"I have that communist past.. it all comes full circle"- When Martina Navratilova looked back on checkered Fed Cup history with Russia, Czechoslovakia
Martina Navratilova spoke about "coming full circle" at the Fed Cup ahead of the 2004 edition of the competition that took place in Moscow. The tennis great was 47 at the time but still active on the doubles circuit.
Navratilova has won the Fed Cup once with Czechoslovakia and three times with the United States. One of those occasions came in 1986 when she visited Prague for the first time since her defection in 1975 due to the communist regime in Czechoslovakia at the time. The US won the Fed Cup in 1986 after defeating the host nation 4-1 in the final.
Martina Navratilova spoke about this when being asked about her favorite Fed Cup memories ahead of the 2004 World Group in Moscow. She said that it was ironic to face her birth nation in the final.
"That was kind of ironic, going back to Prague, playing against the Czechs in the finals. So I have some really special tennis memories with Fed Cup, obviously, because these are some of the most memorable moments that I have in my career," the then-47-year-old said.
Navratilova also said that going to Moscow for the Fed Cup was a "full circle" thing for her given her history with the "communist past."
"Now going to Moscow, which again I have that history with the communist past, et cetera. So it's kind of ironic how it all kind of coming full circle," the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion said.
Martina Navratilova won two doubles matches in the 2003 Fed Cup World Group
Martina Navratilova played two doubles matches at the Fed Cup in 2003, the first of which came in the semifinal against Belgium. Partnering Lisa Raymond, the pair beat Elke Clijsters and Caroline Maes 6-1, 6-4 to seal a 4-1 win for the United States.
The Americans faced France in the Fed Cup final in Moscow and lost the tie after wins from Amelie Mauresmo, Emilie Loit and Mary Pierce gave them a 4-0 lead. Navratilova and Raymond played the last match of the tie against Stephanie Cohen-Aloro and Emilie Loit and won 6-4, 6-0 to salvage a consolation win for the United States as the French won 4-1.
Martina Navratilova played another edition of the Fed Cup in 2004, where she played two doubles fixtures, the first of which came in the first-round tie against Slovenia. Partnering Lisa Raymond, the pair beat Katarina Srebotnik and Tina Krizan 6-1, 1-6, 6-0.
The United States' run at the 2004 Fed Cup came to an end in the quarterfinals, where they lost to Austria. Navratilova lost the final Fed Cup match of her career as she and Jill Craybas lost 3-6, 6-0, 3-6 to Barbara Schett and Patricia Wartusch.