A HALF CENTURY OF IVAN LENDL
On March 7, Ivan Lendl will celebrate being on this earth for a half-century. A half-century was how long it felt that this towering Czech dominated tennis, reaching eight straight U.S. Open finals from 1982-1989, holding the No. 1 ranking for 269 weeks and winning 94 singles titles.
The following profile on Lendl is featured in my compilation THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS ($35.95, New Chapter Press, www.NewChapterMedia.com). You can order the book here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0942257413?tag=tennisgrancom-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0942257413&adid=1WETDR8SNR0XSSQ0F56V&
Ivan Lendl
Czechoslovakia/United States (1960—)
Hall of Fame—2001
Although he’d been a prodigious winner for four years, it was not until the French final of 1984 that Ivan Lendl began to really stake his claim to greatness. Then, from two sets down to the year’s leading player, John McEnroe, Lendl battled back to win in five sets, 3-6, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 7-5, seizing the first of his eight major singles (of 19 finals). He won two other French (1986-87), two Australian (1989-90), and three U.S. (1985-86-87).
Until 1984, at 24, his competitive zeal in big finals had been questioned, particularly after his U.S. Open finals losses to Jimmy Connors of 1982-83. But Lendl dispelled all that, and won in 1985 over McEnroe, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, 6-4; in 1986 over Miroslav Mecir, 6-4, 6-2, 6-0, and 1987 over Mats Wilander, 6-7 (7-9), 6-0, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4. Ivan’s two other French titles were banged out in 1986 and 1987 over Swedes Mikael Pernfors, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, and Wilander, 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3). In Australia, after falling in the 1983 final to Wilander, he bounced back to win in 1989 over Mecir, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, and 1990 over Edberg, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 5-2, injury default.
His 1985 U.S. Open conquest of McEnroe hoisted him past the New Yorker to No. 1 in the world, a position he held until losing the Open in 1988, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, to Wilander—156 straight weeks, three short of Jimmy Connors’s then Open era record. He returned to No. 1 for 1989 and spent a record total 269 weeks at the peak during 13 seasons in the Top 10 between 1980 and 1992.
Lendl’s time at Flushing Meadows was spectacular: appearing in eight successive finals (from 1982), he equalled the record of Big Bill Tilden (1918-25). His loss of the 1988 final to Wilander halted a 27-match winning streak in the U.S. championship, second only to Tilden’s string of 42 between 1920 and the quarters of 1926.
Born March 7, 1960, at Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, and reared there, he has an excellent tennis bloodline. His mother, Olga Lendlova, was a Top 10 player in their homeland, ranking as high as No. 2. His father, Jiri Lendl, also was a fine player, ranking as high as No. 15, and who, in 1990, became president of the Czechoslovak Tennis Federation.
Unlike countrywoman Martina Navratilova, he did not announce his defection, but left no doubt when he settled in the U.S. in 1984, and declined to play further Davis Cup after 1985. In 1992, he became a U.S. citizen. In 1980, Lendl, unbeaten in seven singles and three doubles, led Czechoslovakia to its lone Davis Cup. Before an uproarious final round crowd in Prague, he anchored the 4-1 triumph over Italy, winning both his singles matches. On the first day, he beat Corrado Barazzutti, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-2, and, with Tom Smid, clinched with a stirring doubles decision over Adriano Panatta and Paolo Bertolucci, 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
A 6-foot-2, 175-pound, right-handed paragon of hard work and fitness, he amassed stunning numbers campaigning tirelessly between 1980 and 1983, when he won 36 of 101 tournaments. He played 32 in 1980, winning three on a 113-29 match record, and won 15 of 23 in 1982 on 107-9. He won 11 of 17 in 1985 on 84-7. His last big production year was 1989: 10 of 17 on 79-7. His 92nd pro singles title in 1992 left him second only to Connors’ 109 in the Open era. In 1982, he put together the third longest winning streak of the Open era, 44 straight matches, six shy of Guillermo Vilas’ 1977 record, halted by Yannick Noah in the final at La Quinta, Calif. A basher from the baseline, relying on strength and heavy topspin, Lendl wasn’t particularly stylish but got the job done with an intimidating will and appetite for victory.
His anticipation and speed afoot were often overlooked. Ivan’s pursuit of the one prize beyond him, Wimbledon, was Jobian. He played 14 times at the Big W but, strain and try as he did to become a serve‑and-volleyer, and as close as he came—final round losses to Boris Becker in 1986 and Pat Cash in 1987—grass was his no-no. That may be unfair to say about a man who batted .774 there, was also thrice a semifinalist, but he joined Ken Rosewall and Pancho Gonzalez as the greatest never to win the Big W.
An aching back didn’t help as the No. 7 seed, he lost his last attempt, in 1993, to Arnaud Boetsch in the second round. The damaged back caused him to default in the third set of his second rounder against Bernd Karbacher at the 1994 U.S. Open. He would not play again, and announced his retirement shortly after that at age 34, ranked No. 30. His last title, Tokyo (indoor) in 1993, was a 6-4, 6-4 win over Todd Martin, and his last final, Sydney
1994, was a loss to Pete Sampras.
Lendl’s was a hefty pro career of 17 years: 94 singles and six doubles titles, and a 1,279-274 singles W-L record (.805), topped only by Connors. He was the all-time prize money champ with $21,262,417 when he quit.
MAJOR TITLES (8)—Australian singles, 1989, 1990; French singles, 1984, 86-87; U.S. singles, 1985, 1986 1987. OTHER U.S. TITLES (4)—Clay Court singles, 1985; Pro singles, 1992, 1993, 1994. DAVIS CUP—1978. 1979 1980. 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 1985, 18-11 singles, 4-4 doubles. SINGLES RECORD IN THE MAJORS—Australian (48-10), French (53-12), Wimbledon 48-14, U.S. (73-13).
Tags: Ivan Lendl
March 04 2010 10:08 am | Misc. Articles
Charlie on 05 Mar 2010 at 9:56 pm #
Bud, I had the pleasure of meeting and playing with Lendl years ago. He was voluble and fun. So unlike the persona on the court. He is under appreciated as tennis giant and person. I hope he gets involved with the game. He could be such an asset.
KIt Horton on 16 Mar 2010 at 11:44 pm #
In the 1980′s I played hockey with Mr Lendl at the Dorthy Hamil rink in Greenwich. He couldn’t skate and couldn’t handle the punk but was a great sportsman and “us hockey players” gave him the same consideration he would have given us on the tennis court. Kit Horton
Eric Erickson on 04 May 2012 at 1:01 pm #
As I read this comment above regarding: Ivan Lendl’s “last title, Tokyo (indoor) in 1993, was a 6-4, 6-4 win over Todd Martin and his last final, Sydney,” I cannot help but to remember meeting the all time Greatest Player, Rod Laver at a tournament in Chestnut Hill, Boston Ma in the early nighties (90′s) when Lendl had also beaten Todd Martin handily around 12 Midnight. However, the most amazing thought that had been on my friend Frank and my mind on that night, was that Bud and Rod had been up in the bleacher seats with us and enjoying the match as well. I had said to Frank, “let’s go over and get Rod’s autograph” but he was to shy. Therefore, I had approached Rod, who was sitting to the left of Bud, and I had politely asked, and had recieved, two autographs that late summer night from Rod. One was for me and another one for a my shy friend Frank. My only regret though, is that I had not asked Bud for his autograph as well. I guess that I was just to nervous as how many people get to meet there “Tennis Hero’s” in the pitch black of midnight way up in the bleacher seats? Anyway this is my last chance to formally ask Bud for his autograph as well. As a club tennis player from the 60′s to the late 90′s, I have watched every Tennis match that I could find on TV. And along with each match, I had been a big fan of Bud’s as well. I had loved the way that he had interviewed the player’s, as well as their responses, in either winning or loosing the match. Bud had alway’s (respectfully) nailed the story, as the Greatest Sports Journalist ever. Thanks Bud! Sincerely, Eric Erickson :>)