Martina Navratilova played her first singles match since Wimbledon last year, losing to Claudine Schaul of Luxembourg 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 in the first round of the Ordina Open tennis tournament.
Navratilova, who reached the mixed doubles final at the French Open, has won 18 Grand Slam singles titles in her career. The 48-year-old American reached the second round at Wimbledon last year but lost to Gisela Dulko 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
In her first-round victory last year, Navratilova became the oldest woman since 1922 to win a singles match at Wimbledon.
Wimbledon organisers said on Monday that Navratilova could still get a wild card to play singles at this year's tournament, which starts next Monday. But the nine-time Wimbledon singles champion said she had no plans to play.
She did not rule out playing singles again in the future, however, and said she planned on playing doubles this year at the All England Club.
Navratilova, who received a wild card to play in the Dutch tournament, lost nine straight games in the second and third sets on Monday.
She recovered in the third set, but Schaul responded and won on her first match point.
Navratilova has played 10 tournaments this year, all in doubles. Monday's match was her first against Schaul, who has a 3-10 singles record this year.
