TENNIS LEGEND NAVRATILOVA CONFIRMS FOR 25TH DFS CLASSIC
 DFS
Classic organisers can confirm that tennis legend, Martina
Navratilova will return to the Edgbaston Priory Club to play
in the doubles draw of the event celebrating its 25th anniversary
between10-18 June 2006
Navratilova is a past champion of the DFS Classic having
won the singles title on two occasions in 1989 and 1991, and
has played against tennis legends like Billy Jean King, Sue
Barker and Jo Durie at the tournament. She also won the doubles
title in 1993 with Lori McNeil and reached the doubles final
when she most recently playing in Birmingham in 2003.
Navratilova has won an incredible 167 WTA singles titles,
more than any player in the world and has won at least one
Tour event a year for 21 consecutive years. She was ranked
world number one for a total of 331 weeks on nine different
occasions, 156 consecutively from June 1982 to June 1985 and
is second only to Graf’s 1987-90 record of 186 weeks
and has won 175 Tour titles in her career.
Navratilova also holds the all-time record with Billie Jean
King for most Wimbledon titles (20) and is fourth on the list
of female players to win Grand Slam singles titles (18).
A ‘Golden Run’ from December 1981 through to
January 1987 (61-month period) saw her win 71 titles, 12 out
of the 17 Grand Slam singles titles (including six straight)
and 432 wins to 446 matches played.
Tournament Director Majory Howie said: “To have a tennis
legend like Martina playing at the 25th anniversary of the
DFS Classic is fantastic, having already won the title twice
before. It will be a rare opportunity for people in the West
Midlands to see her in action in the doubles draw.”
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