Navratilova to play doubles at Pilot Pen

Martina Navratilova, winner of a record 167 singles and 165 doubles titles in her career, will play doubles at the Pilot Pen in New Haven, Connecticut.

Martina Navratilova, winner of a record 167 singles and 165 doubles titles in her career, will play doubles at the Pilot Pen in New Haven, Connecticut.

Navratilova, who retired from the WTA tour in November 1994, returned to play doubles at this year's Wimbledon championships. She and Mariaan de Swardt lost to Venus and Serena Williams in the quarterfinals.

Navratilova has expressed interest in playing at the U.S. Open, the week after the Pilot Pen, which begins on Sunday.

Navratilova, 43, has won 56 career Grand Slam events, including a record nine Wimbledon titles and four U.S. Opens. Before retirement, she played at the 1994 SNET Classic in New Haven, winning the exhibition event.

"I have never forgotten the overwhelming support of the fans when I played there," Navratilova said.

At the Pen Pilot, she will team with Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik, 19. Srebotnik has won three career doubles titles and was a semifinalist at the 1999 Pilot Pen when teamed with Larisa Neiland.

The duo received the one available wild card into the 16-team doubles main draw.

Nearly half of the top 20 players in women's tennis, including Wimbledon winner Venus Williams, are set to play in the tournament, at the Connecticut Tennis Centre. Williams is the defending Pilot Pen champion and No. 3 in the world.