"Rafael Nadal's got a great butt... That's a compliment, but not sleazy" - When Martina Navratilova rued 'degrading' objectification of female players
Martina Navratilova once spoke out against the "degrading" way women's tennis players were discussed, illustrating her point by paying a compliment to Rafael Nadal's body. Navratilova held it up as an example to highlight the difference between admiring a player's physique and making derogatory remarks.
Navratilova was no stranger to facing disparaging comments about her muscular build during her playing days. Having faced such scrutiny, the Czech-American expressed her admiration for a player like Serena Williams, who faced similar criticism but took immense pride in her body and celebrated it unapologetically.
However, the former World No. 1 took issue with how discussions about women's tennis still revolved around players' appearances. Martina Navratilova recounted an instance of interviewing Rafael Nadal when she commented on his body. Describing the Spaniard as "gorgeous," she emphasized that the comment came across as a compliment without being sleazy.
In contrast, Navratilova denounced how female players were often spoken about in "degrading" ways that dimished them as people and athletes, reducing them to "sexual objects."
"Please, it's ridiculous. You know, I was looking at Rafa; we did an interview with him, and as he walks in I'm like, 'My God, he's got a great butt,'" Navratilova said.
"I mean, he's gorgeous. That's a compliment, but not in a sleazy way. The problem with the women is it just becomes very degrading because they're not talking about them as a person or as an athlete. They're taking about them as a sexual object. I don't like that," she added.
"Rafael Nadal's so competitive, it's a positive ... Because I'm a woman I'm not supposed to be competitive?" - Martina Navratilova
Martina Navratilova has shared similar sentiments about the differing attitudes towards how competitiveness is judged between men's and women's tennis players.
In a 2024 appearance on the Politics War Room podcast, the 18-time Grand Slam champion suggested that while Rafael Nadal's competitive spirit is admired, she was always questioned about her relentless drive.
"You know, when you think about Rafael Nadal, he's so competitive. It's a positive. But so many times I've heard people say, 'Oh you're so competitive. Why?' I'm like, 'Really? Because I'm a woman I'm not supposed to be competitive?' Whoever goes out on the court saying 'I'm going to lose today'? Of course I'm competitive," Navratilova said.
Martina Navratilova also took pride in inspiring other players to feel like they didn't "have to apologize for being great athletes, for having muscles, for being strong, and for being competitive."