What Martina Navratilova once admitted she did after playing her final-ever match at Wimbledon in 1994

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Martina Navratilova enjoyed a legendary career, often producing some of her best tennis at Wimbledon.

The Czech-American star won 18 Grand Slams as a professional, including a record 9 Wimbledon titles.

Navratilova remarkably participated in nine consecutive Wimbledon finals between 1982 and 1990, picking up the trophy on seven occasions.

Approaching the end of her career, the WTA legend failed to reach the final in 1991, 1992, and 1993.

She returned to the final in 1994 and picked up a small piece of memorabilia when exiting Centre Court one last time.

Martina Navratilova ‘plucked’ a piece of grass from Centre Court after her final match at Wimbledon in ’94

Speaking to the Tennis Channel in 2009, Navratilova explained what she did following her final appearance at SW19 15 years earlier.

“Everybody knew my last Wimbledon was going to be my last Wimbledon, you know, in ‘94,” she said.

“I get to the finals, as I’m getting the runner-up trophy, I’m like, what am I going to do now, this is it.

“As I walked off the court I plucked a little bit of grass from the corner, and I patted it down, replacing my divot.

“I still have that piece of grass in my jewellery case.”

Navratilova would no doubt have loved to take home a 10th Wimbledon title as well, but narrowly came up short in three sets against Spain’s Conchita Martinez.

• 1994 Wimbledon F – Martina Navratilova lost to Conchita Martinez, 4-6, 6-3, 3-6
• 1994 Wimbledon SF – Martina Navratilova beat Gigi Fernandez, 6-4, 7-6
• 1994 Wimbledon QF – Martina Navratilova beat Jana Novotna, 5-7, 6-0, 6-1
• 1994 Wimbledon 4R – Martina Navratilova beat Helena Sukova, 6-1, 6-2
• 1994 Wimbledon 3R – Martina Navratilova beat Linda Harvey Wild, 6-3, 6-2
• 1994 Wimbledon 2R – Martina Navratilova beat Anna-Maria Cecchini, 6-2, 6-0
• 1994 Wimbledon 1R – Martina Navratilova beat Claire Taylor, 6-2, 6-3

The tournament’s greatest-ever player spoke highly of the event back in 2009.

“There is nothing like it anywhere in the world,” said Navratilova.

“Centre Court at Wimbledon is special for many reasons, not the least of which is certainly the history, anybody that was anybody in tennis played there.

“The setting itself; it’s such a peaceful court, you see the ball really well.

“There is nothing that gets in the way, for me as a serve and volleyer, it’s essential I can see the ball really well.”

Navratilova explained how Centre Court is different from any other stadium in the world.

“You never feel anywhere as much on stage as you do on that court, it’s just quiet, it’s sort of sunken in,” she said.

“You feel the crowd, you don’t really see them, you see the immediate surrounding, around the court, but you don’t really see the people up in the rafters, it’s intimate but it’s big at the same time.

“It’s just a stage, you feel like you’re on stage, feel like you’re doing Hamlet.”

What was Martina Navratilova’s record at the other three Grand Slam tournaments?

Navratilova retired from tennis as the greatest player to ever grace Wimbledon’s Centre Court but how did she perform at the other three Grand Slam events?

The 68-year-old won all four Grand Slams on multiple occasions, first completing the Career Grand Slam with her US Open victory in 1983.

She had won her first Australian Open title two years earlier, adding the French Open to her resume in 1982.

Her final tally of 18 Grand Slam singles titles sees her currently tied for third in the all-time list (Open Era).

• 1. Serena Williams [23]
• 2. Steffi Graf [22]
• T-3. Chris Evert [18]
• T-3. Martina Navratilova [18]
• 5. Margaret Court [11]

Only time will tell if anyone can push Navratilova out of the top three, but her record of nine Wimbledon titles will certainly take some beating.

The 2025 Wimbledon tournament is set to begin on Monday, June 30.