Navratilova considers Wimbledon return

Martina Navratilova has not ruled out the possibility of returning to play in the singles at Wimbledon this year.

The 47-year-old holds the record for women’s singles titles, having won 167 events in her career and Wimbledon nine times.

She has not taken part in the singles of a Grand Slam event for 10 years, but has been handed a wild card entry to the French Open.

Navratilova played in the singles at Amelia Island in Florida last month and revealed that, if all goes well at Roland Garros, then the All England Club could well see her taking on the game’s best again.

“I am taking it one tournament at a time, but it certainly is a possibility,” she said in a press conference after her second-round doubles defeat at the Rome Masters, transmitted on BBC Radio Five Live.

“We will just see what happens, how I feel, how I do and take it from there.

“If I think it can help my doubles, then I will play. I think it will hinder the doubles, then I won’t play. It is as simple as that.”

Whatever he decision about Wimbledon, Navratilova is set to play in the singles at the French Open, some 20 years after last winning the title at Roland Garros.

“Just practising for singles helps my doubles,” she said. “I want to get more match play. This is one way to do it.”

She added: “I would have played here (in the singles in Rome) actually, but I didn’t have time to prepare properly.

“I had too many commitments in the States in my two weeks off between the Fed Cup and coming here, so I didn’t have enough time to play.

“If I had a week where I could have practised and prepared properly, I would have played singles here, but I didn’t.”

The 47-year-old revealed she would prepare for the French Open in Europe, but would not be drawn on where.

“I want to keep it quiet. I’ll be practising on clay in Europe,” she said.

“Not that it’s a big secret, but there’s no need for anyone to know where I will be next week.”

The Prague-born American last played singles at the French Open in 1994, losing in the first round.

Her last Grand Slam singles match came later that year at Wimbledon, where she was beaten by Conchita Martinez in the final.

Meanwhile, another former champion Monica Seles will not be playing in Paris later this month.

Seles has been struggling with a foot injury and has not played a competitive match since losing in the first round at the 2003 French Open.

She had hoped to make a return at Roland Garros and had been given a wildcard, but has now withdrawn from the event.