Navratilova bids farewell

Press, 12 July 1979, Page 30

Navratilova bids farewell

NZPA London Tue Wimbledon tennis champion, Martina Navratilova, said goodbye to her mother, Jana, at Heathrow Airport yesterday. It was an unhappy ending to a fairytale fortnight for the 22-year-old self-exiled Czech, whose greatest ambition was for her mother to see her win the Wimbledon women’s singles title. That ambition was ful-

filled, but the celebrations ended when Mrs Navratilova’s visa expired. Martina travelled to Heathrow to see her mothe* on to her flight to Prague, and sympathetic airport authorities waived the usual rules which prevent friends and relatives going out to the aircraft. Mother and daughter spent 20 minutes alone together before a sad Martina said goodbye and prepared to fly to her home in the United States,

Martina said: “Now we have to see if the Czech Government will give another visa, this time to my mother and my sister for them to come to see me either in the United States Open or more likely at Christmas. “We will go through the same channels as before and it may take two weeks or two months. We just have to keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.” She said her mother had

had a wonderful time at Wimbledon. “How could she not enjoy it,” laughed Martina, “But she has spent nearly all my winnings in the London shops. Mum just bought loads and loads of souvenirs for the family.” Mrs Navratilova carried one very special souvenir of her daughter’s victory — the tennis racket Martina used to win the Wimbledon title.