Retired tennis star Martina Navratilova will enter the women's doubles event at Wimbledon, trying to win a record-matching 20th crown overall at the Grand Slam grass-court event.
The nine-time Wimbledon singles champion will be paired with South Africa's Mariaan de Swardt during the fortnight that begins June 26th.
"It's gonna be the first time I go back as a player since 1995," Navratilova said. "It's gonna be fantastic and I'm looking forward to it. I will have lots of fun and enjoy myself. I still can hit the ball you know."
The 43-year-old American has won seven Wimbledon women's doubles titles and her total of 19 Wimbledon crowns overall in singles, doubles and mixed doubles is one shy of Billie Jean King's all-time record.
Navratilova's most recent Wimbledon title came in mixed doubles in 1995. She now plays in the United States' Team Tennis league.
"It's not something I had planned at the beginning of the year," Navratilova said. "I just thought that because I will be playing Team Tennis in July that I needed matches. What better way to get ready than to play at Wimbledon?"
Navratilova, who retired in November of 1994, will also play doubles at Eastbourne, one week before Wimbledon, with de Swardt as a wild card entry. She recently filmed her first commercial endorsement, for a car company.
