Ivan Lendl!

Ivan Lendl!

 

 

 

Ivan Lendl is a Czechoslovakian tennis player born March 7, 1960 in Ostrava, residing in Greenwich, Connecticut (USA), became a U.S. citizen in 1992. Lendl is one of the players who most affected the history of tennis.

He joined the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2001.

The revolution in tennis pro Lendl [edit] Lendl made history by playing his groundstrokes, more aggressive than its predecessors (Bjorn Borg, Guillermo Vilas) but also by his unfailing professionalism. Ivan Lendl was on a very physical preparation and strategic thrust with his Australian coach Tony Roche, a former winner of Roland Garros.

The public, especially French, supported little Lendl, one side accusing him unsympathetic. Lendl has one of the best track record in the history of modern tennis: 270 weeks at number one worldwide to ATP, 8 Grand Slam titles, 147 titles (including 94 recorded by the ATP), 1 Davis Cup.

John McEnroe, one of his bitterest opponents, admits in his biography that Lendl was a formidable opponent who transformed more tennis than any of his immediate contemporaries.

The approach adopted by some highly placed professionals today is in the line of what was Ivan Lendl one of the greatest champions of the twentieth century. Lendl provides labor at all times and a methodical approach perfectly suited to the demands of modern sport.

While it may appear conventional preparation Lendl (experienced by the young Sampras in the winter of 1989-1990, shortly before his first triumph at the U.S. Open) clashed in the 1980s. The players then refused not out nor drinks. Minimum standards of nutrition at the time were low [1]. With Lendl, everything has changed, and tennis has entered the era of professionalism.

A difficult start: the "sissy" [edit] Ivan Lendl, from a family of tennis players (his mother was number one Czechoslovak), was the first junior world champion in history in 1978. He quickly imposed itself on the big circuit where the 4 aces still reigned at the time, Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Guillermo Vilas. Winner of seven tournaments in 1980, he reached his first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros in 1981, where he took two sets to Björn Borg, who won his last Grand Slam title. Until 1984, Ivan Lendl dragged the reputation of being what Connors called a "sissy." Indeed, he managed to win very often on the circuit with 10 titles in 1981, 15 in 1982, 7 in 1983, but failed continually in the final Grand Slam. All those wins he can become world number 1 in February 1983, when he has not won a Grand Slam tournament.

At the U.S. Open in 1982 (Connors), 1983 (Connors), in Australia the same year (Wilander), and the Masters 1980 and 1983, Lendl had failed. As headlines on the eve of the 1984 season, he had only two Masters (1981, 1982) and a Davis Cup (1980).

The duel with McEnroe [edit] But his persistence eventually outweigh McEnroe: at Roland Garros in 1984 in a dramatic final, he went two sets to zero, three break points in the third round and eventually 's impose an American cons collapsed.

At 24, much later than other great players of his sport, Lendl made history. Although he left after the 1984 season at McEnroe (who defeated him at the U.S. Open), before finally taking the upper hand over the American in 1985 at his home at the U.S. Open.

Then he lost to Wilander tournament at Roland Garros in 1985, and was surprised that McEnroe in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon by the South African Kevin Curren, both players found themselves playing the world leader in final the U.S. Open. In fact Match have been devoted to it alone of Czechoslovakia, which took first place in the world for three years that followed. John McEnroe returned to do more Grand Slams. Lendl went on a victory at the Masters 1985.

Lendl-McEnroe duels were unique in that they were a stark contrast: the side tongue-in-cheek, cold, methodical a player's groundstrokes worker cons approach inspired by a genius of the game of attack, often uncontrollable. This opposition, which reached a dramatic climax at Roland Garros in 1984, ended with the crisis in confidence that gripped the U.S. in late 1985. The memories remain and for McEnroe, regrets not having won a major title she lacks.

As a symbol, is in the final against Ivan Lendl John McEnroe won the November 3, 1985 Antwerp tournament for the third time since 1982. He thus became the first tennis player to win the "diamond racket," a racket with four kilograms of gold set with 1,700 diamonds, estimated at one million euros, which recognizes all three time winner of this tournament over five consecutive years. To date, it is the only male player to have achieved this performance (Amelie Mauresmo, female, was completed in 2007). This success crowned Ivan Lendl, who now reigns in world tennis.

The reign 1985-1990 [edit] In 1986, he crushed the competition in Paris and New York but failed in the Wimbledon final against the young West German Boris Becker. For Lendl, the tournament in London would become his cross. A fourth victory at the Masters did not correct this sentiment. Boca Raton future he won the Miami Masters on a format for 7 laps as the Grand Slam but with only 5 sets matches in the last three rounds.

In 1987, Lendl continued its momentum, winning titles in Paris (Roland Garros) and New York (U.S. Open and Masters). But again he failed at Wimbledon, this time over Australia's Pat Cash, fragile and unpredictable player who was that year in a state of grace. At first the U.S. Open 1987 he inflicts on the fourth Barry Moir 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 in the open era in Grand Slam (5 total, 1 in 1968 and 1993 and 2 in 1987) and Only the U.S. Open.

1988 the "year Wilander, Lendl lives fail everywhere: in Australia, another tournament that refused to him, in France, London and the U.S. Open. Even the Masters he does not smile. Many thought then that between the Swedish and Czechoslovak 25 years 28 years had passed the torch. Wilander and yet, at the end of his little slam, in vain to take the top spot Lendl, he maintained himself as 20 weeks before Lendl reclaims its top spot until the summer of 1990.

In 1989 he won the tournament in Key Biscayne Miami Masters on future format of 7 rounds in 5 sets and games like the Grand Slams but still plays as 6 to win the title, his opponent in the final Thomas Muster withdrew the victim of a drunk driver. He managed to win twice in Australia (opposite Mecir and Edberg) but failed at Roland Garros in 1989 in a knockout match, stayed in the memories, facing the young American Michael Chang. 5 sets, the 17-year-old crippled with cramps at the end of the match, and defeated the world number one favorite. Using all possible tricks, not hesitating to use a spoon or to be placed near the line of service box to return, Chang provoked the wrath of Czechoslovakia who left Roland Garros and did not return that in 1992 he wanted to concentrate on Wimbledon, the tournament cursed. However, Chang, with this service spoon, made only reproduce what Lendl himself dared to make McEnroe in the early 1980s [2].

The slow decline [edit] Focus efforts on Wimbledon him was of no use: he never won in London. For a player of the baseline as he would have had to happen in a period less fruitful in grass excellent players (McEnroe, Edberg and Becker). With his final Australian Open in 1983, it recorded 3 finals on grass. He also lost the final of U.S. Open 1989, its eighth consecutive New York (record).

The last years were a slow decline: last grand slam final against Becker Australian Open 1991, the last semi-final at the U.S. Open the same year against Edberg, he left the top 10 global May-August 1992 (when he had taken U.S. citizenship) and then finally released in August 1993 and then overtaken by back problems, gave up professional tennis in the second round of the U.S. Open in late August 1994. It then converts some time in golf, which he knew little success.