Ivan Lendl dominated the world of tennis in the 1980s with a style that changed the sport forever. While many fans remember his stony face and powerful forehand, few know about the passions that drove him off the court. For instance, he owns one of the largest art collections in the world dedicated to a single artist. Furthermore, he raised attack dogs that once terrified an entire neighborhood. Prepare to serve an ace with the man they called "Ivan the Terrible."
Ivan Lendl
He owns the world’s largest private collection of Alphonse Mucha posters. Specifically, he fell in love with the work of the Czech Art Nouveau master in the 1980s. Consequently, he spent decades acquiring over 150 rare posters and panels.
He attempted to become a professional golfer after retiring from tennis. Although he played in several professional tournaments to test his skills, he never quite reached the top level. Nevertheless, he achieved a scratch rating, which is incredibly difficult for any amateur.
He hit his opponents with the ball on purpose. Frequently, he aimed his powerful shots directly at the player at the net. As a result, this ruthless tactic intimidated rivals and made them think twice about coming forward.
He raised fierce German Shepherd dogs for security. At his home in Connecticut, he kept a pack of highly trained guard dogs. Occasionally, they escaped the property and frightened the children at a nearby school.
He coached Andy Murray to his first Grand Slam victory. After years of close calls, Murray hired Ivan Lendl to help him cross the finish line. Ultimately, under his guidance, the Scotsman finally won the US Open and Wimbledon.
He reached eight consecutive US Open finals. Remarkably, from 1982 to 1989, he appeared in the championship match every single year. Consequently, this record of consistency at a single major tournament remains incredibly difficult to match.
He defected from Czechoslovakia to pursue his career. Because the communist government tried to control his travel and earnings, he moved to the United States. Eventually, he became a citizen in 1992.
He never won Wimbledon despite reaching the final twice. However, he desperately wanted to win the grass-court major to complete his career Grand Slam. In fact, he even skipped the French Open one year to prepare specifically for the tournament.
His mother was a top-ranked tennis player in her own right. Specifically, Olga Lendlová was once the number two female player in Czechoslovakia. Furthermore, she was famous for her strict discipline, which she passed down to her son.
He was one of the first players to use a nutritional diet. While other players ate whatever they wanted, Ivan Lendl followed a strict meal plan. Thus, he treated his body like a machine to gain an edge over his competition.
He played with a unique Adidas racquet that had a smaller head. The Adidas GTX Pro was a heavy frame that demanded perfect timing. Therefore, he used this equipment to generate the massive topspin that defined his game.
He fathered five daughters who all play sports. Interestingly, three of his daughters followed in his footsteps into the world of golf. Subsequently, they played collegiate golf at top universities and competed in professional events.
He pioneered the practice of changing racquets with new balls. Because Ivan Lendl was obsessed with having the perfect tension in his strings, he swapped frames often. Thus, he was the first to do this every time the umpire called for new balls.
He once lost a match on purpose to avoid a difficult opponent. In a bizarre tournament scenario, he tanked a match to get a better draw in the next round. Consequently, this calculated move drew heavy criticism from fans and officials.
Finally, he used sawdust to keep his grip dry. Before modern overgrips existed, players struggled with sweaty hands. Therefore, Ivan Lendl kept a pocket full of sawdust to dry his palm between points.
