Tennis: Superstar essential for women's game, says Navratilova

When she was in her prime, Martina Navratilova's voracious appetite to succeed carried her to the pinnacle of tennis.

She had no interest in being second, or being just one of a pack at the top.

And US$21 million ($29.5 million), 58 Grand Slam titles and 331 weeks as world No 1 later, she had made her point.

So where does she sit on the state of the modern women's game? Remember, four different players shared the four big titles - the Australian, French and US Opens and Wimbledon - this year. And none were won by a player called Williams.

Surely a spread of talent capable of winning on the big stages is good for the game. Well, yes, but ...

"At the same time you need superstars," the 48-year-old Navratilova said. "There's a fine line between having too much parity and having someone dominate the sport too much. You want suspense, you don't want it to be a foregone conclusion who's going to win.

"You need variety - and you need the superstars, who bring people to the game. Once you get them hooked they may stay, but to get people to watch you need those stars."

Navratilova is coming to New Zealand for two exhibition matches against another legend of the game, Monica Seles. They will clash in Auckland on February 1 and in Christchurch two days later.

While 31-year-old Seles is getting over a lengthy foot injury and her best years - pre the stabbing in Hamburg in April, 1993 - may be gone, she is determined to play next year. So is Navratilova, with a full year of doubles play pencilled in, alongside 21-year-old Slovak Daniela Hantuchova.

With a combined 220 WTA singles titles behind them, Navratilova and Seles could be excused for putting their feet up, but that's not in the nature of these competitive women.

At their best, they would still be in the very top echelon of the modern game, but Navratilova admits changes in the sport probably mean she would not be as dominant as she was through the 1980s.

Consider this: In a 61-month period from 1981-87, she lost just 14 out of 446 games. It's the sort of record which even the best of the current crop can only envy.

Or Seles, who won a remarkable eight out of nine Grand Slam events she entered in one period.

Navratilova believes the depth in the women's game is greater than the men's, where Swiss maestro Roger Federer reigns supreme. She's a big fan of the multi-skilled Federer.

"He is kicking some butt in a serious way and there's no end in sight. It's amazing what he does on court with the ball, all the different spins he puts on the ball. He makes great players look ordinary."

In part that extra women's depth is down to playing numbers. More women are playing than men.

"The depth is better at the top but most of all it's better in the middle.

"Many more players are capable of getting in the top 10 or beating a top player on a given day. I had easier first or second round games than the top players these days.

"I wouldn't have won as many Grand Slams or singles titles [if she was playing now] - but I still think I would have been No 1. That's the way the game now is."

She is clear how players must reach the next level.

In a game where baseliners can thump away merrily at each other for interminable rallies without actually making much progress, Navratilova is looking for those who will get to the net.

The physical demands on the players are greater than in her day, she reckons.

"Everyone hits the ball so much harder, and playing more tournaments they get hurt more.

"Physically we had it a little easier. We played on different surfaces, grass or clay, or indoors on soft carpet. Now they're playing on cement most of the time. That makes it harder to maintain their bodies and maintain their domination."

And for those who think it's all glamour, spotlights, centre court glory, think again.

"It's a grind out there. It's not all glamour.

"Most of the time it's hard work, a lot of hours and people don't see that."

And the secret to her enduring qualities? She's writing a book The Shape of Your Life.

"Feeling good about your body and your self. Eating right, it comes down to that. You can't expect your body to run at top speed if you're putting lousy food in it."

Who she enjoys watching on the women's tour

The two most prominent one-handed backhand players, Belgium's world No 8 Justine Henin-Hardenne and French star Amelie Mauresmo (right), ranked second.

Why? Because they have the ability to play the all-court game which Navratilova believes is the way players must aim to play to take the game to a new level.

"They are fun to watch and very artistic with the ball," Navratilova says. "They can serve and volley and be very aggressive. They don't do it as much as they could, or should.

"But they are capable of it. That'll be the way of the future."

She also praised the dynamic Serena Williams for her range of shots, when she is at the top of her game.

MARTINA NAVRATILOVA

* Won the first of her 167 WTA Tour singles title at Orlando, Florida in 1974 and her last at the Paris indoor tournament 20 years later.

* Won at least one Tour event for 21 successive years.

* Spent 331 weeks as world No 1, a spot she occupied on nine occasions. Only Steffi Graf has a higher number.

* During her golden run from December 1981 to January, 1987, she won 71 titles in 61 months, including 12 of her 18 Grand Slam singles titles and a staggering 432 out of 446 games, a 0.969 winning percentage.

* She is the only player, man or woman, in the Open era to have won all 12 Grand Slam titles. At 46, she became the oldest Grand Slam winner, taking the Australian and Wimbledon mixed crowns last year.

* Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000.

* Has played her New Zealand opponent, Monica Seles, 17 times in WTA Tour matches, winning seven.

They last met in 1994.