Ivan Lendl

Eight Grand Slam titles and the most systematic training-first approach that defined modern professional tennis.

Ivan Lendl was born in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia in 1960. He won eight Grand Slam titles — three US Opens, three French Opens and two Australian Opens — but never won Wimbledon, which remains the most significant absence from an otherwise extraordinary record. He was ranked world number one for 270 weeks — the third-longest in history. He was the player who introduced the concept of professional athletic preparation to tennis — his diet, fitness regime and systematic training programme were decades ahead of his contemporaries and established the template for how professional tennis players approach conditioning. His rivalry with John McEnroe — the antithesis of Lendl's discipline — produced some of the era's most compelling tennis. He defected from Czechoslovakia to the United States during his career. He later coached Andy Murray to two Grand Slam titles and Olympic gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics — becoming one of the game's most successful coaches.

Lendl was renowned for his powerful baseline game, featuring devastating topspin groundstrokes from both wings. His meticulous preparation and physical conditioning set new standards for professional tennis, combining raw power with tactical precision. He possessed one of the most feared forehand weapons in the sport and was particularly effective on clay and hard courts.

Lendl revolutionized tennis through his scientific approach to training and fitness, establishing the template for the modern professional player. His influence extended into coaching, where he successfully guided Andy Murray to three Grand Slam titles and the world number one ranking.

• US Open 3x
• French Open 3x
• Australian Open 2x
• World No.1 (270 weeks)
• Year-end No.1 8x