Martina Navratilova, legend of tennis, has seen a change of guard on the women’s tour after the withdrawal of Australian Ashleigh Barty, at a stage where, compared to her, “the big difference is the accessibility of fans to the players”.
The former American tennis player, a nine -time Wimbledon winner and winner of four Grand Slam tournaments in singles, doubles and mixed, overcame breast cancer diagnosed in 2010. On Wednesday he presented in Madrid the new sponsorship he had signed of the WTA circuit. with the medical material company Hologic, which specializes in gynecological health.
“Athletes are physically strong, but cancer doesn’t care about it,” he recalled in an interview with Efe.
Question: Do agreements like this represent a change of direction in women’s sports sponsorship?
Answer: It is unique. Perhaps there are other companies that focus only on women’s and women’s sports, but this agreement is important because it is a matter of life and death, of prevention, of access to care. Women are always a second choice, even when making shoes. The footwear is designed for men’s feet; women are smaller than men’s shoes. So it is appreciated to have this kind of attention only for women. It’s a perfect combination.
Q. You are a breast cancer survivor and early detection is probably important. It is always time to emphasize the importance of check-ups, even for professional athletes, who are young and in good health but not free of diseases such as cancer.
R. Women are naturally and sometimes by obligation, responsible for care. But we are not in a hurry to take care of ourselves. It is important that we be aware of this. As athletes, if something hurts, we take care of it, but in cancer, prevention is the key. Female athletes are physically strong, but that doesn’t matter with cancer.
Q. One of the athletes who praised this sponsorship, when it was presented in March, was Australian Ashleigh Barty. A few days later, he announced his retirement, as number one in the world and after winning the Australian Open, because he lacked motivation. Can the circuit take any lesson from this case? Did something go wrong and prevent this athlete from retaining?
R. No, it is a completely individual decision. There are players who stay awake until their late thirties or late forties. It was his decision and you can’t tell someone to change his mind. He had had enough. Barty loves tennis, but not as a job. Being from Australia covid didn’t help much and too many restrictions were very difficult for him. Maybe if there was no covid I would still play, who knows. Tennis is a sport that you have to do with everything it needs. Ash loves her, but everything with it is too much for her, and it’s okay. It was a personal decision and he was happy.
Q. The farewell of Barty, the evolution of players like Paula Badosa, the masters of Garbiñe Muguruza, the number one of Iga Swiatek … Are we facing a changing cycle in women’s tennis?
A. Who knows? Barty has been number one for three years and will likely maintain that rank if he continues to play. But with new blood coming, we have a lot of new talent: Coco Gauff, Badosa, Swiatek, Barbora Krejčíková … Yes, it’s like changing guards. But before Garbiñe, Simona Halep played well again … There is always a mix between the old and the new but, in general, I think women’s tennis is in very good shape.
Q. What do you like most about the current circuit that is not in your time?
A. Perhaps the accessibility where players can communicate directly with fans. Naomi Osaka has millions of fans who can contact her on twitter or instagram. Followers will get to know you better as a person. This is the big change, but it is good news and bad news. It’s good that you’re accessible, but bad if you’re accessible.
Q. If you have had the opportunity to see the front pages of the Spanish press today, you will notice that many of them are occupied by demonstrations called in your country because of the possibility that the Supreme Court will revoke the legal protection of abortion. You are very worried on your social networks about this option. What do you expect to happen?
A. That is another story. I think it’s awful. I won’t speak anymore because we’re still half an hour here.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
