When Martina Navratilova came out of successful knee surgery in 1990, the doctor that performed the operation gave her three years of competitive tennis before he said she would have to retire. But Navratilova had other plans, and now 16 years later with 16 career Grand Slam titles under her belt, she is leaving on her own terms.
"I am glad to be able to quit when I want to," said Navratilova, who says the 2006 US Open will be her last tournament. "You just don't want your body to give out on you.
"If you are not good enough any more you can deal with that. But if you are not healthy and you have to quit then that's frustrating."
The 49-year-old Navratilova retired once before and did not play on the WTA Tour for five years between 1995 and 1999. She returned in 2000, playing almost entirely doubles.
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