MELBOURNE - Former world number one Martina Navratilova believes that recent racket technology has made modern tennis "too easy." The 46-year-old, who got off to a successful start with 17-year-old Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Australian Open doubles yesterday, advocated a return to the smaller rackets used in the 1970s and 1980s. "The materials are so ridiculous now, it's too easy. I would rather see them go back again to smaller rackets and take away the sweet spots. Then you can do more with the ball," she said.

"Something needs to be done. The game's too easy with those rackets." Navratilova won 18 grand slam singles titles - including nine Wimbledon crowns - in a career that has now spanned four decades since her decision to return to the WTA Tour to play doubles in 2000. She played her first Australian Open in 1975, losing 6-3 6-2 in the final to Evonne Goolagong.

"You see pictures in the locker room of Ken Rosewall and Roy Emerson, Margaret Court - all the great Australian and the rackets they were playing with. The sweet spot was (tiny)," said Navratilova, who won 167 singles titles, more than any man or woman in history.

Purists have long yearned for a return to the "golden years" of tennis, before the invention of carbon graphite rackets and the emergence of the power hitters of the modern game. Navratilova also believes the rulebook should be modified to stop tennis becoming all brawn and no brain, particularly the men's game. "I think one serve would make for fascinating tennis," she said on the subject on abolishing the second serve.

"You (could) still serve and volley, but you have to pick your spots. Then the other guy is always hitting the second serve, so you can chip and charge more. "You would see more service breaks, and it would make for more rallies and more interesting tennis."