Ivan Lendl
Ivan Lendl is one of the greatest tennis players of all time. He captured eight Grand Slam singles titles, competed in 19 Grand Slam singles finals, and was ranked Number One in the World for a total of 270 weeks, records that have only recently been surpassed by Pete Sampras and Roger Federer.
After making an impact on the junior circuit in the late 1970s, Ivan turned pro in 1979 and won his first Tour-level title the following year . Three more were to follow in the next 12 months and he won 94 in total during his career.
Grand Slam titles eluded him for the early part of his career but he broke through in 1984, beating John McEnroe in a five set French Open final. Major titles then came thick and fast for Lendl and for the years 1985, 1986 and 1987 his match-winning percentage was greater than 90%, a record that has only been equalled by Roger Federer since. The only Grand Slam singles title Lendl never managed to win was Wimbledon. After reaching the semifinals in 1983 and 1984, he reached the final there twice, losing in straight sets to Boris Becker in 1986 and Pat Cash in 1987. In the years that followed, Lendl put in intensive efforts to train and hone his game on grass courts with coach Tony Roche (In the early part of his career he was coached by Wojtek Fibak), but it wasn’t to be and Lendl never reached another Wimbledon final.
Ivan’s success in the game was due in large part to his highly meticulous and intensive training and physical conditioning regime, his scientific approach to preparing for and playing the game, and a strong desire to put in whatever it took to be successful, an attitude that has left a long legacy in the sport of tennis.
Since retiring due to chronic back injures in 1994, Ivan has resided in Florida with his wife, Samantha, and five daughters, Marika, twins Isabelle and Caroline, Daniela and Nikola. Three of his daughters, Isabelle, Daniela and Marika, are supreme golfers. Ivan also recently entered the coaching world, and works with Britain's Andy Murray.
