Martina Navratilova hailed the emergence of Maria Sharapova as "the
best thing" that could have happened to women's tennis.
Russian teenager Sharapova defeated top seed Serena Williams 6-1 6-4 on Centre
Court to claim her first Grand Slam title, and Navratilova - coincidentally
making her final appearance at the All England Championship today - was mightily
impressed by the new women's champion.
"Obviously it's great for her, but it's great for women's tennis," said the
nine-times Wimbledon singles champion.
"It's the best thing that could have
happened to us really."
The women's game has come under fire for a perceived lack of depth in talent,
with the Williams sisters and Belgian duo Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim
Clijsters dominating in recent years.
But another Russian, Anastasia Myskina, won the French Open and now Sharapova
is the new darling of SW19.
Navratilova, who won her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 1978, added:
"That's where I started.... it's a good place to start winning a Grand Slam.
"It's a fantastic achievement, especially the way she did it, really
dominating Serena today. It was amazing.
"What a talent. We saw it from the beginning, and she's just been very
focused on what she wanted to do, extremely committed to her cause, and she
loves to play.
"That's the best part, she wants to be out there, she doesn't want to be
anywhere else.
"Yes, she's got the father that's behind her. But she's there because she
wants to be there, not because he wants her to be there.
"It's great to see her make it like this, it's fantastic."
Navratilova, whose exit from the doubles on Saturday meant she failed to beat Billie
Jean King's record of 20 titles at Wimbledon, saw the six-year-old Sharapova
playing in an exhibition in Moscow but said: "I don't remember her
particularly.
"I wasn't instrumental in her getting anywhere. Everybody knew that talent. I
was just one of the people."
Tracy Austin - herself a teenage sensation at the All England Club when
reaching the quarter-finals in 1977 - believes this will be the first of many
Grand Slam titles for Sharapova.
"She is not afraid of hard work and I don't see what is going to stop her,"
said the two-time US Open champion.
"I think this is the first of many. She is very disciplined and wants to keep
the injuries away. She will get stronger and better."
Former men's champion John McEnroe added on the BBC: "It is unbelievable she
could pull this off."
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