 Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 03 Jun 2009 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 03 Jun 2009 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 03 Jun 2009 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 03 Jun 2009 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 03 Jun 2009 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 03 Jun 2009 |
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| 03 Jun 2009 | |
| ITF honour Navratilova, Nadal and Jankovic |
The tennis family gathered last night for the ITF World Champions Dinner, held at the Pavillon d’Armenonville in Paris.
As well as celebrating the achievements of the 2008 ITF World Champions, the ITF Board of Directors presented its highest accolade, the Philippe Chatrier Award, to tennis legend Martina Navratilova. Former British Davis Cup player and current television broadcaster Andrew Castle hosted the evening with ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti presenting the awards, trophies designed by internationally-recognised sculptor Laurence Broderick, to the World Champions.
This year’s recipients were Singles Champions Rafael Nadal (ESP) and Jelena Jankovic (SRB). Due to the fact that they’d lost in the French Open on Sunday and Monday (respectively), they sent their apologies via video acceptance. Jose Luis Escanuela (President of the RFET) accepted Nadal’s award on stage, and Serbian Tennis Federation President, Slobodan Zivojinovic, proudly received Jankovic’s trophy and said a few words about Serbia’s success in the sport.
Other winners collecting their trophies on the night were Doubles Champions Daniel Nestor (CAN) and Nenad Zimonjic (SRB), and Cara Black (ZIM) and Liezel Huber (USA); Junior Champions Tsung-Hua Yang (TPE) and Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (THA); and Wheelchair Champions Shingo Kunieda (JPN) and Esther Vergeer (NED), who received the trophy for a record ninth year. There was also a presentation to Women’s tennis pioneer Peachy Kellmeyer , who was honoured with the ITF/ITHF Golden Achievement Award on stage.
After being awarded the Philippe Chatrier Award, Martina Navratilova thanked her parents and tennis for giving her such a fulfilling life and career and singled out former Czech Grand Slam champion Jan Kodes, who was present at the dinner, as a childhood inspiration. Navratilova, whose love for tennis led to a 33-year career, paved the way for future generations of her sport, many of whom she was playing against when she finally retired in 2006 at the age of 49.
Following her defection to the United States as an 18-year-old, the Prague-born player brought a new level of athleticism to the women’s game to become the most dominant player in her sport. In particular her rivalry with Chris Evert from the mid 1970s to late 1980s was legendary, and spurred her on to greater success. Navratilova went on to win 167 singles, 177 doubles and 10 mixed doubles titles in her career, an open era record for both singles and doubles. Instantly recognisable and as well known off the court as on it, Navratilova’s influence extends to the many charities that she supports.
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