WIMBLEDON, England -- Martina Navratilova began her bid for a record-equalling 20th Wimbledon title in stunning fashion on Thursday, losing just one game in the first round of the women's doubles.

The American 44-year-old teamed up with Spaniard Arantxa Sanchez Vicario for a 6-0, 6-1 victory against Italian Giulia Casoni and Yugoslav Sandra Nacuk on Court 1.

Navratilova has 19 Wimbledon titles to her name, one short of Billie Jean King's record haul.

Despite the passing years, Navratilova still cuts an imposing, and popular, figure on the grass of southwest London.

She received a heroine's welcome before she and Sanchez Vicario, the 16th seeds, proceeded to give their opponents a lesson in gras-court doubles play.

The first set came and went in 16 minutes, and it was not until they were 5-0 down in the second and facing the ultimate humiliation that Nacuk held serve for the pair's solitary game.

Moments earlier, in response to the shouts for Martina, one spectator had shrieked "c'mon the other two" -- a signal for laughter from Casoni and Nacuk as well as the rest of the crowd.

Navratilova, who earned more than $20 million in prize money in a professional career that spanned 19 years and ended in 1994, had the last say.

A perfect backhand, angled volley secured victory on the pair's first match point, and took them to a second round meeting with Indonesia's Yayuk Basuki and Japan's Nana Miyagi.

Triumph in the doubles would give Navratilova her eighth women's doubles crown at the Championships, to add to her nine singles titles and three mixed doubles wins.

It would also give her a 57th Grand Slam title in all competitions and increase Sanchez Vicario's Grand Slam haul to 15. Navratilova's doubles campaign last year was halted in the quarterfinals by the Williams sisters, the eventual champions.