Navratilova Is Defeated in Farewell : Wimbledon: Surprising Martinez scores a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory in legend’s emotional final match in tournament.

There were tears, of course. A forgotten curtsy to the Duchess of Kent. A victory lap around Centre Court for someone who lost. There was a lone British voice from the crowd shouting . . . no, pleading, “How ‘bout next year, Martina?”

But there will be no return. Martina Navratilova, her storybook career forced to do without a happy ending Saturday, could only smile sadly, shake her head no and then blow a kiss toward the voice. The Wimbledon championship that Navratilova craved, the silver salver that she had hoped to hold above her head at match’s end, now belongs to Conchita Martinez, who won, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

It happened on a grayish, muggy afternoon that drew royalty--Princess Diana at court’s edge, Navratilova at court’s center--to the still air of the All England Lawn Tennis Club. And while the audience saw its share of sloppy tennis (five double faults and 13 broken serves) it also saw Navratilova, 37, prowling the net like the old days and Martinez whacking backhand winners with numbing regularity.

Then came set point. Navratilova’s final backhand of her 22 years at Wimbledon landed wide of the line and that was that.

Not that it mattered Saturday. After all, it might have been Martinez’s tournament, but it was Navratilova’s moment.

When Navratilova strode across the green carpet to accept her runner-up plaque from the Duchess, the crowd stood and applauded for two full minutes. It was the least it could do.

The No. 4-seeded Navratilova looked at the small plate (much too small, remarked someone later, for a player of her stature) as if it would make a swell doorstop, then blew more kisses to the appreciative audience. Standing nearby was Martinez, clapping, too.

Later there was a slow walk around Centre Court and a moment spent to retrieve a bouquet tossed at her feet. It was a farewell rarely seen here. Bluebloods and commoners alike dabbing their eyes with hankies. The applause rolling from green wall to green wall.

Even the Duchess herself was moved to gentle persuasion. Standing there with Navratilova, who has announced her retirement at season’s end, the Duchess asked if a 1995 Wimbledon playing appearance might not be in order after all.

Navratilova offered a polite no, but did say she might come for a visit.

“Then we’ll definitely have tea,” said the Duchess.

Tea, but no tennis. It will have to do.

So heavy hearted was the occasion that William Crowe, the U.S. ambassador to Great Britain, shook Navratilova’s hand . . . and began to cry.

“What are you crying for?” Navratilova said.

Navratilova knew the answer. You don’t reach the finals of Wimbledon 12 times, win the tournament nine times and flirt with middle age and a 10th title without tugging at a few heartstrings, including your own.

“I’m not crying because I lost,” she said, “I’m just crying because it’s over.”

So it is, but not without a fight. At times it was vintage Navratilova, other times the play of a 37-year-old with a case of bad nerves.

As usual, Navratilova charged the net and put 22 of 34 shots away for points. But she also struggled scoring points with her serve, double faulted away two of those three crucial games in the third set and had no answer for Martinez’s powerful backhand passing shots.

“Today she passed me as well as anybody ever has,” Navratilova said.

As it turned out, the day was full of surprises.

No. 3 Martinez, playing in her first Wimbledon and Grand Slam event singles championship, supposedly was the one who would collapse from the pressure of Centre Court and the weight of nationalism. Not only did she have to beat Navratilova, she had to carry the flag for Spain, which had produced only one other Wimbledon finalist--Lili de Alvarez in 1928. De Alvarez lost.

Nor was Martinez accustomed to the pomp and circumstance of Saturday’s final. Watching in the royal box was Diana, Princess of Wales; the Duke and Duchess of Kent; South Africa Deputy President F.W. De Klerk; the U.S. ambassador; the ambassador from Spain; the mayor of London; Jose Ferrer and assorted lords, captains and a whole bunch of her majesty’s something or others.

Martinez won the first game in four consecutive points. So much for nerves. She fought back from deficits of 2-3 and 3-4 to win the set.

The second set wasn’t so wonderful. Down, 3-0, Martinez experienced some tightness in her lower back muscles and had to receive treatment. She lost the next game, but then stormed back to cut Navratilova’s lead to 4-3.

Navratilova held serve to win the fifth game and broke Martinez’s to win the sixth and the set.

On to the third and final set. Surely this would be where Navratilova’s experience would be the difference. Not quite--Martinez went up, 2-0.

Navratilova tied the set, 2-2, and served for the next game. As she readied herself for the toss, someone from the crowd yelled, “C’mon, Martina.” It wasn’t a cry of encouragement as much as it was a command, as in, “Hurry up and win this thing, will you?”

Navratilova double faulted away the game.

From there, Martinez took control. A backhand winner gave her a 5-3 lead. Navratilova’s floating backhand that kept going and going . . . wide! . . . gave her the match.

“She’s a really good player,” Martinez said of the legend, “and my feelings are--you know, she did great to get into the finals and play so relaxed and I’m really sorry to beat her. But I’m really pleased that I did.”

Navratilova and Martinez hugged after the match. That’s when Navratilova saw part of herself in the 22-year-old Spaniard. She saw memories.

“I remember how that first one felt,” she said. “It’s such a pure feeling, that first time. So I hope she can feel it again.”

Navratilova had it all wrong. Years from now, if Martinez is really lucky, she will have a day like Navratilova’s.

“I feel this place in my bones,” Navratilova said. “I feel all those champions out there, dead and alive, when I’m out there. There’s no place like it.”