Martina [Hardcover]

Martina Navratilova (Author), George Vecsey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 12, 1985

There's never been an athlete like her. Born and raised in Czechoslovakia, Martina Navratilova knew by the age of ten that she wanted to be a Wimbledon champion -- and a U.S. citizen. She would attain her goals and so much more -- but not before her incredible life unfolded in ways not even she could have dared imagine.
MARTINA is more than the thrilling story of an unparalleled career in the tough, sexy world of women's tennis. It is a startling tale of love (with famed novelist Rita Mae Brown), tragedy (her father "disappeared" when Martina was eight, and only later did she learn the true cause of his death), and personal as well as professional triumph. It includes fascinating, intimate portraits of the greats of women's tennis -- King, Evert, Casals, Austin -- plus revealing glimpses of her working relationship with basketball star Nancy Lieberman.
Emotion. Grit. Intensity. Integrity. Martina's shown them all from Flushing Meadows to Wimbledon, from Dallas to Paris to Sydney to Prague. Here they are again, in an autobiography only a champion could write.
"Fascinating and unexpectedly candid." --The San Francisco Chronicle

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA More than a sports biography, this is a candid view of one of tennis' most illustrious stars. Navratilova has won enough championships to gain her a permanent place in tennis history, and while tennis matches play a prominent role in the book, they are by no means the only focus. Readers follow Navratilova's early years in Czechoslovakia and her close but sometimes difficult relationships with her parents and grandparents; her early rise in tennis under the coaching of George Parma; and her difficult decision to defect to the U.S. at the age of 18. Readers learn of her fast-food binges (she was up to 167 pounds at one point), her impulsive shopping (she once owned 7 cars including 2 Rolls-Royces, a Mercedes and a Porsche) and her struggle to reach the top. She discusses her fellow professionals with respect and her controversial relationships with women with discretion. Navratilova comes alive in this book: outspoken, humorous, disarming and friendly. One can understand how she and Chris Evert Lloyd, while fierce rivals, remain good friends. Teens will relate to Martina's independence, spirit and open-mindedness while absorbing some tennis history. Diana Hirsch, PGCMLS, Md.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap

There's never been an athlete like her. Born and raised in Czechoslovakia, Martina Navratilova knew by the age of ten that she wanted to be a Wimbledon champion -- and a U.S. citizen. She would attain her goals and so much more -- but not before her incredible life unfolded in ways not even she could have dared imagine.
MARTINA is more than the thrilling story of an unparalleled career in the tough, sexy world of women's tennis. It is a startling tale of love (with famed novelist Rita Mae Brown), tragedy (her father "disappeared" when Martina was eight, and only later did she learn the true cause of his death), and personal as well as professional triumph. It includes fascinating, intimate portraits of the greats of women's tennis -- King, Evert, Casals, Austin -- plus revealing glimpses of her working relationship with basketball star Nancy Lieberman.
Emotion. Grit. Intensity. Integrity. Martina's shown them all from Flushing Meadows to Wimbledon, from Dallas to Paris to Sydney to Prague. Here they are again, in an autobiography only a champion could write.
"Fascinating and unexpectedly candid." --The San Francisco Chronicle --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 287 pages
• Publisher: Knopf; Revised edition (May 12, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394536401
• ISBN-13: 978-0394536408
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,988,088 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A dated, but interesting view of Martina's life, February 13, 2003

By 

Paige Turner "Film Fanatic" (Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Martina (Hardcover)

This book is an interesting (but dated) autobiography by Martina. She explains about her childhood in then Communist Czechoslovakia, talking about people who influenced her and shaped her tennis career, starting with her grandmother and first coach. We learn about friends like Chris Evert, Sandra Haynie, Nancy Liebermann, Billie Jean King, Renee Richards, and how they shaped her tennis career. We also read about her relationship with Rita Mae Brown, plus the showdown with her parents once they figured out she was gay. It's interesting to observe Martina's mindset at this time--in her book, she was still making a half-hearted attempt to convince the reader that she was bisexual and interested in men...she mentioned Wayne Gretzky and speculates what an amazing kid they'd produce. At the time this book was published, Martina was in the throes of passion with Judy Nelson, former Maid of Cotton with The Perfect Hair and future Martina nemesis. I'd really like to see Martina update this biography--it would interesting to hear her side of the Martina/Judy Galimony Fracas, as well as how she felt when she finally retired from tennis, plus what she sees herself doing in the years ahead. I'd like to learn more about what she thinks of today's tennis players and comment on past tennis players with successful, but brief careers.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reads like a very well-read book report, August 11, 2000

By 

Rebekah Sue Harris (West Haven, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Martina (Hardcover)

Honestly, I purchased this book because key words "Rita Mae Brown" found it. Rita Mae is one of my very favorite authors, and I find that I have accidentally missed a few of her books. So... I was searching... and found this.

I'm not athletic, and I'm not into spectator sports. This book, rather than boring me, made tennis sound interesting!

I found it fascinating to learn that an active woman at the top of her field could have many of the insecurities that my friends and I have -- and some of the bad habits. Martina comes off as being a warm, likeable person. She seems very smart and very accomplished -- and very proud of herself, without coming off as being haughty.

I don't know whether Martina's English-As-A-Second-Language plays a factor in the narration, or whether it's George Vecsey's writing here, but the book, while clear, seems JUST A TRIFLE stilted. I'm also not quite sure who was just a friend and who she dated... not that it mattered, but it confused me. It reads like an A+ book report written by a senior in high school, not like a story.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed it a great deal.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE GREATEST SERVE AND VOLLYER EVER, July 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Martina (Mass Market Paperback)

THIS BOOK REVEALS HOW MARTINA DEALS WITH ADVERSITY AND STILL COMES OUT TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST TENNIS PLAYERS EVER. HER RIVARY WITH CHRIS EVERT IS UNSURPASSED AS BEING THE GREATEST RIVARY IN THE HISTORY OF ANY SPORT. THE 1984 US OPEN, 1985 FRENCH OPEN FINAL, 1986 FRENCH OPEN FINALS ALL AGAINST CHRIS EVERT WAS THE GREATEST MOMENT IN TENNIS EVER. WHAT MAKES MARTINA SO GREAT WAS THAT SHE WAS FIGHTING THE FORCES OR NATURE 1. CHRIS EVERT 2. THE FANS ROOTING FOR CHRIS 3. HER PRIVATE LIFE 4. TO BE ACCEPTED AS MARTINA AND THROUGH IT ALL SHE BECAME THE GREAT FEMALE TENNIS PLAYER. EMAIL [e-mail]