Martina Navratilova supports Heather Watson after "girl things" comment

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has come out in support of Britain's Heather Watson, who said that "girl things" affected her during her Australian Open first-round defeat to Tsvetana Pironkova.

Media speculation around the effects of periods on women during sport has been intense, and Navratilova has said that it is a very real issue for all female athletes.

She told BBC Sport: "It sounds like an excuse but for women it is a reality. For me, I didn't even like to drive before I got my period, that's how out of it I was. So it certainly affected me on the tennis court. There were a few matches that I wish would have been played about three days earlier or three days later.

"It does affect women differently but it certainly doesn't help you. I think you can see that on the golf course. One day they shoot a 68, the next day they should a 78 and you think 'Must have gotten her period' because it really does play such a big role and it can happen at unexpected times.

"You may not even know it's coming. You're dreading it."

Watson succumbed to a 6-4 6-0 defeat.