NEW YORK : Martina Navratilova's retirement send-off will include induction into the U.S. Open Court of Champions.

She'll be inducted along with the late Don Budge, a two-time winner, in ceremonies at Arthur Ashe Stadium on September 10 before the men's final.

The 49-year-old Navratilova announced this summer that she will retire again after the U.S. Open.

She'll join previous Court of Champions inductees Jimmy Connors, Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, Billie Jean King, Jack Kramer, Rod Laver, Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe and Bill Tilden, who have a total of 231 Grand Slam titles.

Illustrious company

"It's excellent company," Navratilova said in a phone interview Tuesday from Montreal, where she is playing doubles in the Rogers Cup.

She originally retired in 1994 with a record 167 singles titles, having spent 331 weeks ranked No. 1. Navratilova has specialised in doubles since her return in 2000, looking to add to her 58 Grand Slam titles.

Among her 15 U.S. Open titles, Navratilova won consecutive singles championships in 1983-84 and 1986-87.

She'll play doubles with world No. 6 Nadia Petrova and mixed doubles with Bob Bryan, part of the top-ranked men's doubles team, in the U.S. Open that starts Aug. 28.

"I've got some very good partners, I need to step up to the plate," Navratilova said.

She said her busy tennis schedule is leaving less time for other interests.

Busy schedule

"I need three of me," Navratilova said, laughing. "I have too many things going on business-wise. But most of all, my personal life is affected. There's not as much time to spend with my one and only. It takes away from my private life and is not enhancing it.

"I love to play, but it's time to get on with my life."

Navratilova plans to play singles during the second week of the U.S. Open in the newly created Champions Invitational, which features players who were Grand Slam champions or finalists. But she said it depends on her cranky knees and how far she advances in doubles and mixed doubles in New York.

Last year, she reached the doubles semifinals of the U.S. Open with Anna-Lena Groenefeld.

"I injured my good knee while I was rehabbing my bad one," she said. "I can't really run very well, it's not 100 per cent. But I hope to play singles, it's getting better."— AP

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