"They'd call and say, 'Are you OK?' As if I'd died" - When Martina Navratilova lamented the reaction to her losing Calendar Slam & 74-match win streak

Martina Navratilova once expressed frustration over the reaction to her 74-match win streak and hopes of winning the Calendar Grand Slam ending with a loss at the 1984 Australian Open. Navratilova lamented that her impressive achievements were only celebrated after her streak was broken.

After winning three consecutive Major titles to close out 1983, Navratilova extended her dominance by triumphing at the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open during her exceptional 1984 season. Subsequently, the Czech-American entered the Australian Open as the top seed and defending champion, in pursuit of the coveted calendar year Grand Slam.

Martina Navratilova emerged victorious against over Yvonne Vermaak, Mary Lou Piatek, Kathy Rinaldi and Barbara Potter to advance to the semi-finals at the Melbourne Slam. Then, in a shocking turn of events, Helena Sukova pulled off a stunning 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 comeback win over the top seed, snapping the longest win streak of 74 matches in tennis history.

In a 1985 interview with the New York Times, Martina Navratilova revealed that it wasn't until after her first loss in nearly a year that she received an outpouring of appreciation.

"It's funny after I lost in Australia - my first loss in 75 matches, 11 months, 13 tournaments - I got more flowers and letters and telegrams and phone calls than I had ever gotten. Everyone saying how wonderful I was, how great I was," Martina Navratilova said.

Navratilova expressed frustration with the timing of the admiration, disclosing how people called her with excessive concern as if something tragic had happened. She also lamented that it took a loss for people to finally acknowledge her greatness.

"Everyone wondering if I was O.K. They'd call up and say,'' - she lowers her voice to mimic extreme concern - '' 'Are you O.K.?' As if I'd died. People appreciated me. Why do I have to lose for people to appreciate me?" she said.

"They even said it - 'I didn't realize what a champion you were until you lost.' And if the jerk from The New Yorker magazine had been there he probably would have said the same thing," she added.

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"It hurts, but I'll get over it" - Martina Navratilova on losing her 74-match win streak at Australian Open 1984

Martina Navratilova (Source: Getty)

Speaking to the press after her heartbreaking loss at the 1984 Australian Open, Martina Navratilova admitted that the loss of her record-breaking winning streak stung but emphasized that she would get over it in time.

''How important is anything? It hurts, but I'll get over it. I still have two arms, two legs and a heart," Navratilova said, as quoted by the New York Times.

"If I'd have won, I'd have done it all. If I lost I had to start from scratch. Both are hard to cope with," she added.

Navratilova also acknowledged that she didn't produce her best performance and credited Sukova for being the better player on the day. Nevertheless, she took comfort in knowing that she had given it her best effort.

"I certainly didn't play my best, but I did my best on the day. I know I'm the better player, but today she was the better player," she said.

Although Martina Navratilova fell short in singles at the 1984 Australian Open, she won the women's doubles title with Pam Shriver. They made history as the first players in the Open Era to complete the calendar year Grand Slam in doubles.