Martina Sets Sights on No. 10 : Women: She is favored to defeat Martinez for the title today in her singles farewell to Centre Court.

Martina Navratilova, making her final appearance on Wimbledon’s Centre Court, will play Conchita Martinez today for the women’s singles championship.

The 37-year-old Navratilova, the oldest player in the draw, has made no secret of her feelings for Wimbledon. It is her favorite tournament, her favorite playing surface and her favorite singles title, which figures, because she has nine of them.

But it is the lure of a 10th championship that has driven Navratilova from sentimental favorite to simply favorite, with no strings attached. She began the fortnight seeded No. 4, but as the result of a series of upsets--No. 1 Steffi Graf, No. 2 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario--and Navratilova’s own improving play, Wimbledon finds itself with an unlikely matchup.

“I’m going to absolutely enjoy every moment,” said Navratilova, who will make her 22nd appearance at Wimbledon and her 12th visit to the final. “I think it’s going to be a happy goodby either way. I’ll have the chance to win one more Wimbledon. What more can I ask for?”

In No. 3 Martinez, she will face someone who is best known for her play on clay, not grass. Martinez holds a 3-1 edge over Navratilova, but all the victories were on clay courts.

This is Martinez’s first Grand Slam event final, which is one reason the British oddsmakers have made Navratilova a 4-5 pick.

Not since 1928, when Lili de Alvarez did it, has a Spanish woman advanced to a Wimbledon final. If nothing else, Martinez has Spanish momentum on her side. Spain’s Sergi Bruguera and Vicario recently won French Open championships.

Meanwhile, Navratilova hasn’t won here since 1990, when she defeated then-Zina Garrison for her record-setting ninth title. A victory over Martinez will move Navratilova into a second-place tie on the all-time Grand Slam singles list. She is now tied with Chris Evert with 18 championships, one fewer than Helen Wills Moody and six fewer than Margaret Court.