"We've come a long way": Navratilova, Blake on inclusivity

In the most recent episode of Tennis United, co-hosts Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Vasek Pospisil offered up a wide array of guests for viewers to hear from.

Martina Navratilova and James Blake kicked off the show by discussing the bridge between tennis and equality. Navratilova was specifically asked about Pride Month and her take on the evolution of acceptance within the sport.

"When it comes to gay rights and equality for all, we have come a long way baby," Navratilova said. "We're still not 100 percent there, but tennis has always been so open minded and welcoming to all. We're leading the way, so it's nice to know that."

Blake, a former world No. 4 and current tournament director of the Miami Open, spoke about his disappointment in not being able to expand on his tournament's Out at the Open event, which he and his team put together last year. "I was looking forward to making it even bigger and better," he said.

The American also reflected on the noticeable shift he's witnessed through the years, crediting upcoming generations with breaking the mold of the audience tennis is catered toward.

"Tennis is a young person's sport," he said. "I feel like younger people are starting to lead the way in terms of these generations about having inclusivity and being together. This Tennis United is a great platform for that. You're not dealing with the status quo, the old beliefs of tennis being an old, rich, white man's sport. So many barriers got shattered."

Navratilova jokingly chimed in, "Careful how you use that word old!"

Later in the episode, Mattek-Sands and Pospisil interviewed past Wimbledon finalist MaliVai Washington on the work his foundation does to support youth development in Jacksonville, Fla. Former French Open champions Mary Pierce and Gustavo Kuerten also stopped by for a chat.