Athletes Are Human Afterall

That's Martina Navratilova if you don't know already. Czech-American tennis player. In her older days of course. Lol. In her younger days, she was brilliant. That former world number 1, Billie Jean King once said this, "Martina is the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who's ever lived." That's from one pro to another.

Back in her top performing days, Navratilova won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 Grand Slam women's doubles titles (an all-time record) and 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. She also reached the Wimbledon singles final 12 times, including 9 consecutive years from 1982 through 1990 and won the women's singles title at Wimbledon a record 9 times. She and King each won 20 Wimbledon titles, which is an all-time record. Additionally, Navratilova is one of just 3 women to have accomplished a career Grand Slam in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles (called the Grand Slam "boxed set"). She also holds the open era record for most singles titles (167) and doubles titles (177). She recorded the longest winning streak in the open era (74 consecutive matches) and 3 of the six longest winning streaks in the women's open era. Navratilova, Margaret Court and Maureen Connolly share the record for the most consecutive Grand Slam singles titles (six). Navratilova reached 11 consecutive Grand Slam singles finals, second all-time to Steffi Graf's 13. In women's doubles, Navratilova and Pam Shriver won 109 consecutive matches and won all four Grand Slam titles in 1984. They also tied Louise Brough Clapp's and Margaret Osborne duPont's record of 20 Grand Slam women's doubles titles as a team.

Sadly, today, I found this article on Eurosport UK.

Martina Navratilova, one of the finest female tennis players of all time, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

"I cried," Navratilova, 53, told People magazine about the results of a February biopsy after a routine mammogram revealed a cluster in her left breast.

"It knocked me on my ass, really. I feel so in control of my life and my body, and then this comes, and it's completely out of my hands."

She was diagnosed with a non-invasive form of breast cancer called 'ductal carcinoma in situ', confined to her milk ducts without spreading to the breast tissue.

"It was the best-case scenario you could imagine for detecting breast cancer," Dr. Mindy Nagle, Navratilova’s friend and doctor, added.

The report said Navratilova has already had a lumpectomy and will begin six weeks of radiation therapy in May.

The nine-times Wimbledon champion admitted she had not been getting regular check-ups.

"I went four years between mammograms. I let it slide. Everyone gets busy, but don't make excuses," she said.

"I stay in shape and eat right, and it happened to me. Another year and I could have been in big trouble."

Athletes or not athletes, we are just mere humans afterall and are subjects to all illnesses and diseases. -Sigh-

And oh yeah. Arsene Wenger had finally admitted that he needs to buy players to challenge for the top honours next season. Finally!!