Martina May Run For Office In U.S.

Martina Navratilova plans to get into public service after she stops serve-and-volleying in 2005.

Navratilova, who turns 47 next month, said Wednesday at the Sparkassen Cup tournament that she plans to play through the end of next season. Then, she wants to get involved with American politics, perhaps running for office.

"If Arnold Schwarzenegger can run for governor in California, then who knows? I have the muscles," said Navratilova, a Czech-born U.S. citizen who lives in Colorado. "I will be involved, especially the way things are going right now. The conservative party is too strong."

She ranks among the greatest tennis players ever, with a total of 58 Grand Slam titles: 18 in singles, 31 in doubles, and nine in mixed doubles.

Navratilova retired in 1994, then returned to action in 2000, playing mostly doubles.

She has won two major mixed doubles titles this year, at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. She and Svetlana Kuznetsova were the runners-up in the U.S. Open women's doubles competition this month.

"I felt 50-50 about playing next year, but then the idea of playing in the 2004 Olympics came up and that was a big carrot," Navratilova said.

She and Kuznetsova beat Aniko Kapros and Lydia Steinbach 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 to reach the second round of the $585,000 Sparkassen Cup.

"I enjoy playing tennis but I also enjoy not playing tennis," Navratilova said. "I love life whether it's with or without tennis."