Navratilova urges women to up their game to fill gap left by Henin

Published Date: 03 July 2008 AFTER a Wimbledon tournament full of shocks, Martina Navratilova said it was time the top women players "stepped up to the plate" following the shock retirement of world No 1 Justine Henin. Navratilova, nine times champion at Wimbledon, said: "It is a changing of the guard. It is the first time ever we don't have one of the top four seeds in the quarters." The tournament lost much of its glamour when Ana Ivanovic and Maria Sharap ova were knocked out in early rounds, and Jelena Jankovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova followed suit. Now the prospect is looming of sisters Venus and Serena Williams heading for their third Wimbledon final against each other. The pair have dominated 21st century Wimbledon, winning six singles titles between them. Navratilova said: "Nobody has stepped up to the plate. Maybe... [read full story]