Martina Navratilova's comment hasn't been warmly received.

"Shame on you...you of all people would understand that not everyone is a native English speaker" – Tennis fans react to Martina Navratilova's comments

Modified Nov 28, 2022 08:19 GMT

Tennis legends Martina Navratilova and Rennae Stubbs recently took to Twitter to give their opinion on the 2022 ATP Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award nominees. The exclusion of Novak Djokovic from the nominees' list has drawn criticism from his fans, and both Navratilova and Stubbs made a mention of that.

The contenders for the award this year are Felix Auger-Aliassime, Grigor Dimitrov, Hubert Hurkacz, Lorenzo Musetti, Matteo Berrettini, Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud, Rafael Nadal, Cameron Norrie, Frances Tiafoe, and Maxime Cressy.

According to Navratilova and Stubbs, Djokovic was excluded because of his outbursts on the court, smashing the net at the French Open, and throwing his racket at Serbia- nearly hitting a ball kid. They also think it is meaningless to debate with Djokovic's "stans" who support him.

Poking fun at those who had come to Djokovic's defense, Navratilova wrote that it was challenging to communicate when someone didn't speak English fluently yet criticized what you stated in English.

"Difficult to talk to people when they don’t speak English very well… yet attack what you said in English…" Navratilova wrote.

Martina Navratilova

@Martina

@rennaestubbs @ElkNat877 @Rahfucious @RottenKnee77 @muralir0 @jon_wertheim @ATP @atptour @DKTNNS @PHShriver @ChrissieEvert @DjokerNole Difficult to talk to people when they don’t speak English very well… yet attack what you said in English…

This statement from Navratilova was not well-received, with one fan reminding the legend that she had to move to another nation because she was persecuted for her sexuality.

"You literally had to move to another nation because you were being persecuted for your sexuality. I thought you of all people would understand that not everyone is a native English speaker. Shame on you," the fan wrote.

amahl

@amahlsazwar

@Martina @rennaestubbs @ElkNat877 @Rahfucious @RottenKnee77 @muralir0 @jon_wertheim @ATP @atptour @DKTNNS @PHShriver @ChrissieEvert @DjokerNole You literally had to move to another nation because you were being persecuted for your sexuality. I thought you of all people would understand that not everyone is a native English speaker. Shame on you.

Another fan remarked that Djokovic's supporters could have tweeted to Navratilova in their native language but claimed that she wouldn't understand the words. @justtennis asked her to be grateful to people from different countries that speak with her in English.

"She could tweet to you in her language but I’m afraid you won’t understand a word so be thankful people from different countries speak with you in English," the fan said.

🎾

@justtennis_

@Martina @rennaestubbs @ElkNat877 @Rahfucious @RottenKnee77 @muralir0 @jon_wertheim @ATP @atptour @DKTNNS @PHShriver @ChrissieEvert @DjokerNole She could tweet to you in her language but I’m afraid you won’t understand a word so be thankful people from different countries speak with you in English.

Here are a few more fan reactions.

Alexandra

@alexxandra1011

@Martina @rennaestubbs @ElkNat877 @Rahfucious @RottenKnee77 @muralir0 @jon_wertheim @ATP @atptour @DKTNNS @PHShriver @ChrissieEvert @DjokerNole So low of you Martina

Alejandra Ramírez

@alejitaram

@Martina @rennaestubbs @ElkNat877 @Rahfucious @RottenKnee77 @muralir0 @jon_wertheim @ATP @atptour @DKTNNS @PHShriver @ChrissieEvert @DjokerNole Xenofobia?? Sorry, xenophobia?

ItsmeHARSHI🐊🐊🐊🎾🎾🎾

@HarshiItsme

@Martina @rennaestubbs @ElkNat877 @Rahfucious @RottenKnee77 @muralir0 @jon_wertheim @ATP @atptour @DKTNNS @PHShriver @ChrissieEvert @DjokerNole Margret court is homophobic and Martina is Xenophobic!

Sal H

@Hooks1975

@justtennis_ @Martina @rennaestubbs @ElkNat877 @Rahfucious @RottenKnee77 @muralir0 @jon_wertheim @ATP @atptour @DKTNNS @PHShriver @ChrissieEvert @DjokerNole What the.. Must be a full moon. English is not Martina's 1st language. I think you will find she can speaks many languages.

Anca

@anca_m_anca

@Martina @rennaestubbs @ElkNat877 @Rahfucious @RottenKnee77 @muralir0 @jon_wertheim @ATP @atptour @DKTNNS @PHShriver @ChrissieEvert @DjokerNole Martina, do you speak at least one phrase in another language? Try Romanian. And then, let's see if you do greater with my language than I do with yours. My God! 🤮

JP 🇦🇷

@NardinPedro

@Martina @rennaestubbs @ElkNat877 @Rahfucious @RottenKnee77 @muralir0 @jon_wertheim @ATP @atptour @DKTNNS @PHShriver @ChrissieEvert @DjokerNole This really has Trump vibes

🎾

@justtennis_

@Martina @rennaestubbs @ElkNat877 @Rahfucious @RottenKnee77 @muralir0 @jon_wertheim @ATP @atptour @DKTNNS @PHShriver @ChrissieEvert @DjokerNole I hope @andy_murray will see this tweet and will change his opinion about you. He talked very nicely about you in interviews……What a shame 🙄

Manuel Vasquez

@Manuelvasqz69

@Martina @rennaestubbs @ElkNat877 @Rahfucious @RottenKnee77 @muralir0 @jon_wertheim @ATP @atptour @DKTNNS @PHShriver @ChrissieEvert @DjokerNole You’re disgusting, shame on you.

@MustufaQubbawa1

@Martina @rennaestubbs @ElkNat877 @Rahfucious @RottenKnee77 @muralir0 @jon_wertheim @ATP @atptour @DKTNNS @PHShriver @ChrissieEvert @DjokerNole @Martina Hi Mam, I saw you playing tennis and amazing Matches, but in recent times, I am noticing that why are you losing your respect in debating and fighting with people for topics you should not get involved, you are a legend, public figure so please act accordingly!

Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova pick the player they want to honour with the 2022 ATP Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award

Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova have picked Felix Auger-Aliassime for the ATP Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award in 2022

Former tennis greats Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova have made their picks for the ATP Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award in 2022. They both believe the award should be given to 22-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime.

On Saturday, Martina Navratilova tweeted to announce her choice for the ATP Sportsmanship finalists.

"FAA (Felix Auger-Aliassime) would get my vote. But I don’t vote:)" she tweeted.

Martina Navratilova

@Martina

@ChelseaRulezzz @ElkNat877 @rennaestubbs @Rahfucious @RottenKnee77 @muralir0 @jon_wertheim @ATP @atptour @DKTNNS @PHShriver @ChrissieEvert FAA would get my vote. But I don’t vote:)

Later, Chris Evert retweeted Navratilova's post and also chose her favourite for the award. She even addressed the ongoing argument between Navratilova and tennis enthusiasts.