This is middle age? Martina's back--winning two more Grand Slam titles and, at 47, beating players half her age.

Three decades after breaking onto the tennis scene as a timid and plump Czechoslovakian teenager, Martina Navratilova is still making waves with her on-court prowess.

When the Prague-born player hung up her rackets in 1994, she owned a record 56 Grand Slam titles (now 58) and had become the most prolific winner in the history of women's tennis. But instead of relaxing in retirement, the challenge-starved player returned to doubles play in 2000. And three years later--at the age of 47--the iconic, outspoken, naturalized American citizen is pummeling players half her age.

In 2003 the net-charging lefty won seven doubles tournaments and was named to the U.S. team in the Fed Cup, a nation-to-nation competition, becoming the oldest player ever to accomplish those feats. Moreover, she captured the mixed doubles titles at two of the four Grand Slam tournaments on tour, the Australian Open and Wimbledon, becoming, naturally, the oldest player to do so.

It's not as if Navratilova had been slacking off before 2000. The hyperkinetic athlete traveled the globe, learned ice hockey, and coauthored three mystery novels before returning to full-time play. She also threw her weight behind numerous activist groups, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Planned Parenthood, and the Human Rights Campaign. She even attracted attention from corporate America after years of being eschewed for her sexual forthrightness, which cost her millions in potential endorsements. Subaru has used her in gay and mainstream ads for several years now.

The grande dame of tennis plans to play one more year on the circuit in hopes of representing the United States at the 2004 Athens Olympics--one minor hole in her sporting life. After that, a leadership role with the women's tennis tour or politics are future possibilities. "If Arnold Schwarzenegger can run for governor in California, then who knows? I have the muscles," she jokes.

On a personal level, the longtime Aspen, Colo., resident recently relocated near Sarasota, Fla., where she plans to spend most of her time. And she has a partner of three years.

The Advocate buttonholed the busy Navratilova in November in Los Angeles, where she was competing in the Women's Tennis Association Tour's year-end championships in doubles.

How did you get back to where you are today?

Work. There's no shortcut. I did the work on the court and off the court.

How does it feel to be back near the top of your game?

It feels pretty sweet. I thought I could get there, but I wasn't sure. And I wasn't sure if I would stay with it long enough.

How does your play today compare with 15 years ago?

Physically, I'm moving as well as I did 15 years ago. Technically, I'm better than was ever. But the thing that is most difficult to get is velocity on the serve. If I could have the serve I had in '85-'86, I'd still be playing singles.

You should be enjoying life away from tennis, and yet you're grinding it out all over the world. What keeps you going?

It's a good question, because I could have a great life just putting my feet up doing pretty much nothing if I wanted to. But that's not my style either. I was very active when I did retire from playing singles, I'm just enjoying learning. It's fun when you can learn, when you're so good at something and still get better.

Did coming out as a lesbian athlete give you some sort, of inner strength to be such a formidable athlete today?

No, not at all. It forms you as a human being because you have to fight so many other battles that heterosexual people never think about.

Was coming out tough for you?

For me, it was not a problem. I was 25 when my parents asked me, and I told them. After I had to deal with the whole world, I had to deal with my parents. My coming-out was sort of lopsided, or flipped.

They came and asked you?

Yeah. I talked about that in my book. I really don't want to get into that. But people have said to me, "Well, it was easier for you because you're rich and famous." And I'm like, Excuse me? So the whole world knows instead of just your closest circle of friends? That's easier? [Laughs] No, you've got that wrong.

How's the endorsement climate for you these days?

Great. Subaru's coming along still, and I've got some other things in the oven that you might hear about in the near future.

Did the success of your Subaru endorsement depend on your image as a strong, out lesbian? No, it just didn't get in the way. [Subaru has] appealed to the gay and lesbian community, but I've transcended that. They run my ad in The Advocate, but they also run it in Sports Illustrated. It didn't matter to them one way or the other. They used [my sexual orientation] as a strength rather than a weakness.

Do you face any hardships because of being so open--still?

Personally, I never really had any. That's where being famous helps. But I've had friends who've been refused entry into a restaurant because they're gay.

Has the game changed since you've been out in terms of accepting people's differences?

The players always didn't care. The people around the circuit didn't care. But certainly, acceptance by Americans of homosexuals, or out gays and lesbians, has improved. For me, it was difficult because when I played Chris [Evert] or when I got introduced there were always the scattered boos and whistles, I would not have gotten them if I'd been in the closet or had [the public] not known I was gay. That was frustrating and hurtful.

Maybe it's because you were beating Chris so badly.

No, that's not it. [Laughs] I never understood this negative reaction to homosexuals. I didn't know that I was one until later on. I didn't see the big deal one way or the other, way back, when I was 7, 8, 9, 10 years old, growing up in a Communist system where people speak very, derisively of homosexuality. I didn't have a prejudiced bone in my body about anything or anyone--Gypsies or blacks or Chinese or gays or Jews, nothing. I still don't understand to this day that people would be judged on that, as if that's something negative, rather than who they are and what they do for others.

What about the state of things for gays in professional sports today?

For tennis, it's not a big deal. Golf, it wouldn't be a big deal. But they try very hard to be straight. Even the men's tour, they throw this heterosexuality out there. It's like, c'mon, give me a break. You don't have to hold your children when you're getting your winner's check. [Laughs]

In the team sports, unfortunately, [discrimination] is still condoned by the hierarchy when you have players in the NFL and NBA making derogatory remarks about gays. They are silent about it. They don't say anything, so they sort of condone it. The more people come out, the more it will matter less and these players will shut up.

But we haven't seen a male player come out in tennis.

I know. That's kind of funny too, because we know they are there. Of course they must be--just do the cross section in population.

Do you feel like the life you've lived has helped advance gay rights?

It certainly hasn't put it backward. Everybody helps. Ellen [DeGeneres] helps. Rosie O'Donnell helps. Elton John helps. It makes us more human and real, and you can't just talk about us in terms of "they."

Do you realize you've become an icon to baby boomers?

This middle-aged stuff is really funny now. These housewives, they go crazy. But it's inspiring. It's fun to know you can make a positive difference in somebody's life just because you can hit a tennis ball when you're 47.

How did it feel to be selected for Fed Cup?

I don't think about it in terms of age. It's just funny to be there after I played my last match [for Fed Cup] in '95.

You have to be one of the fittest 47-year-olds in the world. How do you do it?

I don't know about fittest, but I am one of the fastest. I don't know too many 47-year-old women that can outrun me in a sprint. [Laughs]

Run me through your training regimen.

It's periodized, and every day we do something [different]. It's not huge volume. I can't spend four hours out there running drills and doing things, but I can do an hour, and that's enough.

Do you feel crowds have warmed up to you more than when you dominated the tour?

Of course, nobody loves it when somebody dominates. Over the years the fans and the media have gotten to know me better. What comes through is, people see how much I love doing what I'm doing. So I think I've really expanded my fan base.

Despite the half-serious Arnold comment recently, do you have political aspirations?

One day I might get involved in politics. I don't know if it will work, because I am way too blunt and honest in my assessments and opinions. I can't BS anyone. I'd like to be involved somewhere I can make a difference in a positive way, especially in causes that don't get much help these days from the Republican base.

And your personal life? I hear that you've settled down with someone.

Yeah, I'm having a great time and looking forward to my life after tennis. But meantime, I'm enjoying my life during tennis.

Robson also writes for USA Today and Tennis magazine.