Martina Navratilova proposes to girlfriend at US Open

Martina Navratilova proposes to her girlfriend of over six years Julia Lemigova. Credit: APTN

Tennis great Martina Navratilova is set to marry her long-term partner after she proposed on the big screen during the US Open semi-final.

Navratilova popped the question to Julia Lemigova in the Tennis Channel suite, drawing a loud cheer from the crowd on Saturday.

A video released of the moment shows Navratilova turning to her girlfriend and saying, "I have something that I have been meaning to ask you for a while".

"I can't do this in Florida yet but I can do it in this fabulous state of New York," she says as Lemigova holds her hand to her mouth.

Martina Navratilova looks overjoyed as her girlfriend says yes. Credit: APTN
The newly engaged couple smiles as the US Open crowd looks on from the big screen. Credit: APTN

Lemigova laughs and says, "This is not happening," before giving her answer.

When asked to kiss the bride Lemigova hesitates as the tennis star jokes, "She's shy ... I'm not!"

Martina Navratilova and Julia Lemigova smile as they are pictured in the crowd. Credit: REUTERS/Mike Segar

Navratilova said later: "I was very nervous. It came off. She said yes. It was kind of an out-of-body experience.

"You've seen people propose at sporting events before, in movies, in real life. Here it was happening to me. It was like I was watching myself do it."