LONDON (AP) – Spectators stood six deep June 24 on the walkway alongside cozy Court 3. They filled an adjacent stairway, peered over the backstop and looked on from a nearby balcony, eager to see Martina Navratilova win in singles at Wimbledon.

They were too late.

The 47-year-old Navratilova failed to duplicate the previous Monday’s performance, when she became the oldest woman since 1922 to win a singles match at Wimbledon. Looking her age against 19-year-old Gisela Dulko, Navratilova lost 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

“I’m disappointed that I didn’t play better tennis,” she said. “I know I can play better.”

Dulko also beat Navratilova in the first round at the French Open last month. Their rematch was closer, but with Navratilova trying to come in behind serves that rarely topped 90 miles per hour, Dulko repeatedly sent returns past her onrushing opponent.

Navratilova said she struggled to see in the late-afternoon light, and she was fooled several times by tricky bounces on the grass.

“Every so often, I hit a shot and I’m like, ‘OK, that’s as good as it was 20 years ago,’” she said. “It doesn’t happen that often, unfortunately.”

Navratilova entered singles at Wimbledon for the first time in a decade. She said her motivation was not to win her 10th title, but merely to polish her game for doubles.

Current and former players were divided in their reaction to her return.

“It’s pretty incredible what she did,” Andy Roddick said. “She’s probably the only one who thought it was a good idea, and she kind of proved a lot of people wrong.”

Others were less impressed with the comeback. Michael Stich, the 1991 Wimbledon champion, said Navratilova’s first-round victory was a terrible commentary on the depth of the women’s game.

“I really get upset when I see one-Slam wonder Michael Stich criticizing the depth in women’s tennis,” Navratilova said. “I think it’s a sexist reaction. People will keep saying it about women, but they don’t say that about men.”

Navratilova, who played her first doubles match June 25, plans to retire at the end of the year. She said she has no idea whether she wants to play singles at the U.S. Open.

“Hardcourts are rough on the body,” she said. “The joints are not as good as they used to be.”