Martina Navratilova Faces Backlash for Comments on Katie Boulter's Future

Tennis icon Martina Navratilova has stirred controversy with her candid remarks regarding British player Katie Boulter following Boulter's first-round exit at the 2025 US Open.

After Boulter's defeat to Marta Kostyuk on August 26, Navratilova, 68, suggested during a discussion with Sky Sports cohost Ryan Harrison that it might be time for Boulter, 29, to consider stepping away from the sport. Harrison, 33, noted Boulter's recent struggles on the court, emphasizing the need for her to finish the season on a high note.

“If you’re Katie Boulter, you’ve got to try and do everything you can to finish the season strong,” Harrison stated, highlighting the importance of increasing her match count as the season nears its conclusion.

Navratilova, however, took a more unconventional approach in her advice. “Or maybe just get married, have babies, and be done with it,” she quipped, eliciting laughter. “No more stress.”

Boulter recently announced her engagement to Australian tennis player Alex de Minaur, currently ranked No. 8 in the world, in December 2024. This context added a layer of complexity to Navratilova's comments.

Harrison countered Navratilova’s suggestion, pointing out that while stepping away from tennis might reduce one type of stress, parenting introduces a different set of challenges. “You said no more stress. That’s no more tennis stress, right? Because you have a little baby running around, it’s a different sort of stress,” he remarked.

Navratilova and her wife, Julia Lemigova, who is also known for her role on The Real Housewives of Miami, adopted two young boys in August 2024. Lemigova has two daughters from a previous relationship, adding to their family dynamic.

The tennis community reacted strongly to Navratilova's offhand comment. One fan labeled it “a shame,” praising Boulter as “a fantastic player and an amazing ambassador for British women’s tennis.” Another critic noted the unfairness of criticizing players during tough times: “It is easy to kick someone when they’re down and every player goes through times like this.”

Despite the criticism, Boulter remains focused on her game. After her loss, she acknowledged the need for improvement but did not indicate any plans to take a break from tennis. “I need to address the serving,” she told reporters. “We’ve been trying so many different things but nothing is quite working yet. I think that side of my game needs to improve.”

Boulter expressed optimism about her future performance: “You can look at the actual results and you’d probably be like, ‘You’re having a tough time.’ I’m actually really excited. I feel like I’ve got this buzz back again, which I lost a couple of weeks ago [at Montreal’s National Bank Open]. I personally would say it was a really pivotal moment in my career. I think that has spring-boarded me off the bottom and taken me back up again.”