Martina Navratilova turned the clock back at Eastbourne yesterday with a gutsy win in her first singles match for eight years.

The 11-time champion thrilled the centre court with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 triumph against Slovak world No. 22 Tatiana Panova.

Fans revelled in 96 minutes of pure nostalgia as Navratilova, 45, defied age and the rankings to outsmart her overawed opponent in the first round of the Britannic Asset Management Championships.

The legendary American was making her first singles appearance since losing to Gabriela Sabatini in the WTA Championships in 1994.

It is a one-tournament comeback to honour a bet with her trainer after winning the doubles title in Madrid recently with Natasha Zvereva.

Navratilova said: "I's always more fun when you win, but of course it was fun.

"That's the whole point I'm still here. If it wasn't fun I wouldn't be doing it. I have lots of other things I can do with my life.

"I didn't really expect anything. I'm just having a good time and we'll see where that goes. I haven't played a match in eight years, so I just went out there to do the best I can."

Navratilova may be well past her prime but her present day best was still too much for the pint-sized Panova.

Panova regards grass as her favourite surface and usually goes into the net yet spent the entire match hitting pugnaciously from the baseline.

"She's a legend on the tour, so when I came onto the court it was fun," said Panova. "After that I didn't really have any fun.

"She just went to the net all the time, so it was hard for me. I didn't play well and right now I'm not in good shape."

The same might be said of the women's game based on the result, but don't dare suggest that within earshot of Martina.

"If they do it will really make me mad for one big reason. When Michael Jordan comes back and still makes an all-star team it's because he is great.

"The women are good. I can still play this game and I can play on grass. I still have the ability."

Navratilova lives in Colorado but the green lawns of Devonshire Park, like Wimbledon, are almost a second home.

She won the Eastbourne event five times on the trot from 1982 to 1986, then four in a row between 1988 and 1991.

"It's a familiar place to be," she said. "Although the centre court is completely different now I have played doubles here so I am used to it.

"Grass is home. I don't have to wonder whether to come into the net or not like I do on other surfaces. That makes it easier mentally.

"I felt at home, but at the same time I was really digging deep into the memory bank.

"There's not time to get nostalgic out there because you have to play a match.

"My only knowledge of her was that she hits her backhand better than her forehand and she runs a lot.

"Playing singles and doubles are obviously two different things. I know what I can do in practise and I didn't play as well as in practise.

"There were certainly some nerves involved, but I managed my nerves. It was a matter of could I handle it mentally being out there and the answer was yes.

"I don't think I am any slower than I was eight years ago. It's just that when you get older you have to remind yourself to run."

Navratilova may have to run a lot more in an intriguing second round encounter today against her Slovak protege, third seed Daniela Hantuchova.

The 19-year-old world No. 13, the rising star of the women's game, is coached by Lewes-based Nigel Sears.

They watched Navratilova's victory yesterday and Sears is not treating the veteran lightly.

"You have got to give Martina the respect she obviously deserves," said Sears. "She's won Wimbledon nine times and she really understands grass.

"We will be taking it very seriously, but I think Martina will find playing Daniela very different to Tatiana Panova.

"Daniela is very confident about her own game and she is looking forward to it, because Martina is someone she has always looked up to and respected.

"Martina is her mentor on the WTA programme, so it will be exciting for her to play such a legend.

"Hopefully she will be able to show her speed and power in the modern game."

Eastbourne top seed Jelena Dokic still did not know her second round opponent as action resumed today.

Play had to be suspended late last night after morning rain delayed the start.