Tennis icon Navratilova defected to the US 50 years ago. Would she do the same today?

Jun 18, 2025
BBC News
Tennis icon Navratilova defected to the US 50 years ago. Would she do the same today?
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Tennis icon Navratilova defected to the US 50 years ago. Would she do the same today?

Her outspoken criticism of the Trump administration

The tennis legend has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration, and in an interview with The Times this week, she said that she wouldn't have left her home country for Trump's America.

Why she feels this way

The reason? Navratilova cited the president's retweeting of a video of a crowd of Trump supporters chanting "white power" and his failure to disavow the racist message

Was this influential voice silenced?

Many believe that her critique led to a decision to drop her from the broadcast team for the upcoming US Open tennis tournament. Others suggest her criticism of Serena Williams' on-court behavior contributed to the decision

What does this say about free speech in the US?

The tennis icon has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration, and in an interview with The Times, she said that she wouldn't have left her home country for Trump's America

Original source: BBC News