AceShowbiz -

Martina Navratilova is a married woman. The nine-time Wimbledon winner tied the knot with her longtime girlfriend Julia Lemigova Monday, December 15 in an intimate ceremony taking place in a room at the Peninsula hotel in New York.

The tennis great felt "terrified," "relieved," and "really odd" after the wedding. "I'm 58 years old, I got married for the first time - it's about time, right?" the newlywed told BBC News and was slightly choked with emotion.

"Growing up as a gay woman you just don't ever think about that," she explained, " and then I thought, about 10 years ago, 'You know, I think within 10 years gay marriage will be legal.' And here we are, 10 years later, making it legal."

Navratilova came out as gay in 1981 and started dating Lemigova in 2006. She got down on one knee and popped the question on camera at the US Open in September this year. "I was so overwhelmed and completely surprised," Lemigova said, "but I would not expect anything less from Martina."

Meanwhile, the retired tennis player told PEOPLE back then, "Originally it wasn't the idea to do it at the U.S. Open, on the Jumbotron and all that, but then it was, 'Why not? I've seen it in movies!' And it all came off, everything worked out perfectly!"

Russian model Lemigova has two daughters from a previous relationship.