Legendary Navratilova to Hit Tennis Balls Off Kilimanjaro

14 Monday 6th December, 2010

CSA clarifies Navratilova’s unparalleled record Martina Navratilova (born October termination of 18, 1956) is a Czech American and former Czechoslovak tennis player and a former World No. 1. Billie Jean Gibbs contract King said about Navratilova in 2006: “She’s the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who’s ever lived.” Navratilova won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles (an all-ttime record), and 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. She reached the Wimbledon singles final 12 times, including 9 consecutive years from 1982 through 1990, and won the women’s singles title at Wimbledon a record 9 times. She and King each won 20 Wimbledon titles, an all-ttime record. Navratilova is one of just three women to have accomplished a career Grand Slam in singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles (called the Grand Slam “boxed set”) a record Tennis great Martina Navratilova celebrates after scoring a goal during a demonstration at a soccer she shares with Margaret Court and Doris Hart. She game in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. Navratilova this week will climb Tanzania’s Mount holds the open era record for most singles titles (167) Kilimajaro to raise money and awareness for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. (AP Photo/Jason and doubles titles (177). She recorded the longest win- Straziuso) ning streak in the open era (74 consecutive matches) and three of the six longest winning streaks in the Herschelle Gibbs women’s open era. Navratilova, Margaret Court and JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Maureen Connolly share the record for the most con- South Africa’s cricket body has apologised to Herschelle secutive Grand Slam singles titles (six). Navratilova is a Gibbs for releasing inaccurate member of the Laureus World Sports Academy. details regarding the termina- tion of the batsman’s national Legendary team contract. Cricket South Africa says climbed higher than 12,000 feet enough shape to get to the top, both parties have agreed to (3,660 meters) before, but lives in but will the altitude get me? end the contract and the deci- Aspen, Colorado, so is somewhat That’s something you can’t pre- sion came “following amicable Navratilova to used to altitude. dict until you get there.” discussions” and is “in the “It’s just a basic hike except The fund raising goal for the best interests of South African you get to be pretty high and climb is 100,000 euros ($134,000). cricket.” there’s not much air up there, More than half of that already CSA released a statement but it doesn’t require much has been raised. Friday saying it had decided to mountain climbing experience,” Navratilova said she will hit tennis balls Navratilova said. carry a tennis racket to the top cancel the 36-year-old Gibbs’ contract, which was then Navratilova, who watched but doesn’t know if she can find agreed to by Gibbs. Kenyan youths play soccer in a game up there. CSA says Gibbs is still eli- Nairobi on Saturday during a “I’m bringing one racket and gible for South Africa and has Laureus foundation event, said I’ll hit a few balls from the top to permission to play in a off Kilimanjaro she has always wanted to climb see how far they can travel,” she Twenty20 competition in New Kilimanjaro. said. “With the air being that Zealand this month. By Jason Straziuso tennis balls off the top of raise money and awareness for “I was hoping to do it private- thin they should go a long way.” Gibbs says “I’d like to Africa’s highest peak. the Laureus Sport for Good ly, so I’m petrified of failing (On the Internet: Laureus Sport thank CSA, my team-mates NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - The tennis legend is climb- Foundation. because then the whole world for Good Foundation: and especially the public for Martina Navratilova plans to hit ing Tanzania’s 19,340 foot- (5,895- Navratilova, 54, has never would know,” she said. “I’m in http://www.laureus.com/founda- the unbelievable support.” meter) mountain next week to decent shape. I know I’m in good tion)

MILWAUKEE (AP) - A stomach virus moving through the CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - Orlando Magic has forced the Strikers Didier Drogba, NBA team to send home four Four Magic Samuel Eto’o and key players during a Midwest Asamoah Gyan were roadtrip this weekend. included on the African The Magic said Jameer football confederation’s Nelson and J. J. Redick took a players sent home shortlist of five nomi- flight back to Orlando, Florida, nees for the continent’s before the team’s game Saturday player of the year award. night against Milwaukee with stomach virus Salomon Kalou and because of the illness. Dwight Seydou Keita completed Howard and Mickael Pietrus Saturday’s list, which returned before the Magic CAF says will be cut to a played in Detroit on Friday against the Bucks. slated to visit team physician final group of three on night. The Magic have won six Vince Wilson on Saturday night. Dec. 11 ahead of the Dec. Magic coach Stan Van Gundy straight games. They still man- “They’re still not feeling 20 vote. CAF announced said he’d never seen so many aged to beat Detroit despite play- great,” Van Gundy said. an initial group of 10 players from one of his teams ill ing short-handed. During a win “They’re all going to the doctor contenders last month. at the same time. at Chicago on Wednesday night, tonight. We can get them some Algeria, African “Normally, it seems like Pietrus vomited in the hallway medical attention and hopefully champions Egypt and you’d get one guy, two guys at a at one point in speed up their recovery a little Ghana are in the run- time, and maybe over time it the first half. bit. That was the intention.” ning for national team of runs through the team a little The play- the year. bit,” he said. “We were all hit ers sent Ivory Coast and with this from Tuesday night on. home were Chelsea striker Drogba It’s different. It’s not something is a two-time winner of I’ve been through before.” the individual award and Forward Ryan Anderson helped Chelsea to the also is in a walking boot Premier League title last because of a sprained season. He finished as right foot and will the league’s top scorer not play, leaving with 29 goals in 32 Orlando with games. only eight Eto’o of Cameroon players won Italy’s Serie A and was a record seventh Chelsea’s captain Didier Drogba, right, active the Champions League title for the Pharaohs. vies for the ball with Newcastle United’s with Inter Milan. He Algeria reached its Cheik Tiote during their English Premier came second to Drogba first World Cup since League soccer match at St. James Park, for the African player of 1986 in South Africa, and Newcastle, England, on Nov. 28. (AP the year prize last year. the semi-finals of the Photo/Scott Heppell) Gyan was a star of Cup of Nations. Ghana Ghana’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals - the best performance by an African team at the tour- Drogba Orlando Magic’s Jameer Nelson, nament in South Africa. left, looks to a pass against Kalou is another Chicago Bulls’ Joakim Noah dur- Ivory Coast and Chelsea ing the third quarter of an NBA forward, while midfield- shortlisted for basketball game in Chicago on er Keita plays for Dec. 1. The Magic won 107-78. Barcelona and Mali. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Both are considered out- African player of year siders for the award. Egypt recovered from the disappointment of became just the third Winners will be decided in a vote of missing the World Cup African team after the national team coaches or technical with its third straight Cameroon in 1990 and directors of the 53 countries that make up African Cup of Nations Senegal in 2002 to reach CAF. The awards take into account perform- title at the end of the last eight in a World ances in the period January to November January in Angola. It Cup. 2010, CAF said.