Martina Navratilova Family Tree: The Story Behind Tennis's Career-Slam Queen

Martina Navrátilová, born 18 October 1956 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, is a Czech-American former tennis player — 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 Grand Slam doubles, 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles — 59 total Slams (open-era record); 332 weeks at WTA No. 1; defected to the USA in 1975 aged 18.

The Family's Roots: A Czech Sporting Family

The Navrátilová family is from Prague, Czechoslovakia; stepfather was a tennis official.

Her Parents

Father: Miroslav "Mirek" Šubertová — Czech; ski instructor. Suicide when Martina was young.

Mother: Jana Šubertová — Czech; ranked tennis player.

Her Stepfather

Mirek Navrátil — took over as father figure; changed Martina's name to Navrátilová.

Her Sister

Jana Navrátilová, born 1963 — half-sister.

Her Wife: Julia Lemigova

Julia Lemigova, born 26 December 1972 — Miss USSR 1990; Russian businesswoman. Married Martina on 15 December 2014 in New York City. Julia has two daughters from a prior relationship: Emma and Victoria.

The Navrátilová Family Tree at a Glance

Biological Father: Miroslav Šubertová — ski instructor; committed suicide.

Mother: Jana Šubertová — ranked tennis player.

Stepfather: Mirek Navrátil.

Half-Sister: Jana Navrátilová (b. 1963).

Wife: Julia Lemigova (b. 26 December 1972; m. 15 December 2014).

Step-Daughters: Emma; Victoria — Julia's daughters.

Martina Navrátilová:

  • Born 18 October 1956, Prague
  • Czechoslovak junior champion 1971
  • Defected to USA: 1975 US Open (age 18); became US citizen 1981
  • Turned pro 1975
  • 18 Grand Slam singles: Wimbledon (9), US Open (4), Australian Open (3), French Open (2)
  • 31 Grand Slam doubles; 10 Grand Slam mixed — 59 total Slams
  • 332 weeks at WTA No. 1 (2nd all-time to Steffi Graf)
  • 74-match win streak (1984) — WTA record
  • 167 WTA singles titles (open era record)
  • Wimbledon: 9 singles titles — Open era record
  • Fed Cup: 1975, 1982, 89, 90, 95
  • Came out as lesbian: 1981 — pioneering
  • Cancer battles: breast cancer 2010; throat + breast recurrence 2023 (in remission)

What the Navrátilová Family Story Teaches Us

A tennis-ranked mother. A ski-instructor father who committed suicide. A stepfather whose name she took. A defection at 18 that changed her career. A wife she came out for and married in 2014. Two step-daughters. A record 59 Slams and 332 weeks at No. 1.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Martina story carries the same lesson. Some careers set the total-Slam record while defecting a country and coming out.

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