Martina Navratilova’s 74-match win streak, which was the longest in tennis history at the time, ended dramatically at the 1984 Australian Open when she lost to Helena Sukova in a 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 upset. This loss came after a phenomenal season in which Navratilova won three consecutive Major titles, including the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. She entered the Australian Open as the defending champion, hoping to complete the Calendar Grand Slam.
In a 1985 interview with The New York Times, Navratilova expressed frustration at the reaction to her first loss in nearly a year. While she had been winning consistently, it wasn’t until after her streak was broken that she received an overwhelming outpouring of admiration. She reflected on how people, who had not acknowledged her achievements during her streak, suddenly showered her with praise. The loss prompted a flurry of concern from fans, with many asking if she was “OK,” as if something tragic had occurred.
Navratilova, while appreciating the support, questioned why it took a loss for people to recognize her greatness. She found the timing of this admiration ironic and expressed that she had hoped for recognition during her winning streak, not just after it ended. Despite the sting of the loss, she took solace in knowing she had done her best on the day and acknowledged that Sukova had simply been the better player that match.
Although the loss was a setback in her singles pursuit, Navratilova did not leave the Australian Open empty-handed. She won the women’s doubles title with Pam Shriver, making history as the first players in the Open Era to complete the Calendar Year Grand Slam in doubles.
