Openly lesbian tennis legend Martina
Navratilova has won an invitational doubles at Wimbledon, just weeks
after finishing treatment for breast cancer, the AP reported.
Navratilova announced she was
undergoing breast cancer treatment in April.
Doctors found a non-invasive cancer
during a routine mammogram in January. She had a lumpectomy and
began six weeks of radiation therapy in May. Her prognosis is
excellent – her type of cancer has a low fatality rate (less than
1%).
“I cried,” Navratilova said during
a Good Morning America interview. “I could not believe it.
I thought I was so healthy.”
But the tennis great looked spry as she
cleaned the court over the weekend with partner Jana Novotna. The
pair went up against the team of Tracy Austin and Kathy Rinaldi.
The 53-year-old Navratilova announced
in 1981 she was gay and is among a handful of openly gay sports
figures.
Navratilova dominated the women's
tennis circuit for more than a decade, racking up 18 Grand Slam wins
and a record 9 women's single titles at Wimbledon.