Ivan Lendl Returns to Tennis
After almost fifteen years away from the game of tennis, Ivan Lendl has slowly made his way back into the sport, first as a promoter and now as a tennis player (again). Lendl has been involved with the successful tennis exhibitions at Madison Square Garden the past few years, i.e. the Net Jets Showdown featuring Pete Sampras and
Roger Federer and the Billie Jean King Cup featuring the top women. Since retiring from the pro tennis Tour, Lendl has focused on golf and raising his five daughters, two of whom play golf in college. This past weekend, after finally overcoming back problems which plagued him for years, Lendl finally returned to the court himself in an exhibition match at Caesars in Atlantic City. Lendl played and lost one set to Mats Wilander while Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick and Marat Safin played against each other in the round robin matches (James Blake was also scheduled to play, but had to withdraw at the last minute with a knee injury).
Originally from Czechoslovakia, Ivan Lendl, now a United States citizen, is a former Number One ranked tennis player in the world. Lendl, who held the Number One ranking for 270 weeks, ended the year ranked Number One four times (1985-87 and 1989). During the 1980s and early 1990s, Lendl was a dominating force in men’s professional tennis reaching 19 Grand Slam singles finals and playing in at least one Grand Slam final for eleven straight years. During his career, Lendl collected eight Grand Slam titles (3 French Open, 3 U.S. Open, 2 Australian Open). As with other former tennis greats, e.g. Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Lendl peer, Jimmy Connors, who returned to coach Andy Roddick a couple years ago and now does TV commentary, it’s wonderful to see Lendl “ back in the game”. Tennis legends such as Lendl and Connors have so much wisdom and experience to share with both aspiring tennis players, as well as with casual tennis fans. Wonder when the first John McEnroe-Ivan Lendl “seniors match” will take place…
Originally from Czechoslovakia, Ivan Lendl, now a United States citizen, is a former Number One ranked tennis player in the world. Lendl, who held the Number One ranking for 270 weeks, ended the year ranked Number One four times (1985-87 and 1989). During the 1980s and early 1990s, Lendl was a dominating force in men’s professional tennis reaching 19 Grand Slam singles finals and playing in at least one Grand Slam final for eleven straight years. During his career, Lendl collected eight Grand Slam titles (3 French Open, 3 U.S. Open, 2 Australian Open). As with other former tennis greats, e.g. Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Lendl peer, Jimmy Connors, who returned to coach Andy Roddick a couple years ago and now does TV commentary, it’s wonderful to see Lendl “ back in the game”. Tennis legends such as Lendl and Connors have so much wisdom and experience to share with both aspiring tennis players, as well as with casual tennis fans. Wonder when the first John McEnroe-Ivan Lendl “seniors match” will take place…
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