"It rewards a different skill set": Martina Navratilova proposes radical change that could reshape tennis
WTA
Martina Navratilova has never been afraid to share her thoughts on the evolution of tennis, and the 18-time Grand Slam champion has now revealed several changes she believes could improve the sport.
Speaking at Wimbledon, the Czech-American legend discussed everything from equipment modifications to reforms for the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup, explaining why she feels tennis should place more emphasis on technique, variety and meaningful competitions.
One of Navratilova's biggest concerns is the direction of modern tennis and how equipment has influenced the way the game is played. The former world No. 1 believes today's racquets have helped create a more powerful style, allowing players to hit incredible shots from difficult positions while reducing the advantage of precision, touch and tactical variation.
The nine-time Wimbledon champion believes smaller racquet heads could help restore balance between different playing styles and bring back elements of the game that have become less common.
"Technique would be more of a premium": Navratilova wants tennis to reward skill over power
Navratilova specifically highlighted the decline of serve-and-volley tennis and explained why she would like to see changes that reward players with stronger technical skills.
"If I was a tennis star, I would mandate smaller racket heads, so there would be more emphasis on technique," Navratilova said in Tennis Channel. "It would make it a little more difficult to hit unbelievable passing shots, and you can still hit a volley, but you cannot do just this, off balance, just hit it as hard as you can. Technique would be more of a premium."
Navratilova expanded on her idea by comparing tennis with golf, arguing that equipment has increased the margin for error in both sports. According to the former world No. 1, reducing the advantage provided by modern technology would force athletes to rely more on precision and execution.
"The sweet spot is so much bigger than it used to be, and so it is in tennis," she added. "So I would make the sweet spot a little bit smaller to put more premium on precision, taking pace off the ball, and then you will see more serving volley, or at least people coming to the net more."
For Navratilova, the issue is not simply about making the game harder, but about creating a better balance between different skills. "I do miss the contrast in styles, though," the 18-time Grand Slam champion admitted. "There's nothing like watching a great serving volleyer against a great baseliner."
Navratilova proposes changes for Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup
Beyond equipment changes, Navratilova also believes tennis should rethink the structure of its international team competitions. The former Fed Cup player discussed the future of the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup, suggesting that a different format could help create more anticipation and emotional connection with fans.
"I think every two years, or every four years," Navratilova said when asked about the ideal frequency. "It has to be not on the Olympic year, because that already throws tennis into a tailspin, because it changes the calendar so much."
Navratilova also believes these competitions should be played in different countries to help grow their global impact and give more fans the opportunity to experience top-level tennis.
"I think I really like them playing in different countries to spread the wealth, so people that are in smaller countries have a chance to watch great tennis, and really get emotionally involved," she said. "Because when you just play one event in one city, it kind of loses something."
Team Italy after winning 2023 Davis Cup Finals.
The 18-time Grand Slam champion also reflected on her own experience playing Fed Cup in Prague, explaining why team competitions can have a significance that goes beyond the sport itself. "At the same time, when I played Fed Cup in Prague, it was such a political statement, and such a magical time to be there doing that, but that had a different context."
However, Navratilova admitted that changing these events is complicated because of the current tennis calendar. "The calendar has so much on it already," she said. "It's just, we didn't have that many tournaments. It was Davis Cup, and like Wimbledon, the US Open. Maybe you play the French, or maybe you make the trip to Australia by boat, or not."
Navratilova believes organisers must consider not only the biggest names in the sport but also the wider player field when creating future competitions.
"For the players, it's best to play just one week, and you're done with it," she explained. "But for the top players, but the rest of the players, most of the field, not the top 20, but the rest of them, they want to play more, and have it mean something."
"Trying to find a meaningful way of doing it, I don't know what the best way is, but I think every other year is a good idea."
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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