/ 26 May 2000

AVRATILOVA, DE SWARDT IN WINNING FORM

TENNIS legend Martina Navratilova made her return to top-flight tennis on Tuesday in the Madrid Open, winning her return to doubles with South Africa’s Mariaan De Swardt. Saying she felt like a juggler and that her return was “very iffy,” Navratilova, in her first tournament match in six years struggled with her ball toss and return of serve but held serve to close the 6-3, 7-5 victory over Japan’s Rika Hiraki and Meghann Shaughnessy of the United States. The 43-year-old seeks her 333rd title overall and 166th in doubles at the Madrid Open. Navratilova and De Swardt also will be at next week’s French Open before turning their sights to the event Navratilova once owned — Wimbledon.