Martina Navratilova First Celeb Eliminated From 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 14

Martina Navratilova is a legend on the tennis court but she became the first competitor eliminated season 14 of "Dancing With the Stars" Tuesday night.

The star athlete with 59 Grand Slam titles and a record nine Wimbledon singles championships to her name is not used to walking away without a trophy, but has no regrets about entering the “Dancing” competition.

“What’s life if you don’t challenge yourself … I’m glad that I did it. Hopefully it inspired people to do more with their life,” she said today on “Good Morning America.” “Most of all, I think I learned to have fun and just go for it.”

 

Navratilova and singer Gavin DeGraw were both in jeopardy after ending up with the lowest scores after audience votes and points from the judges were combined.

Navratilova looked disappointed when she learned she was going home.

"It was an amazing experience," she said, after hugging partner Tony Dovolani, whom she called a “lifelong friend.” "I just wish it had lasted longer. I gave it everything I had but I blew it yesterday and it cost me."

She also wished the other competitors "great luck."

Navratilova's combined score from performances on Monday night and March 19 landed her on the bottom of the leader board. Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins was the top-scorer on both nights.

The tennis star missed some of the steps during her jive on Monday, and her foxtrot from the season debut, while thought to be elegant and refined, was "too careful," head judge Len Goodman told her.

Navratilova said on “GMA” today that she was just getting comfortable in her dancing shoes.

“The biggest lesson I learned is that you can be comfortable in high heel shoes,” she joked. “It was like a fairytale kind of situation, and [Tony Dovolani] made me feel like a princess, every day. I think that’s my biggest regret that we don’t get to do this again."

Tuesday night's show also featured live performances by singer Matt Nathanson and the band Sugarland, as well as routines from the show's professional dancers.

Elimination in the competition results from a combination of judges' scores and audience votes. The celebrity with the lowest combined scores is sent home, until three stars remain. They and their partners compete for the championship.

Returning next week to perform are Disney star Roshon Fegan, "Extra" co-host Maria Menounos, NFL player Donald Driver, singer/actor Jack Wagner, DeGraw, actress Melissa Gilbert, Jenkins, R&B legend Gladys Knight, telenovela star William Levy, "The View" co-host Sherri Shepherd and "Family Matters" star Jaleel White.

Navratilova’s partner Tony Dovolani said season 14 was by far the most “competitive season ever” on the show. Personality-wise, Dovolani dubbed Sherri Sheppard as the frontrunner and called out contestant Katherine Jenkins for her tremendous performing skills. He also thought Jaleel While and Donald Driver were strong competitors for the mirror ball trophy.