FOUR DAYS of frustration and a broken racket failed to prevent Martina Navratilova from clearing the first hurdle in her quest to claim another place in Wimbledon's hall of fame yesterday.

The 39-year-old has been waiting patiently since Friday to open the defence of her mixed doubles crown with Jonathan Stark, but rain has twice denied her entry into Wimbledon 96.

Yesterday, however, the pair, who teamed up at short notice last year after Navratilova's women's doubles partnership with Steffi Graf had folded following the German's withdrawal through injury, finally got on court and successfully overcame Australian Andrew Kratzmann and Maria Lindstrom of Sweden to put Navratilova within five matches of a unique place in history.

Navratilova, already winner of a record nine singles titles, claimed her 19th Wimbledon crown last year, putting her one adrift of Billie Jean King's championship haul.

But yesterday, Navratilova's major concern during the holders' 6-3 3-6 6-2 victory was her racket, which broke when they were leading 3-0 in the opening set. She took several points to readjust to a replacement but the pair progressed by winning the deciding set 6-2 on Court Two.

"I was really nervous. My knees were knocking," explained Navratilova. "I was so thrilled to be out there - I can't believe I'm back again. I'm not sure what our chances of winning are, there is a long way to go. But stranger things have happened because we won it last year."

Navratilova, who confirms she has now made her peace with Steffi Graf following their much publicised row about the German's fitness, will not face the singles champion later in the competition.