1. The Father of Modern Power Tennis
Before Lendl, professional tennis was heavily dominated by serve-and-volley players who rushed the net. Lendl pioneered the “power baseline” style, using a heavy, heavily-topspun forehand to dictate play from the back of the court—a style that is now the standard in modern men’s tennis.
2. A Staggering Number of Weeks at No. 1
Lendl spent a total of 270 weeks at world No. 1 on the ATP tour. At the time of his retirement, this was an all-time record, though it has since been surpassed by modern greats like Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, and Novak Djokovic.
3. Eight Grand Slam Titles
Over the course of his illustrious career, Lendl captured 8 Grand Slam singles titles: three at the French Open, three at the US Open, and two at the Australian Open.
4. The Elusive Wimbledon Crown
Despite his dominance on hard and clay courts, Lendl never managed to win Wimbledon, the only Grand Slam missing from his resume. He reached the final twice (in 1986 and 1987) but lost both times. He famously quipped, “Grass is just for cows,” expressing his frustration with the surface.
5. An Unprecedented US Open Streak
Lendl absolutely dominated the US Open during the 1980s. He reached the final at Flushing Meadows for an astonishing eight consecutive years (from 1982 to 1989), a men’s Open Era record that still stands today.
6. “The Terminator”
Due to his stoic demeanor, lack of visible emotion on the court, and ruthless efficiency in dismantling opponents, the media and fans frequently referred to him as “The Terminator” or “Ivan the Terrible.”
7. A Pioneer of Sports Science and Diet
Lendl was one of the first tennis players to treat his body like a highly calibrated machine. He introduced intense aerobics, wind sprints, and meticulous dietary planning into his routine, hiring a nutritionist long before it was standard practice in the sport.
8. Defection and US Citizenship
Born in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, Lendl had a strained relationship with the communist sports authorities of his home country. He relocated to the United States in 1981 and, after a long process, officially became a US citizen in 1992.
9. An Obsession with Racquet Customization
Lendl was notoriously particular about his equipment. He required his racquets to be strung daily to an exact tension and would even have the grips custom-molded to perfectly fit his hand, going so far as to use sawdust to keep his grip dry during sweaty matches.
10. A Historic Winning Percentage
Lendl retired with an incredible match-winning percentage. Out of 1,310 professional matches played, he won 1,068, leaving him with an 81.5% career winning percentage, one of the highest in the history of the ATP Tour.
11. Davis Cup Glory
Before his relationship with the Czechoslovakian tennis federation deteriorated, Lendl led his home country to its one and only Davis Cup victory in 1980, showcasing his immense value in team competitions early in his career.
12. Master of the Year-End Championships
Lendl thrived at the Masters Grand Prix (now known as the ATP Finals), the prestigious year-end tournament featuring only the top-ranked players. He won the title 5 times and reached the final on 9 consecutive occasions between 1980 and 1988.
13. A World-Class Coach
After retiring from playing, Lendl found immense success as a coach. Most notably, he coached Andy Murray, helping the British star break his Grand Slam curse to win the 2012 US Open, two Wimbledon titles (2013, 2016), and two Olympic gold medals.
14. An Avid Art Collector
Off the court, Lendl is a passionate art connoisseur. He amassed the most complete private collection of works by the famous Czech Art Nouveau painter and decorative artist Alfons Mucha, which was eventually exhibited in Prague in 2013.
15. A Family of Golfers
Lendl is an exceptional golfer himself, having played in several professional qualifier tournaments after retiring from tennis. He passed this athletic gene down to his family; he has five daughters, several of whom played high-level collegiate and professional golf.
