"Get a grip and start talking about solutions": Navratilova defends US women's soccer team amid national anthem controversy

Tennis News
Tuesday, 25 July 2023 at 13:55
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Legendary tennis player Martina Navratilova has defended the US Women’s soccer team after their involvement in the national anthem controversy.
The US team opened their campaign in the FIFA Women’s World Cup on Friday against Vietnam.
Before the start of the match, the majority of the players in the squad did not sing the national anthem and had their fists behind their backs when the anthem was played.
Only five players stood up and put their hands over their hearts while singing the national anthem.
Following that, there was a mixed reaction from different quarters on social media.
Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley was one of the few notable personalities who openly criticised the players in a post on her official Twitter account and stated that they should be proudly defending their country.
“The US women’s soccer team is living the American Dream. They were born in the freest, fairest country in the world that has rewarded their hard work. They should remember that blessing & the men & women (like my husband) proudly defending it next time the national anthem plays.”
In response to that, the former world number one Navratilova came to the defense of the players and stated that they are proudly defending their country by giving their all during the match.
“They are defending it by playing their hardest and winning most of the time. Not by singing. Get a grip and start talking about solutions rather than searching for problems where there aren’t any,” she tweeted.
The 66-year-old is one of the most successful women’s singles tennis players in the Open era, having won as many as 18 Grand Slams in her illustrious career.
Out of those, Navratilova had the best record while playing at Wimbledon where she ended up lifting the women’s singles title nine times.

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