Martina Navratilova Honored at National Tennis Center

The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the U.S. Open, will tout the name of another prominent lesbian sport icon.

The U.S. Tennis Association Serves's "Avenue of Aces" initiative will feature a new donor-supported "neighborhood" system, honoring Martina Navratilova as well as Chris Evert, Stefanie Graf, and the late wheelchair tennis pioneer Randy Snow. The neighborhoods are comprised of streets at the sport complex already named after tennis stars like Billie Jean King and Pete Sampras.

“I’m honored to have a neighborhood on the Avenue of Aces, to be a part of US Open history and to be moving in with other champions,” Navratilova said in a statement. “I support USTA Serves’ efforts to use the powerful combination of tennis and education to make our youth healthy, fit and academically strong."

Since its inception in 2005, the Avenue of Aces initiative has raised more than $1.5 million to support programs that benefit people with disabilities and children in underserved communities with opportunities to play tennis, fight obesity, improve academics, and apply for college scholarships.

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