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Ivan Lendl No matter what the surface the Czechoslovakian, turned American never failed to perform on the world stage, spanning two decades and fighting off duels against John McEnroe, Mats Wilander, Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg to become a machine, by the way of personal fitness and his professionalism to the game. Ivan Lendl will never go down in history as an ordinary player.
Lendl was born in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia in 1960, but became an American citizen in 1992. He captured 8 career singles titles in Grand Slam events and reached an astounding 19 Slam singles finals. He relied on strength and heavy topspin from the baseline to reach 8 consecutive US Open finals between 1982 and 1989, winning three in 1985, 1986 and 1987.
Lendl also won twice at the Australian Open in 1989 and 1990, and three times at the French Open, 1984, 1986, and 1987. Arguably his most memorable victory occurred in the 1984 French Open Final. Down two sets to love and trailing 4-2 in the fourth, Lendl won the title over John McEnroe in an epic battle. He was ranked the world number one player for 270 weeks, which included 157 straight weeks from the 9th September, 1985 through to 12th September, 1988, just three weeks short of Jimmy Connors' all-time record. Lendl is the holder of 94 career singles titles, including his 1980 feat, winning three tournaments in successive weeks on three different surfaces. During the 1980's, Lendl was one of the game's most dominant players. In 1982, he won 15 of 23 singles tournaments entered, compiling a win-loss record of 107-9, which included a 44-match streak. In 1985 Lendl captured 11 singles crowns in 17 tournament appearances, and in 1989 Lendl won ten titles out of 17. He finished in four years as the top ranked player in the world, in 1985-1987 and 1989. He was named the Most Improved Player on the men's tour in 1981 and its Player of the Year for three years between 1985-1987. Wimbledon was always his nemesis and he craved the title so badly that much of his year would be spent practising on grass. He was twice runner-up in 1986 and 1987 and though defying his back injury he continued on until 1994 in search of the title and Grand Slam collection of titles.
Lendl was the driving force for the Czechoslovakian Davis Cup team, compiling a 7-0 record in singles and 3-0 in doubles, leading Czechoslovakia to its lone Davis Cup triumph in 1980. Since retiring from the ATP tour Lendl has been seen very little in the Grand Slam arena, taking his place with former champions in the boxes. His brief professoional golf career ended after one tournament and despite commentating for American television occassionally he seems to have distanced himself from the courts of the world that he graced so much. Grand Slam Record Australian Open Singles 1989, 1990; Singles
finalist 1983, 1991 French Open Singles 1984, 1986, 1987; Singles finalist 1981, 1985 U.S. Open Singles 1985-1987; Singles finalist 1982-1984, 1988-1989 Wimbledon Singles finalist 1986-1987 Tournament Record (inc. Davis Cup and Olympics) The Grand Prix Masters Singles 1981, 1985-1987; Singles finalist 1980, 1983-1984, 1988 Czechoslovakia Davis Cup team member 1978-1985; winning side 1980 Career Record
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