Why Martina Navratilova said she was jealous of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in 2018

Martina Navratilova is one of tennis’ most respected figures, having championed so many good causes both during and since her career came to an end.

That is what makes her such a captivating pundit, as she delivers her opinions on the sport with great emotion and insight for all kinds of audiences.

However, in 2018, she allowed a hint of frustration to enter her thinking as she reflected on her career compared to the ones enjoyed by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

She even went as far as to reveal that she was jealous of this duo and the beloved rivalry they shared.

What Martina Navratilova said about Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s rivalry in 2018

Speaking over seven years ago now, the American, who won 19 singles Grand Slam titles across a glittering career, admitted that it hurt not to be celebrated as much as these two during her playing days.

Naturally, she emerged in a different era, where outdated politics were deeply ingrained in the sport. As such, she suffered and had to fight for every scrap of success and validation.

Federer and Nadal have benefited from a better sport because of players like Navratilova.

And yet, she still admitted to feeling jealous of just how beloved this duo were, claiming: “I always had a yearning to be accepted and loved, and I didn’t get it for many, many years.

“To this day, I must say I am jealous of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who are always the home team when they are playing. For much of my career, I didn’t have that. Even playing in the finals of the US Open in 1985, the home crowd was going nuts for Hana Mandlíková to win that match. It killed me.”

Fortunately, she is now acutely aware of just how celebrated she is within the tennis community; she just had to wait many years after her retirement for it to come.

Whilst unlikely, this could have explained why Navratilova picked Rod Laver as her greatest tennis player of all time when asked many years ago.

Martina Navratilova’s rivalry with Chris Evert was legendary

Perhaps another reason for Navratilova’s jealousy could be because of how Federer and Nadal’s rivalry might have overshadowed the one she shared with Chris Evert.

After all, it is grossly underappreciated, given just how good they both were at their peaks.

Across 15 fiery years, this pair contested 80 matches, making theirs the most prolific tennis rivalry of the Open Era.

And whilst people speak about Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s ongoing dominance, from the 1981 Australian Open to the 1985 Wimbledon Championships, Evert and Navratilova won a record 15 consecutive major titles.

They are two of the sport’s greatest-ever icons, and retired with a combined tally of 36 singles Grand Slam titles between them. That doesn’t even begin to touch their doubles supremacy either.