Martina Navratilova has confirmed she will play singles at Wimbledon for the first time in 10 years.

The 47-year-old nine-times champion cast doubt over her willingness to take up a wildcard offer earlier in the week after failing to qualify for the main draw at the Eastbourne International championships.

But on Wednesday the Czech-born American said she would be taking her place in the main draw when the grasscourt Grand Slam begins on Monday.

"I'm not proving anything to anybody," she said. "I'm trying to make myself a better player.

"I just love the game, it's fun...I have my reasons, I just want to play better tennis.

"My goal is to do well at Grand Slams in doubles and mixed. If playing singles will help that, I'll do it.

"This is not about being in the limelight."

Navratilova won the mixed doubles at Wimbledon last year to equal Billie Jean King's record of 20 Wimbledon crowns. It was her 58th Grand Slam title in all, four less than the record held by Australia's Margaret Smith.

Navratilova returned to Grand Slam singles for the first time in a decade at the French Open last month.

Despite the best efforts of a supportive crowd, her comeback lasted just 62 minutes and she was soundly beaten 6-1, 6-3 by Argentine Gisela Dulko in the first round.

But the rigour of claycourt play is much tougher on her body than the grass of the All England Club will be.

"The biggest question was how the body held up," she said. "I was sore at the French, but as I played a few matches here (at Eastbourne) it got better."