"I can't say how much money I lost by being out, but it's in millions": Martina Navratilova on how coming out as gay affected career
WTASunday, 03 December 2023 at 14:30
Former world number one Martina Navratilova has revealed
that she lost ‘millions’ after disclosing that she was gay.
The 67-year-old is often regarded as one of the greatest players
in the history of women’s singles tennis in the Open era, having won as many as
18 Grand Slam titles in her illustrious career. Navratilova was recently quoted in a report where she
admitted how revealing her sexual orientation ended up costing her millions.
"Nobody said no, but nobody said yes either,” she said.
“I can't say how much money I lost by being out, but it's in millions, there's
no doubt about that. I got deals in Japan, but not in America. You didn't see
any commercials.
“And my agent back then said, 'You know, when I'm in a
meeting in Madison Avenue, there's always advertisers, you throw in different
names. The people get excited... when I throw in your name, the room goes
silent’.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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