Navratilova shows old form, new attitude

Source: Florida Times Union 
Publication date: 2001-04-15
Arrival time: 2001-04-17

AMELIA ISLAND -- At times in last night's semifinals match, Martina Navratilova looked like the player who dominated 
women's tennis in the 1980s and early '90s. 

Navratilova pulled off a series of acrobatic shots to power herself and playing partner Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario to a 6-4,
7-5, win against Lori McNeil and Amanda Coetzer in the doubles semifinals of the Bausch & Lomb Championships. 

"I played well today," Navratilova said. "[It's] not as well as I can play, but well enough to win." 

Navratilova and Sanchez-Vicario will play Conchita Martinez and Patricia Tarabini, who defeated Lisa Raymond and Rennae
Stubbs 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, in last night's other semifinal, in the championship match today. The match follows the singles 
final. 

In the tight match, Navratilova showed the athleticism and power that made her a dominating player. She pulled off a 
series of behind- the-back shots and racked up five service aces. 

"It is great to play with Martina," Sanchez-Vicario said. "To play as well as she does at her age, it shows what a fierce
competitor she is." 

After a back-and-forth first set, Navratilova and Sanchez-Vicario fell behind 3-0 to the younger and quicker McNeil and
Coetzer in the second set. But Navratilova helped her team win four games in a row with a series of athletic volleys and
strong ground strokes. 

Despite her reputation for being a stone-faced competitor early in her career, Navratilova laughed and joked with playing
partner Sanchez-Vicario and was seen chatting with fans during breaks. 

"I am enjoying playing, but I think you have to," Navratilova said. "If I am not enjoying it, then playing is not worth 
all of the work you have to put into it".