Just Call Her Martina: BBC salutes Navratilova with new film

Martina Navratilova will turn 60 this October, and ahead of that, the BBC has honored her via a new documentary film called Just Call Me Martina.

The film opens with a depiction of Navratilova's wedding day with Julia Lemigova, a businesswoman and former beauty queen in Russia. Heading toward that event from her hotel room, the ever-candid Navratilova lets fly a "holy s---" at the beauty and the gravity of what she is about to do.

"She's getting married, and I'm single," Chris Evert says with a good-natured scowl, speaking to the camera in a direct-address style just after Pam Shriver, another tennis star turned commentator.

"Julia, I promise to love you, to cherish you, in sickness and in health," Navratilova later says at the pair's nuptial. "No matter what, I will be there for you and our family. I promise not to make the social media another member of our family."

Laughter ensues. Navratilova's passions for social justice and politics often shine through on Twitter, but for one day in late 2014, publishing to that channel was on hold.

In the film, actor Stephen Fry and entertainer Sir Elton John lend their thoughts on Navratilova and her strength, honesty and friendship, as do more friends and observers, many of them famous, of course. Tennis titans of today also get into the mix, with the likes of Rafael Nadal noting just how important the seemingly ageless Navratilova has been to their shared sport and, really, to the world.

"It's amazing, all the things that she did," Nadal says, "and she's one of the most important stars in the world of tennis for a long time."

We couldn't have said it better.

Follow Jon on Twitter @jonscott9. For more on- and off-court coverage of the game, go to baseline.tennis.com.