By Andrew Davis
On May 9, tennis icon Martina Navratilova, 49, played a match in her former homeland, the Czech Republic, for the first time in two decades—and indicated that the warm reception she received have her considering reapplying for Czech citizenship, the Associated Press reported.
She and tennis partner Barbora Strycova, the top-seeded doubles team at the Prague Open tournament, defeated Olag Blahotova and Ahsha Rolle 6-2, 6-3. Navratilova last played in the Czech Republic when she helped the United States win the Fed Cup in 1986.
In an edition of the daily newspaper Lidove Noviny, Navratilova, who defected from the former Czechoslovakia in 1975, said she was considering settling in the republic. 'I can breathe here much better now,' she stated.
Navratilova and Strycova lost in the quarterfinals of the tournament to Americans Ashley Harkleroad and Bethanie Mattek in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.