Ivan Lendl facts for kids
Lendl in 2012
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| Country (sports) |  Czechoslovakia (1978–92) United States (1992–94) |
|---|---|
| Residence | Vero Beach, Florida, US |
| Born | March 7, 1960 Ostrava, Czechoslovakia |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Turned pro | 1978 |
| Retired | 1994 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Coach | Wojtek Fibak (1979-1985) Tony Roche (1985-1994) |
| Prize money | US$21,262,417
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| Int. Tennis HoF | 2001 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 1068–242 (81.53%) (81.5%) |
| Career titles | 94 (4th in the Open Era) |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (February 28, 1983) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1989, 1990) |
| French Open | W (1984, 1986, 1987) |
| Wimbledon | F (1986, 1987) |
| US Open | W (1985, 1986, 1987) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | W (1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987) |
| Grand Slam Cup | SF (1991) |
| WCT Finals | W (1982, 1985) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 187–140 (57.2%) |
| Career titles | 6 |
| Highest ranking | No. 20 (May 12, 1986) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (1984) |
| French Open | SF (1980) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (1985) |
| US Open | 3R (1980) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | W (1980) |
| Coaching career | |
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| Coaching achievements | |
| List of notable tournaments (with champion) 2x Wimbledon (Murray) |
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Ivan Lendl (born March 7, 1960) is a Czech-American former professional tennis player, Pickleball player, and coach. Many people think he is one of the greatest tennis players ever.
Lendl was the world No. 1 player for a record 270 weeks. He won 94 singles titles during his career. He also won eight major singles titles, known as Grand Slams. He was the first man to reach 19 major finals. Lendl also played in a record eight US Open finals in a row. He won seven year-end championships, which are tournaments for the best players.
Ivan Lendl was known for his powerful playing style. He used a strong forehand shot with heavy topspin. This style helped make "aggressive baseline power tennis" popular. After he stopped playing, he became a tennis coach. He helped Andy Murray win three major titles and become the world No. 1 player.
Contents
Ivan Lendl's Tennis Journey
Starting His Career
Lendl was born in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic). His parents were both top tennis players in their country. His mother was even ranked the No. 2 female player in Czechoslovakia.
Lendl first became famous as a junior player. In 1978, he won the boys' singles titles at the French Open and Wimbledon. He was the world's top-ranked junior player that year.
He became a professional player in 1978. In 1980, he won seven singles titles. He also helped Czechoslovakia win the Davis Cup that year. He was a key player for his country's team in the early 1980s.
In 1981, Lendl won ten more titles. He also won his first year-end Masters Grand Prix title. He moved to the United States in 1981.
His Best Years in Tennis
In 1982, Lendl won 15 tournaments and had a 44-match winning streak. He won his first WCT Finals by beating John McEnroe. Lendl quickly became the highest-earning tennis player ever because of his many wins.
Even with all his wins, Lendl had not won a Grand Slam title yet. He reached his first Grand Slam final at the French Open in 1981 but lost. He also lost in the US Open finals in 1982 and 1983. In 1983, he was also a runner-up at the Australian Open.
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Lendl won his first Grand Slam title at the 1984 French Open. He had an amazing comeback against John McEnroe in the final. Lendl was down two sets and losing in the third, but he fought back to win.
In 1985, Lendl won the US Open, beating McEnroe in the final. He also won the Masters Grand Prix title for the third time.
Lendl won the French Open again in 1986. He reached the Wimbledon final for the first time but lost to Boris Becker. At the US Open, Lendl won his second straight title there. He also beat Becker in the year-end Masters.
In 1987, Lendl won the French Open for the third time. He reached the Wimbledon final again but lost. At the US Open final, Lendl won a very long match against Mats Wilander. He also won his fifth and final Masters Grand Prix title.
From 1985 to 1987, Lendl won over 90% of his matches each year. He is the only male tennis player to win over 90% of his matches in five different years. From 1985 to 1988, Lendl reached ten Grand Slam semifinals in a row.
In 1989, Lendl won his first Australian Open title. He won 10 tournaments that year. He also reached his eighth US Open final in a row, but lost. Lendl won the Australian Open again in 1990.
The only Grand Slam title Lendl never won was Wimbledon. In 1990, he worked very hard to improve his grass court game. He even skipped the French Open to practice more on grass. He won a warm-up tournament at Queen's Club, but he lost in the Wimbledon semifinals.
Later Career and Retirement
Lendl stayed a top player in 1991. He skipped the French Open again to focus on Wimbledon, but he lost early. He never won the Wimbledon title. The Australian Open in 1991 was his last Grand Slam final.
Lendl was known for his careful training and fitness. He even had a tennis court built at his home that was exactly like the one at the US Open.
Lendl stopped playing professional tennis on December 21, 1994. He was 34 years old and had chronic back pain. His last match was at the US Open in 1994.
Lendl won 94 singles titles in his career. He also won 6 doubles titles. His total prize money was over $21 million, which was a record at the time. In 2001, he was added to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Coaching Top Players
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On December 31, 2011, Lendl became the coach for Andy Murray. Many people say Lendl helped Murray become more mature and consistent. He guided Murray to his first two Grand Slam wins: the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon Championships. Murray was the second player in the Open Era, after Lendl, to lose his first four Grand Slam finals and then win the fifth. Lendl and Murray stopped working together in March 2014.
But on June 12, 2016, Lendl rejoined Andy Murray's coaching team. By the end of 2016, Murray became the world No. 1. He won his second Wimbledon title, his third major championship, and his second Olympic gold medal.
In August 2018, Lendl joined Alexander Zverev's team. They stopped working together in July 2019. Lendl is currently coaching Hubert Hurkacz since November 2024.
How Ivan Lendl Played Tennis
Lendl was nicknamed "The Terminator" because of his strong and powerful game. He worked incredibly hard to get fit and strong. He spent many hours practicing on the court and lifting weights.
Even though he was big, Lendl mostly played from the back of the court. He hit powerful shots from the baseline. His forehand was very strong and had a lot of topspin. He had one of the most aggressive playing styles from the back of the court that tennis has ever seen. His fitness was excellent.
Ivan Lendl's Personal Life
Becoming a U.S. Citizen
Lendl wanted to become a U.S. citizen so he could play for the U.S. in the 1988 Olympic Games and the Davis Cup. He became a U.S. citizen on July 7, 1992.
His Family
On September 16, 1989, Lendl married Samantha Frankel. They have five daughters: Marika, twins Isabelle and Caroline, Daniela, and Nikola. Several of his daughters have played golf in college.
Other Hobbies
After retiring from tennis in 1994, Lendl started playing golf. He became a very good golfer. He has played in charity golf events. Lendl now spends a lot of time helping his daughters with their golf careers.
In December 2024, it was announced that Lendl would play in a professional pickleball event.
Grand Slam Finals
Lendl reached 19 Grand Slam singles finals. He won eight of them and was a runner-up in 11.
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1981 | French Open | Clay |  Björn Borg |
1–6, 6–4, 2–6, 6–3, 1–6 |
| Loss | 1982 | US Open | Hard |  Jimmy Connors |
3–6, 2–6, 6–4, 4–6 |
| Loss | 1983 | US Open | Hard | Jimmy Connors |
3–6, 7–6(7–2), 5–7, 0–6 |
| Loss | 1983 | Australian Open | Grass | Mats Wilander |
1–6, 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 1984 | French Open | Clay | John McEnroe |
3–6, 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 7–5 |
| Loss | 1984 | US Open | Hard | John McEnroe |
3–6, 4–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 1985 | French Open | Clay | Mats Wilander |
6–3, 4–6, 2–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 1985 | US Open | Hard | John McEnroe |
7–6(7–1), 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 1986 | French Open (2) | Clay | Mikael Pernfors |
6–3, 6–2, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1986 | Wimbledon | Grass |  Boris Becker |
4–6, 3–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 1986 | US Open (2) | Hard |  Miloslav Mečíř |
6–4, 6–2, 6–0 |
| Win | 1987 | French Open (3) | Clay | Mats Wilander |
7–5, 6–2, 3–6, 7–6(7–3) |
| Loss | 1987 | Wimbledon | Grass |  Pat Cash |
6–7(5–7), 4–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 1987 | US Open (3) | Hard | Mats Wilander |
6–7(7–9), 6–0, 7–6(7–4), 6–4 |
| Loss | 1988 | US Open | Hard | Mats Wilander |
4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 7–5, 4–6 |
| Win | 1989 | Australian Open | Hard | Miloslav Mečíř |
6–2, 6–2, 6–2 |
| Loss | 1989 | US Open | Hard | Boris Becker |
6–7(2–7), 6–1, 3–6, 6–7(4–7) |
| Win | 1990 | Australian Open (2) | Hard | Stefan Edberg |
4–6, 7–6(7–3), 5–2 retired |
| Loss | 1991 | Australian Open | Hard | Boris Becker |
6–1, 4–6, 4–6, 4–6 |
Images for kids
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Lendl in 2012
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Ivan Lendl in 1984
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Lendl (far right) talking to Judy Murray.
