Women’s tennis legend Martina Navratilova proposed to her longtime girlfriend Julia Lemigova at the US Open on Saturday. Navratilova, a former World No. 1 and winner of 18 Grand Slam titles, got down on one knee and asked Lemigova to marry her.
“We’ve been together six years and I can’t imagine my life without you,” Navratilova said to the former beauty queen, according to the New York Post’s Page Six. “Please marry me.”
Lemigova said yes and the two embraced. The proposal, which came after Japan’s Kei Nishikori stunned Novak Djokovic in the men’s semi-finals, was shown on the stadium jumbotrons. The Post reports that Navratilova and Lemigova plan to marry “as soon as possible.” The couple lives in Coconut Grove, Fla. but will travel to Miami-Dade, where gay marriage is legal, for their wedding.
“Martina wants to hold the wedding there to campaign for gay marriage equality in Florida and elsewhere,” the Post’s source said.
Lemigova and Navratilova have dated for years. Lemigova was by the former tennis player’s side when she battled breast cancer in 2010. Navratilova, who works as an analyst for the Tennis Channel, is very active within the gay community and an influential advocate for gay rights.
Photo: Instagram/Julia Lemigova
