WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS: NAVRATILOVA HOLDS COURT AT STAPLES HER PRESENCE OVERSHADOWS SCHEDULED WTA MATCHES.

Byline: Lauren Gustus Staff Writer

Martina Navratilova arrived at Staples Center on Thursday afternoon, greeted reporters with a wink, took the seat at the head of the table and, as usual, captivated the group, preaching about and campaigning for tennis as no other player had yet to do this week at the season-ending WTA championships.

The 47-year-old queen of women's tennis will play in the doubles portion of the championships, which will begin Sunday, 20 years after her first appearance at the event.

Equal parts historian, critic and promoter, Navartilova's presence will inject a needed shot of energy into the event. Her enthusiasm overshadowed the day's scheduled matches - even though the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne, both played.

Clijsters and Amelie Mauresmo won their respective matches in front of an announced 5,431, and Henin-Hardenne played Anastasia Myskina in the day's late match. Clijsters, the defending champion, became the first player to reach the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over American Chanda Rubin.

Navratilova talked for nearly an hour. She announced her plans to play through the end of next year, while former No. 1 Martina Hingis, retired from tennis at age of 22 but broadcasting this week for Eurosport, sat nearby listening to the player she was named after, but whom had outlasted her.

Navratilova, settled now in Apsen, Colo., takes exception to age discrimination, dismissing it as a non-issue because she believes she is one of the greatest players ever. With 18 singles, 31 doubles and nine mixed doubles Grand Slam titles, it's hardly disputable.

``It's not just any 47-year-old,'' she said. ``It's Martina. When Michael Jordan left those shoes on the floor and came back it wasn't just any old guy, it was Michael Jordan.''

Jennifer Capriati said, ``She said she wanted to come back and play tennis, and all the power to her for doing what she wants.''

But her return, which began three years ago, wasn't as smooth as she thought it would be. Navratilova won one doubles title (Madrid) from 2000 to 2002 and wasn't even listed in the WTA's 2003 media guide. The lack of success made her keep at it.

``People probably said I shouldn't really be playing anymore,'' Navratilova said. ``I know I can't play as well as I did 20 years ago, but I wanted to reach my potential. The results weren't that important. Now I've finally hit my stride. I'm very close to being at my best. I want to play one more year because I want to enjoy the fruits of my labor.''

She used to be able to play doubles with anybody, but now she needs to play with someone who can help her win a match. She will play with 18-year-old Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia on Sunday, though she plans to play with Lisa Raymond, a 30-year-old American, next year.

``I think I need somebody that can hold their own,'' Navratilova said. ``It used to be Martina and anybody, or 30 others. Now that's not the case. But it's still is Martina and a few others.''

Navratilova said she believes the tour needs a major overhaul, because players are playing too many matches to maintain rankings, and she offered a system loosely based on that of baseball's major and minor leagues. She said she'd like to help develop younger players and maybe coach a Fed Cup team in the future.

And she weighed in on the Williams sisters' absence.

``I don't know how much they want it,'' Navratilova said. ``I'm wondering because for them to play as little as they do with the bodies that they have I'm thinking something's wrong here. ... For the both of them to have as many (physical) problems as they've had you know I wonder how much they want to play or what kind of training they do when they're not playing.''

Mauresmo, seeded fourth, ended Dementieva's chances of advancing to the next round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory in the first match of the night. Mauresmo struggled at the start - hitting two moon balls into the Jumbotron directly above the court - but settled down to break No. 6 Dementieva to go ahead 5-3 in the first. She held to win the set.

Rubin will play Dementieva and Mauresmo will play Clijsters to determine the red group's second semifinalist.

Lauren Gustus, [phone]

Lauren.gustus(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Martina Navratilova will play doubles Sunday with 18-year-old Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia.

Miles Kennedy/Associated Press