Andy Murray was a fiery character on court during the early stages of his career.
The Scotsman didn’t always keep his emotions in check and often split opinion with his comments.
When Murray said he was supporting ‘anyone but England’ at the 2006 World Cup, some turned against him.
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Wimbledon legend Martina Navratilova delivered her verdict on a 19-year-old Murray in 2006, after playing her final match at SW19.
Martina Navratilova once said Andy Murray was a ‘prat’ like she was when she was younger
During an interview with the ‘Independent‘, Navratilova was asked when her relationship with the Wimbledon crowd changed.
“I don’t know. Some time in the late 1980s, maybe, when Steffi [Graf] started dominating, and I wasn’t the favourite anymore,” she said.
“I won here six years in a row, don’t forget, and no matter how much they like you, they still want somebody else to win already.
Martina Navratilova’s Wimbledon winning streak
| Final | Opponent | Result | Score |
| 1982 | Chris Evert | WIN | 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 |
| 1983 | Andrea Jaeger | WIN | 6-0, 6-3 |
| 1984 | Chris Ever | WIN | 7-6, 6-2 |
| 1985 | Chris Evert | WIN | 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 1986 | Hana Mandlikova | WIN | 7-6, 6-3 |
| 1987 | Steffi Graf | WIN | 7-5, 6-3 |
“It was never an unfriendly relationship.
“Besides, I was a brat, quite frankly. I was just talking to Sue Barker about a match we played on Court One. The officiating was horrible, but I thought more calls went against me, and I said something about her being from England.
“All hell broke loose, and of course it was a stupid thing to say. I always told it from the heart and paid the price. I don’t think it was because Sue was English; the officiating was just bad.
“But I paid for that for a few years here.”
She then delivered her verdict on Murray’s behaviour at Wimbledon.
“Now, of course, I can say pretty much anything I want and get away with it,” said Navratilova.
“I could even say that Andy Murray is a prat!
“And that’s probably not wrong.
“He is where I was, and it takes one to know one.
“I may get criticised for that, but he’s 19, so we need to cut him some slack, and we’ll see how he shapes up.”
Murray, like Navratilova, mellowed over the years.
When he retired in 2024 he did so as a two-time Wimbledon champion, and one of the greatest British players of all time.
What people kept saying about Martina Navratilova that annoyed her when she came out of retirement
After a six-year hiatus, Navratilova returned to tennis in 2000.
Three years later, she won her 20th Wimbledon title, emerging victorious in the mixed doubles event alongside Leander Paes.
The win saw her move level with Billie Jean King, who had also won 20 Wimbledon titles.
Navratilova returned to Wimbledon in 2004, 2005, and 2006, looking to win her 21st title, but denied claims she was focused on the record.
“It wasn’t about the record at all. People keep saying that, but it so wasn’t,” she said.
“I just wanted to win one more title here, period. I’ve been saying that all along, but people don’t seem to believe it.
“The first time I even thought about the record was when I read it in USA Today. It said: ‘Martina Navratilova is coming back from retirement so she can break Billie-Jean King’s record at Wimbledon.’ I thought, ‘Oh, that’s right, we’re tied at 20.’ It was never about the record.
“It was about playing as good as I possibly could.”
Navratilova never won a 21st Wimbledon title, despite several deep runs in doubles and mixed doubles during the final years of her career.
Martina Navratilova’s Wimbledon results (2004-2006)
- 2004 Wimbledon (Singles) – 2R
- 2004 Wimbledon (Doubles) – SF
- 2004 Wimbledon (Mixed doubles) – 3R
- 2005 Wimbledon (Doubles) – SF
- 2005 Wimbledon (Mixed doubles) – QF
- 2006 Wimbledon (Doubles) – QF
- 2006 Wimbledon (Mixed doubles) – 3R
She did, however, win another Grand Slam title before retiring, lifting the 2006 US Open mixed doubles trophy alongside Bob Bryan.
Navratilova retired with 59 major titles to her name.
