X-COMMENTARY: Navratilova Says Womens Game Tops the Men and Federer

Posted on December 10, 2004

By Richard Vach

Despite four former No. 1s being out much of the year in Justine Henin-Hardenne, Kim Clijsters and Serena and Venus Williams, Martina Navratilova says the women's game is now deeper than the men's.

"The (women's) depth is better at the top but most of all it's better in the middle," said Navratilova after a 2004 season that saw the Top 10 on the women's side choked with top- and mid-level Russians. "Many more players are capable of getting in the Top 10 or beating a top player on a given day."

Which makes sense when almost half the players in the Top 10 on the women's side were out with injury for extended periods.

With that argument you could, on the men's side, take Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Carlos Moya and Marat Safin from the mix for the year, then exclaim "Look at all the new players now breaking into the Top 10!"

Is the women's game truly better at the top, or only watered down after a year decimated by injury? Wouldn't Henin-Hardenne, who won five of her nine events played this year, have separated herself from the pack if she had played a full year? Or Serena risen to dominate once again if not for her surgically-reconstructed knee flaring up every other month? Or if the scrappy Clijsters were still around pounding the Russians?

Sorry, not buying it.

Removing the top players, then saying "Look how everyone else has risen up!" doesn't get you a passing grade in Logic 101.

Navratilova went on to say that they are all great players, but were she in her heyday, she would still be kicking ass.

"I wouldn't have won as many Grand Slams or singles titles (as she did), but I still think I would have been No. 1," Navratilova said.

The former No. 1 concedes that the physical demands today are greater, as she learned quickly the first time she played doubles against the Williams sisters and got drilled with a swinging volley.

"Everyone hits the ball so much harder, and playing more tournaments they get hurt more," Navratilova said. "Physically we had it a little easier. We played on different surfaces, grass or clay, or indoors on soft carpet. Now they're playing on cement most of the time. That makes it harder to maintain their bodies and maintain their domination."

For those wondering how the fast-approaching-50-year-old keeps up with the youngins', you can buy her upcoming book, "Why I Emigrated to America to Kick Your Ass."

Actually the book will be titled "The Shape of Your Life."

"Feeling good about your body and your self -- eating right, it comes down to that," Navratilova said. "You can't expect your body to run at top speed if you're putting lousy food in it."

Richard Vach is a senior writer for Tennis-X.com.