Martina Navratilova was aggressive to the very end. The last point of her Wimbledon singles career was a charging forehand volley. She yelped in dismay when the ball landed in the net instead of over it.
But when she walked off Court 3 at dusk, a second-round loser but an inspiration nonetheless, Navratilova bowed all around and smiled.
Navratilova, 47 and playing singles here for the first time in a decade, lost to 19-year-old Gisela Dulko 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
“I think she’s going to be dreaming about me,” said Dulko, who also eliminated Navratilova in the first round of the French Open. “This is the most special win of my career.”
Much was made about the lack of depth in women’s tennis after Navratilova had won her first-round match over Catalina Castano 6-0, 6-1.
While expressing admiration for Navratilova’s superb physical condition, some of the men considered her victory an embarrassment.
Navratilova strongly disagreed.
“That’s a sexist reaction,” she said. “Look at how I hit the ball, not at the result.”
More Top Picks Gaming Headset