Major? U.S. Open More Like a Major Pain to Navratilova

How much does Martina Navratilova like the U.S. Open?

Not much. In fact, the four-time U.S. Open champion is considering skipping it in her last year of playing tennis.

“If she’s not into it, the worst thing she could do is play,” said Pam Shriver, her former doubles partner.

Navratilova’s list of complaints about the U.S. Open is long.

“It’s the most unenjoyable tournament in the world,” Navratilova said. “It’s great when you win it, everything else is a pain in the butt. There is nothing good about it. The facility itself, to think that they built it specifically for tennis is frightening.”

Navratilova said the players’ facilities are poor, the speeds of the courts differ, the ticket policies are confusing and always changing, the smoke from the concession stands bothers players, there are problems with most of the courts, including lighting, and that’s not all.

“They even run out of balls during the match,” she said.

“I will miss the spectators, the helpers in the locker room, I will miss the atmosphere, but I won’t miss anything else.”