with her, and it was a tough match knowing it was her last U.S. Open," Raymond said.
ON THE MOVE: Dutchwoman Esther Vergeer, the dominant force in women's wheelchair tennis, is back at the U.S. Open to defend her title.
Vergeer, 25, has not lost a singles match since February 2003, to Daniela Ditoro of Australia. Vergeer hasn't dropped a set since Ditoro took one at the Wheelchair Classic 8s at the 2004 Australian Open.
Ranked No. 1 since April 1999, Vergeer holds a 43-0 record in singles and 28-2 mark in doubles this year.
REMEMBER US?: Jim Courier is enjoying his time as a television commentator at the U.S. Open, especially because it gives him a chance to visit with old friends on the practice courts.
Courier has been out there with Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Todd Martin and others.
"It's nice to see a little bit of the heritage of the game," Courier said.
A four-time major champion who also was ranked No. 1, Courier is the co-founder of the Champion Series senior tour.
Wayne Ferreira, who played a record 56 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments, and Jimmy Arias have been added for fall events as the tour wraps up with stops in Charlotte, Memphis and Houston.