“It’s useless, get rid of it”: Martina Navratilova renews fight to eliminate tennis let rule
WTATuesday, 14 July 2026 at 08:30
Martina Navratilova has once again called for one of tennis’ oldest rules to be removed, arguing that the serve let creates unnecessary interruptions and should no longer exist in the modern game.
The current rule states that if a serve touches the net cord before landing inside the service box, the point must be stopped and the serve replayed. However, the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion believes players should simply continue competing.
Navratilova has been one of the strongest voices against the rule for years, and her criticism has gained renewed attention during Wimbledon 2026 as discussions about improving the flow of matches continue across the sport.
For the former world No. 1, the solution is simple: treat a serve that touches the net like any other shot during a rally and allow play to continue.
Martina Navratilova calls serve let “useless”
Speaking to the BBC, Navratilova was direct when explaining why she believes tennis should eliminate the serve let. “Eliminate the net cord, everyone knows I talk about it all the time. Nobody advances with it, get rid of it, it’s useless,” Navratilova said.
The American-Czech legend argued that most lets involve only minimal contact with the net and that stopping the action slows down the pace of matches unnecessarily. “We should just continue to play the point. Most lets are just a slight graze. Keep playing and speed up the pace of the match,” she added.
Navratilova’s argument is that tennis already accepts elements of luck during rallies. Net cords, unexpected bounces and fortunate points are part of the sport, and she believes serves should not be treated differently.
Navratilova highlights Czech tennis success after all-Czech Wimbledon final
While Navratilova has been leading the debate over tennis’ serve let rule, the legend also praised the strength of Czech tennis after Wimbledon produced an all-Czech women’s singles final between Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova.
Speaking to the BBC ahead of the final, Navratilova explained why the Czech Republic continues to produce elite players despite its relatively small size. “There are clubs everywhere. Every small town has two, three or four clay courts and there is so much more good coaching now,” Navratilova said.
She also highlighted the competitive environment young Czech players grow up in, pointing out that they learn how to compete from an early age.
“They have lots of tournaments and they play sets when they go to the club, they don’t just hit balls," the 18-time Grand Slam champion added. "They play sets and learn how to compete in singles and doubles, which teaches you to be a better tennis player. That’s why you see the Czechs all have a complete game. Even the baseliners can still volley."
Noskova’s victory over Muchova marked another historic milestone for Czech tennis. The 21-year-old became the sixth player from the nation to win a Grand Slam singles title, joining Petr Korda, Jana Novotna, Petra Kvitova, Barbora Krejcikova and Marketa Vondrousova.
It also continued a remarkable Wimbledon run for Czech women’s tennis, with Noskova becoming the third different Czech champion at the All England Club in four years after Vondrousova in 2023 and Krejcikova in 2024.
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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- Well done to the author of this article!! A meltdown is what Coco experienced at the US Open the year she was chirping at her box, very near to tears, double faults were in great supply and she simply could not get a handle on that match. THAT AP is a meltdown!!Rapunzel12-07-2026
- This sensible approach helped Muchova... and look where she will find herself tomorrow (Wimbledon Final). Iga's wise to escape... especially to Nature and so. The wilderness (forests, lakes, mountains) has been my "Church" and escape from The Noise since I was a kid. She'll do well in the end.
mandoist10-07-2026 - "Like if it was hotter, I probably would have won, I'm not gonna lie." Geezus...mandoist08-07-2026
- This one has totally lost the plot. She is about to cross the racism line in her hatred for Russian people. NEWSFLASH DARLING -- Russian majority of citizens (and your ex-Colleagues whom you shamed) are not who you should be aiming at. Grow up.mandoist08-07-2026
- Why do all these "experts" feel the need to publicly "tell players" what they need to do, or what they're doing wrong?? How about this -- if you're so concerned with a player's situation actually take the time to contact the team in question and talk directly to them. Yapping in public media is rarely, if ever, helpful.mandoist07-07-2026
- Gee... preferential treatment all the way to the end? STOP IT WTA & WIMPLEDON !!! This entire WILLIAMS CHARADE is 100% unfair to young upcoming players who legitimately earned a shot at a Wildcard. The whole scenario with these freebies to The Williams' is pathetic and barely within the rules (which have been bent like a pretzel to accomodate them). The lamest excuse this time is "...she is a top draw". How does that apply to Wimbledon which is sold-out in advance? Stop enabling this abhorrent "Look at me" behavior. If they want to make believe they can compete -- LET THEM PLAY QUAILIFIERS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.mandoist06-07-2026
- Is it not clear there is a mental issue here? I mean, her judgement is very suspect given her personal life 'experiences'.mandoist06-07-2026
- Are you kidding me with this soft "article"??? WTF?? Djerkovic should be DISQUALIFIED just as anyone else at WimPledon would have been for his behavior!! So what you should be writing about is how the stuffed shirts on Wimpledon's executive board and ATP can no longer hide, nor lie about, their FAVORITISM. We now have seen (and heard) that, as in politics and world of CEO's, "who" you are can afford Elitists the luxury of escaping the usual penalties according to their own bona fide rules/reg's. Not totally surprising coming from organizations which perform special rule-breaking stunts as giving the undeserving, unranked Williams' some young upcoming player's Wildcards. Neither Williams earned these WC's... let them enter via Qualifiers like anyone else!!!mandoist06-07-2026
- Real fans of the sport, that's who.mandoist06-07-2026
- I agree with Reilly, who cares about doubles reallySakkariFan2305-07-2026
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