Nine-time Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova believes that Venus Williams's fifth All England Club title proves that the women's tour is ingood health.

Navratilova hit back at critics who argue there is a lack of genuine competition at the top level of the women's game, a problem acutely emphasised by the shock retirement of former world number one Justine Henin.

"Things on the women's side have been a strange recently because Justine was the favourite in every match she played but suddenly she retired and there was a hole,” Navratilova told the BBC after seeing Venus beat sister Serena 7-5,6-4 in the final.

"Maria Sharapova played great at the Australian Open but she's been stagnating. Ana Ivanovic won the French Open but then totally deflated here at Wimbledon.

"But the all-Williams final shows women's tennis is looking in good shape because we've got two superstars back in the fold and they could end up number one by the end of the year.

"The women's game is wide open now and whoever is going to be a Grand Slam champion will have to play great tennis and earn it rather than win by default because somebody else is not playing well."

Navratilova added that even though the American sisters now play a light tour schedule, they have proved that they are still forces to be reckoned with.

"A couple of years ago you thought to yourself, 'Venus is finished; maybe Serena can make a comeback but Venus is probably going to focus on her fashion interests or do something else'," she said.

"But here she is winning back-to-back Wimbledon titles. Despite what mariy detractors have said, it's obvious that both girls are still enjoying the game and want to get back to the top, which breathes new life into the women's game.”