"Hana’s Five Greatest Wimbledon Wins" - by Tripp from Georgia

As we celebrate another tournament at Wimbledon, it’s hard to forget some great victories by Hana Mandlikova during those championships. To most people Wimbledon represents tennis’ greatest prize. Though Hana did not win it, the lone grand slam to elude her, she did make her presence felt there and belongs amongst its storied tennis history.

The odd thing about Hana not winning Wimbledon is that it was played on a surface tailor made for her game. She won on clayat the French, cement at the U.S. Open, and on Australian grass twice. One of Wimbledon’s all time great champions, Billie Jean King, once had this to say about Hana at Wimbledon: “Hana is a good conditions player.” That meant that when the weather was warm and sunny and the courts were dry so that the balls were lighter and flew through the air, Hana was a real threat. But as happens all too often (for some) at the All England Club, conditions are quite often damp, soggy, and heavy. King’s theory seems to be correct when you consider that Hana’s greatest runs at Wimbledon in 1981, 1984, and 1986 were all accomplished during some of the best weather conditions experienced there. Constrastly, her earliest exits came in 1982, 1983, and 1985 which were some of Wimbledon’s worst as far as rain is concerned.

As we watch the Championships unfold, here are what I consider to be Hana’s five greatest wins at Wimbledon……….

1) 　1979 3rd Round defeated Regina Marsikova (13) 6-3, 6-2

At this point in time, Marsikova was the Czech’s top ranked player and had just reached the French Open semifinal. Seeded 13th Marsikova was expected to beat Hana who was playing in her first Wimbledon. But Hana proved to be the better player on the day on her way to a 4th round matchup with none other than six time Wimbledon champ, Billie Jean King. In Hana’s first Center Court clash, she pushed King enough to leave the champion impressed and wary of her younger Czech opponent. Hana would win two matches against King during her career and lose two including this one.

A Press Photo of Regina Marsikova in 1976

2) 1981 QF defeated Wendy Turnbull (6) 6-0, 6-0

With devastating power and accuracy, Hana as reigning French Open champ, crushed the world’s sixth best player and three time grand slam finalist, Turnbull in barely over half an hour. Wendy always proved to be a difficult opponent for Hana with her speed and great court strategy. But on this day Wendy was left powerless as Hana blasted winners from all points of the court while making only two errors. The match was played on old Court One and was over before some in the crowd had settled into their seats. Wendy went on to become Hana’s best and most consistent doubles partner from 1985 through 1987. Together they won numerous titles and reached the finals of Wimbledon and the U.S. Opens in 1986. That year, they also won the Virginia Slims Championships together defeating Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver along the way.

3) 1981 SF defeated Martina Navratilova (4) 7-5, 4-6, 6-1

Before this tournament began there was a seeding controversy. Wimbledon decided to seed Hana second since she had won two consecutive grand slam events behind Chris Evert. Martina, a two time Wimbledon champ, was seeded all the way down at 4th. Martina took exception to this and said so publicly. So there was a lot of anticipation in the build up to this meeting between Czechs. Hana won going away in the third set as Martina’s confidence dwindled. It proved to be the last loss suffered by Martina at Wimbledon until the 1988 final as she went on to win six consecutive titles, including a finals win over Hana in 1986. But this day was Hana’s day to reign surpreme.

4) 1984 QF defeated Jo Durie 6-1, 6-4

As Hana entered Wimbledon 1984, she was still the only player to defeat Martina that year and had just taken the defending champion to three sets in Paris. Everyone from Bud Collins on down expected that if anyone was going to defeat Martina in the Wimbledon final, it was going to be Hana. But Hana’s path was a difficult one to negotiate. She defeated a future semifinalist in Lindqvist, perennial grand slam challenger, Sukova, and Great Britain’s top female player, Jo Durie. Durie had already reached both the French and U.S. Open semifinals. Hana, usually very popular at Wimbledon, had to play against both Durie and the crowd in this quarterfinal match. Sensing this could be a tough one, Hana sprang to an early lead and closed out the first set handily, 6-1. In the second, she withstood a charge fromDurie and broke at 4-4 in the second set before serving out the match in style. Though Hana lost in the SF to Chris Evert, Hana had re-established herself as a threat to win this most coveted title.

5) 1986 SF defeated Chris Evert (2) 7-6, 7-5

In defeating long time nemesis, Evert, Hana achieved one of the greatest victories of her career. And considering that Chris had just won her seventh French title, this might be her greatest win at Wimbledon overall. Neither set started out well for Hana as she fell behind 5-2 in each of them. But she wasn’t missing by much and Hana’s shots soon started finding the court. During the first set tiebreak Chris had a look on her face that indicated that she knew she might be in trouble. With a thunderous backhand passing shot and with some acrobatic volleying Hana closed out the first set tiebreak seven points to five. During the middle of Hana’s second set comeback, she won an astonishing FOURTEEN consecutive points against the consistent and steady Evert. All were won on either outright winners or errors forced by Hana. The streak of tennis was so spectacular that the British called that momentous fourteen point streak “the purple patch.” Afterwards, Chris conceded that Hana should play Martina in the finals because she played better. Despite Hana’s brilliant start against Martina in the finals she succumbed to the great champion in two tight sets. But this win will always rank as my personal favorite win for Hana on famed Center Court.

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Thank you so much for this beautiful contribution, Tripp.
I appreciate it.

David Cuba! You know what? You're the super super happiest tennis freak on this planet!!! Who are with you???

1, July, 2005 / David Cuba with Hana Mandlikvoa in Wimbledon.. Hey, David, I'm jealous... I'm totally jealous... of you being with our Hana Mandlikova, no matter if you say that you accidentally encountered her. My God... look at you, David, do you really know what you're doing to her? Do you? You're putting your hand around her waist!!! And you're smiling at the camera with her doing the same for you... Even more, she's, too, putting her right hand on your shoulder... Oh, my God... how can I not jealous of it???? Tell me... You know what? She made her glorious days with this very right hand: the winner of French Open in 1981 and so as in US Open in 1985, Wimbledon runner-up in 1981, two time winner of Australian Open in 1980 and 1987... Just countless!!! See? She really made her days with this right hand, and that right hand goes straightly rubbing your shoulder... I..., I, I swear to God that I've been the craziest fan of her more than 30 years but never had the chance like this!!! NEVER!!! I wish I go rush off to London just to stand between you and her. lol
Hahahahaha.... sorry for being bitching you at the above, David. I didn't really mean to pick this on you (I know you know that). No way! Now I got my nerve back and I want to show my great appreciation to you for letting me upload this beautiful photo of you and Hana here in my Blog with lots of envy and jealousy(^^).

Actually what amazed me most is that Hana was looking so relax and you could even feel closer to her than ever. I've never seen her smiling this way, honestly, maybe because she never thought this pic would be in the public and that made her smile this way. No protection and no pretending, and no gurard. She's real Hana Mandlikova: friendly, affable, and adorable!
There's no doubt. David, you are the happiest man on this ugly planet to have this beautiful tennis legend standing on your next, JUST FOR YOU. Congratulation! You god your shot and I know that all tennis fans of 80's congratulate you as much as I do to you.

So, anyone who had the same beautiful encounter with Hana like David did, let me know how it was like, how you felt about it, and how you made it. Make me bleeding jealous of your Hana pic! Bring it on! I'M ALWAYS READY FOR IT. lol, lol, lol!


Thanks, David for your BEAUTIFUL contribution.
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"Hana's Five Greatest Wins at the French Open" by Tripp from Georgia

Because Hana Mandlikova was known as a serve and volley player people sometimes forget what a great clay court player she was. Of course she grew up on red clay in the former Czechoslovakia so it’s not a surprise that she knew her way around a dusty red clay court.

Hana’s first big wins as a professional tennis player were mostly on clay. She won the Italian and French junior titles in 1978 on her to becoming the first top ranked junior girl player. The first two tournaments titles that she won as a pro came on clay courts in Milan and Madrid that same year. In 1979 she would also capture the Austrian Open played in Kitzbuhel.

Many Fed Cup tournaments involving Hana were also played on clay. Hana led Czechoslovakia to titles in 1983 in Zurich and in 1984 at Sao Paulo each being played on slow red clay. Her three set win over that year’s Wimbledon runner up and former French Open runner up Andrea Jaeger in Zurich was her brightest moment of the season and one of her biggest clay court victories.

But the French Open was where Hana’s clay court prowess frequently was put on display. She finished with a 39-11 mark aris as Paris was the grand slam event that she most frequently played. From 1980 through 1986 Hana only failed to make her seeding once in 1985 losing in the quarterfinals. Winning the 1981 French title is surely one of the cornerstones of her career and a testament to her all court game.

On the eve of this year’s French Open, and in looking back at Hana’s French Open history, I decided that I would pick the five wins that I thought were her biggest at this event. There are surely other wins that could be considered as this is purely subjective.

1979 4th Round d. Sue Barker (6) 7-6, 2-6, 6-1

Hana’s 1979 win over Sue Barker was significant because Sue was the 6th seed that year and had been a top 10 regular for several years on the tour. She also was the 1976 French Open champion. Sue was a very good clay court player that used her big forehand to great effect on the slow surface. But on this day Hana served notice that she was to be a future French champion.
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1981 SF d. Chris Evert (1) 7-5, 6-4

On her way to the 1981 French Open title, Hana pulled off a rare and stunning defeat of Chris Evert on clay. In fact, this was only Chris’ second loss ever in Paris. The only previous loss that she suffered was to Margaret Court in the 1973 final. This was also Chris’ first defeat on clay since Tracy Austin defeated her at the 1979 Italian Open. Hana used her strong serve, flat forehand, and abrupt changes of pace off of her backhand side to keep Chris off balance. Although Hana used her athletic net game to great effect she also outgunned Chris from the baseline. Considering the opponent and the event this is possibly Hana’s greatest ever singles match victory. Chris would retire having lost to only five players ever in Paris. Hana would go on to defeat Sylvia Hanika for the title.

1982 QF d. Tracy Austin (3) 7-6, 6-7, 6-2

Surely one of the most satisfying victories of Hana’s career was her first win over Tracy in Paris. Of their previous seven meetings, all but two of them went to three sets and one of Hana’s straight sets defeats was a 7-6, 7-6 verdict. Many times Hana had taken sets from Tracy and looked as if she was going to defeat the former world’s number one. But it was not until this day that Hana came through. Using the same kind of tactics that she had used to defeat Chris the year before, Hana used slices, topspins, and hard flat drives mixed in with occasional forays to the net to beat Tracy 7-6 in the first set. She then built a 5-2 lead in the second set and looked set to serve the match out. But to Tracy’s credit she broke back and eventually took the set. However Hana didn’t let the opportunity slip away this time as she used some big serves, delicate drop shots, and well placed volleys to put Tracy away.

1983 d. Andrea Temesvari (10) 6-2, 6-1

As the new fresh face on the scene that spring, the newly dubbed “topspin princess” was making her first big move on the pro tour. Earlier in the year Andrea had pushed Martina on clay at the Hilton Head event taking the top ranked player to three hard fought sets. Hana entered the tournament struggling and with her ranking dropping like a rock after repeated injuries and time away from the tour. Andrea was a popular dark horse pick to score a big upset in this tournament and was all but expected to win this match. But Hana had other ideas as she swept aside that year’s Italian Open champ and eventual two time U.S. Clay Courts champ. When Hana ended the match on a strong forehand up the line she clinched both fists in victory having been satisfied that she proved her critics wrong.


1986 d. Steffi Graf (3) 2-6, 7-6, 6-1

In the spring of 1986 Steffi was riding a long winning streak that included wins over Martina, Chris, and Hana having won three consecutive tournaments. As she ripped through her side of the draw some weren’t wondering IF Steffi would win this tournament but in how big of a romp. At first, Hana could not find her range and even though she was hitting the ball well she was missing by inches. The match seemed firmly in Steffi’s grasp when she had match point at 5-3 in the second. But when she hit a forehand long the crowd sensed that if Hana could break she would be back in the match. With the crowd behind her, Hana broke Steffi and began the long road back with big serves and big forehands that went right into Steffi’s forehand causing her to hit late and open up spraying the ball wide and long repeatedly. Once the second set was in hand Hana took charge of the third set early and ran away with it in a romp hitting dazzling forehand winners in powerful baseline exchanges and extracting errors from Steffi’s feared forehand. The win served as a reminder that Hana was still a formidable force on the tour.
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Those are my picks as Hana’s five biggest wins at the French Open. I only wish that Hana could’ve held on for wins in 1983 vs. Chris and 1984 vs. Martina. Those were two great matches in which Hana fought the top two toe to toe and nearly won but couldn’t quite pull it off. Had Hana been able to defeat Chris in 1983, she might’ve gone on to a second French title. But it wasn’t meant to be. Still, we have some great memories of many wins for Hana on these historic clay courts.

Feel free to share your memories of these and other great matches involving Hana in Paris.

Tripp

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Thank you so much Tripp for your BEAUTIFUL contribution looking back Hana's achievements in clay history. I'm soooo happy that you're still madly in love with Hana's tennis as much I am, maybe more than I am. I think you have to tell us more about her tennis, how you feel, how you're pleased, how you're depressed (laugh). Tell us more!!! If you do tell us more, the space of the blog is all for you. I'm not kidding. It's more than anything that we still can share Hana's precious memories even after 20 years since her retirement. It's not the story of long time ago, its like ... woa! "yesterday, "and yesterday stays forever with Hana's freaks! 　Tripp, you're doing a great job. And Hana, you know what? We're still in love with you and your tennis, and missing you bleeding much(^^)/ There's no one like you who grabbed our hearts and never let them go.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　etsuko

Hana Mandlikova Shows Up In Česká televize24 Interview! 3, July, 2009

I'm so happy that Hana's been showing up in front of media quite a few times recently, maybe because of Wimbledon is on now. Obviously Hana, two-time runner-up in Wimbledon, is wanted. She first showed up in Praha, Czech and then to Wimbledon. I'm so happy I could reach her through these medias!
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This is the latest of the latest interviews of Hana.
It's on air yesterday! Can you believe this?
This is just amazing! The freshiest of the Freshiests!
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Even I can't make out what's she's been asked or speaking there, I'm so satisfied with this video. It's beautifully taken actually and Hana seems to be in quite good shape. I know she must be keeping up herself good.
Thank you, Česká televize! You always provide us with this beautiful Hana things.
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And many thanks to my Czech friend Tom Pavlica, I'm crossing my fingers for your English translation sending me again (^O^). You always offering me this wonderful sacrifice. But this interview is amazingly long (23min), so I'm afraid it might take your valuable time away. You can't go hang out with somebody hottie this weekend, can you? Oh, wait! That's right. You're also in love with Hana, and this is the one you'd love to devote.
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I guess I better let you do it, don't I? (^O^)
Well, you and I, let's devote to cheering for Hana Mandlikova untill the day this planet ends! (^O^)(^O^)(^O^) We're Hana Freak!
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http://www.loh.cz/vysilani/2009/07/03/10095426857-209411058040703-17:30-interview-ct24/
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Youtube :

part 1:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwINdA7P51Y
part 2:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUMtu63I1D8
part 3:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGSQmc2bEVw

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English Translated by Tom Pavlica

(Thank you, Tom!)

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Interviewer ( I : Daniela Drtinová)

Guest (HM : Hana Mandlikova)

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I : Good evening. The tennis legend, Hana Mandlíková is going to help tennis talents in Czech Republic. She has become the official face of the TK Sparta Praha Tennis Club. Currently being in the Czech Republic, she admitted to answer some questions tonight. She is a four-time Grand Slam champion, for two and a half year she was WTA No. 3. She won 27 titles in singles, and 6 in doubles, only the Wimbledon triumph is missing. HanaMandlikova is on ČT24 with us.

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Good evening.

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HM : Good evening.
I : How often are you coming to coach children at Sparta?
HM : I am planning to come here twice a year, dedicating my time to young talents.
I : Twice a year for a longer time.

Tell us your plan. How are you trying to do it?

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HM : I'm staying here about two to three weeks.
I : Two to three weeks. Do you think you can work with them within this period? How are you going to aim your attention to make them worthwhile?

HM: Sparta and I, we're getting in touch each other. A Sparta director is going to email me about their progress, whether they're getting better or not, what they need and so on. Before I leave, I'm planning to meet some parents of the children I have chosen. And I would be glad that they come to meet me in Florida in future.
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I : So you have already spotted some talents?

HM : Two kids, a girl and a boy.

I : How old are they?
HM : I think both are the same ... the boy is nine, the girl is eight.
I : Specifically, what kind of talents do you see from them?

Can you recognize it at that age? Is it possible?

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HM : You can see it in their spontaneity, in their movings. We had a meeting and it is obvious that they are interested in tennis. They had questions. It is interesting that only these two kids asked me some questions, the other children did not. Maybe others were too shy. I don't know, but these two kids did have some questions.

I : So you can see it in their interest, not only match-related, but also in things that are around tennis?
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HM : Yes, also things around tennis. They want to know how I started playing tennis, what I did to be good player. I told them when I started tennis I used to sleep with my racket laid alongside of my bed, even in my bed. They were "really? Wow! I must do it, too". They're leaning that tennis is important for them even at their age.

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I : You started tennis at Sparta?
HM : I started at Sparta at the age of eight, and it was very important for me, because at that time, they had Jan Kodeš, Martina Navrátilová. Well, watching these top stars of the Czech tennis really really helped me a lot. I used to sit there and watch Jan training very hard, and for Martina I'd been her ball girl some time, and it was very informative for me.

I : Watching these kids practicing at Sparta today, do you find it much harder for you to achieve tennis at your time?

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HM : I don't think so, because we started tennis a bit later than kids today. They start when they are five or six years old, we started about eight or nine.

And the truth is that they finish earlier. They won't play after 28, 29, 30. Look at Henin or Clijsters, they quit at the age of 22.

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I : Why is that?
HM : They are worn out, not only physically but mentally, quickly. Their body or muscles didn't develop fully and sufficiently so that they get easily injured or hurt.

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I : So would you recommend us to start a bit later than at the age of five or six?
HM : No, no, I would not recommend it, because, if they want to reach something in tennis, they must start earlier. It is important.
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I : Do you still play tennis?
HM : Well, if you mention as official tournaments, I don't any more. I only play those veteran tournaments at US Open and Wimbledon. As I had troubles with my back, I couldn't play much. I hope I can play presentable tennis.

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I : You're going to Wimbledon in a couple of days?
HM : I am going there on Sunday.
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I : Aren't you ever planning to move back to Czech Republic for good?
HM : I tried it four years ago. Yes, I tried it. And it was good for me to think about it. You know, I traveled around the world since I was fifteen, I get used to live abroad. If I hadn't tried thinking of it I would have never known how would it have been. I would have probably answered with some ambiguity, like, "maybe", "maybe not." But now I can tell it is better for me to be in abroad.
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I : Why?
HM : It's hard to explain. Believe me I thought about it many times. There isn't so much difference between here and abroad. You can do and buy everything here, everything is super. But the mentality of people here... It is, kind of, hard to say, but I sometimes get angry, for example, going for shopping, the shop assistant is not very polite, or going to restaurant, you can find it's like that the waiter isn't there for you but you are there for him. Also you have to tell him ten times before you get what you want, and those little things I frustrate me so much.
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I : It is annoying, isn't it?
HM: It is.
I : You do not want to move back here. Have you ever thought about opening a tennis club for children in Florida?
HM: Well, I couldn't do it myself, I needed some sponsors definitely. So we discussed it with Mr.Cernosek and then we found it's possible, for example in winter when you can't play so much here... You can come to school in Florida. well, it's under negotiation, maybe it is too early to say now.
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I : Last September, Jan Kodeš, 1973 Wimbledon winner, said: Czech tennis clears the house. We can't say it is going to be better in future. Why do you think the Czech tennis is not doing well now? What is the main problem? We definately have some talents, where is the mistake then? Did we wrongly guid them?
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HM : I don't think it's because we did guide them wrongly. There are good coaches and teachers here. Whenever Czech junior go abroad to play, they have a good technique to win and they do well. But especially when they go playing againg seniors, there's a declining. I think, when we talked about mentality, that they are okay with a good car, or a big house. But that's all...
Their parents - it must start with parents - they must know that the important thing is to win Grand Slams. The kids should have bigger goals.
I remember my father, since I was a kid, he kept telling me, "you are going to win Wimbledon, you can make it." It was not about money, it was always about tennis, sport, and if you are good at something, the money will come along.
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I : So you are saying that the motivation of your generation was different. Today's kids and juniors tend to be more material?
HM : I think so, yes. I think that parents today - and kids, too - they see easier life behind that. Money and so on.
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I : Would you say that money spoil tennis?
HM : I wouldn't say tennis, I would say children, people.
I : It is probably the same everywhere, not only in tennis, but even in other sport branches.
HM : You mean in Czech Republic?
I : Generally. I mean if there are not too much money in sport and the motivation that goes with it is all money-based.
HM : It is surely the main part of motivation of the best players. If you look at Serena or Venus, comparing to my day, they earn lot more. They earn four or five times more than us. When I won US Open 1985, I got 95 thousand dollars, and now it is half a million dollars. So it is five times more. Maybe it is much harder for you to keep yourself motivated when you can earn big money easier than in my day.
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I : Has the financial situation in tennis changed due to the global financial crisis?

HM: I don't think so, no.
I: No influence? And speaking of that, not a tennis-related question: How, according to you, Barack Obama deals with the financial crisis? You voted for him, didn't you?
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HM: I did. I voted for him. I think that the crisis will still continue in the States for a while. It is really terrible, many people lost their jobs and houses. On TV, for example, they now teach people how to save money. When you go for a dinner, you used to have extremely big portion, and now even the meal is smaller in restaurants. Yes, they teach people how to save money, not to have sprinkles-on every day, make it twice or three times a week, and so on. They simply teach them to save money.

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I : Aren't people disappointed now? There were surely very big expectations on Barack Obama, and it is a question whether he can fulfill his promises as a president such as settling down the crisis and so on. No disappoitment in the future?
HM : It hasn't been long since he's become a president, Georg Bush was there for eight years, and he had a long time for ... it is hard to tell, actually he spoilt the country a lot, made many mistakes. And I think that we must give Barack at least four years to see some difference. He is very popular all around the world, I think he can make it. He is a very smart person.
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I : Let's get back to tennis. The great Czech tennis era when Czech players played the Grand Slam finals and so on. Do you think it's coming back again?
HM : I believe it is. I think that Czech is a sports-orientated country. We love sports. We have many talents, we have to find out the way how to develop and use the talents to go higher level.

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I : If there are talents, where is the mistake? According to you, it maybe in the Czech tennis coaching association? Where is the mistake, the biggest one?
HM : I wouldn't like to talk about the association. I'm not going to come back to it. Because I am not here week by week, year by year, so I don't I understand everything, and I wouldn't like to live here for a longer time to have a serious opinion about it.
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I : Okay. Do you think that we will have our Czech player in Top Ten again?

HM : I hope that those two kids at Sparta as I told you before, I wish them luck. I think they are talented, the coaches at Sparta are very good, and I think that if they guide them carefully and lead them as well as their parents the right way, there will be a chance. Definitely.
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I : We've talked about juniors to seniors. There's one thing, especially with mentality in young girls and women tennis. What should the relationship be like? This is also important. Obviously, not every player at this age is strong enough to live a tennis life plus some relationship ...
HM : You mean a partnership?
I : Yes, a partnership, live or going out with somebody.
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HM : This is a very good question. I think, the younger they start playing tennis, the more difficulties they have. If you do only one thing since you are five or six, which is tennis and school, there would be nothing else you could have time for. You would be totally unexperienced in other way of life, on the other hand normal eighteen years old girl can attend clubs, parties and all that. Tennis saturated girl has no time for that. And suddenly, when she turns to 21 or 22, she meets a pretty boy and thinks "why would I play tennis on and on? I want to enjoy my life." But, you know, this girl thinks differently than normal girl.

When I give up my career, I had some big troubles to adapt this normal life. You've living in a green house. All you did was just tennis, tennis, tennis! Everyone pat you on your shoulder, smile at you, and you can't see the reality. I think I was lucky because I always wanted children, and then it was important for me to tell myself I am going to care about my children and give them my love and stop to be egoistic.
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I : You gave up your tennis when you were 28. You had surely had some serious problems in relationships. How complicated was it to connect them with tennis? What would you advice to them who go from juniors to seniors, those tennis teens, especially girls?
HM: It is also an interesting question, I think that it's the matter of things inside of you, inside of the player. Even though I always knew that tennis was the most important thing for me, I had some troubles, for example my friends had boyfriends when we were 17, and I didn'd have any. But tennis was more important than anything else and I kept saying to myself, well, I am going to catch up on this later.
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I : A lot was written about Nicole Vaidišová, our talented player, who may have the similar problems. As you watch the Czech girls in tennis, do you think that she will play great tennis again?
HM: I think she is a good example. I do not know the details about it, but, such a young girl but achieved a high level, no wonder if it may have caused some troubles like what we're talking about. She, No.12 player, is young and then somebody may have appeared whom she was interested in. And he soon became a matter for her, and tennis stopped being so important for her as much as it used to be. But I believe if she can look in the mirror and admit some things, she can soon be back to high level again. I wish that for her, because she is very talented.
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I : You gave up your tennis in 1990 when you were 28, after twelve years playing. I read somewhere that when you were young, there weren't good rackets in this country, and you had to play with anything you could get. You played with a very poor heavy racket, it must have been very hard for your young body, muscles, and back. Do you think it was one of the reasons you quit so early?
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HM: Definitely. At that time, There was only one weigh-type of racket, I started playing with Dunlop, my coach Zdenka gave me. It was an imported racket, and there was nothing else, only one type and you had to play with it. I'm sure because I was a slim girl, I already had a backaches and back-troubles when I was 18, and for four months I couldn't play at all. Sure there was some influence.
I : It was a huge damage for your body. It was destroying you, wasn't it?

HM : Definitely.
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I : The only Grand Slam you never won was Wimbledon. Now looking back in time, why do you think you never reached Wimbledon? In that year 1981, you were only one match from No 1. Was it something in your mentality?
HM : Oh, no, no. I would like to say something about that No 1 thing. I've already told in some tennis magazine interview ; I won Australian Open 80, then I won Rolland Garros 81 and I played in the Wimbledon final 81, no wonder I should have been No 1 then. Everyone knew that, journalists knew, players knew. Unfortunately the WTA started changing the ranking rules at that time, so I couldn't be the No.1 according to these new rules. I couldn't do anything about it. It hurt me but I got over it.

Regarding to Wimbledon, you know, everytime when you want something so much, as I wanted since I started playing tennis, plus my father kept telling me that I would win it somday, sometimes ... it would be the only thing you couldn't reach. It's pity I played in the final twice... Maybe Elizabeth or Markem will make it for me.
.
I : These are your children.
HM : They are my children.
I : Still, as the biggest lose, or at least I read it somewhere, you take the legendary Štvanice match, 1986; it was a Fed Cup match, you played against, at that time, exile, Martina Navrátilová , who came from the States, it is a well known story here, the audience were supporting her, not you ...
HM : Yes.
.
I : Though you played as a Czech representative, but it was because they wanted to show the protest against the communist regime. It wasn't against you, there was nothing personal in it, but you felt it that way, then. How long did it take you too understand it, to realize it, to get over it?

.
HM : That day, when we entered the court with Martina, I still believe that it would be, like, half to half, or at least some people would support me. But it was very hard for me to realize it. Actually it took a long time for me to get over it. It was the worst day in my career, because I also grew up here, I was always glad to come back here, and I had great relationships with people here. So

it was very hard to make out, but many people tried to explain to me the way as you are saying, like, "it was never against me," it was totally against the regime. I respect Martina for all she reached by herself anyway. I got over it and I do not mind any more.
.

.

I : Your father, a former great sprinter, Vilém Mandlík, once told us about you: "She is hot-tempered, impulsive, sometimes very open, but honest and uncompromising. She had to fight for everything. Those persons think that everything must be as they like it." Are you such a person?

.

HM: Yes, I am. But I think I've changed a lot, since my children were born. Sometimes, in my career, it complicated my life. My father taught me to be just like this, be honest and uncompromise. But I've learned that you sometimes have to accept grey thing, there is not only black or white in the world. I am still honest inside, but I try to change a bit since.

.

I : You watch out for paying more attention.
HM : Yes.

.
I : Well, when I met you in a Tennis Club in Konstruktiva where I invited you here for this interview, you were there with your children. I saw someone else training them. Why was it not you?

.
HM : I tried that, of course, but it didn't work well. My children just do not listen to me (laugh). I am very impulsive person, so I didn't want to have more troubles with them at home. I think it mightbe better that I keep a distance while they 're training tennis. I found a Czech trainer for them in the States. He is a very nice person so that we can talk about tennis in a good way. Yes, things go well for us.
.

I : You have two kids, twins. Has any of them inherited your famous offensive serve & volley tennis?

HM : Well, they prefer to play the ball in the base line now. But it is a question of the type of a given personality. If they are impulsive enough, I'm sure they will start to run the net quickly. I want my kids to be like this. Same thing can be said on to other players, too. Yeah, I'd love to see my children hitting volleys.
.
I : You seem to be doing pretty well now. Is there anything that you would like to change if you could when you look back?
HM : In my life or in tennis?
I : Well, both.
HM : No, no, not both.
.
I : Okay, in your life.
HM: In my life, well, I think I would play for a longer (laugh)....
Well, in my life... I think I better keep them as it was. Maybe I would admit some things earlier to myself.
.
I : The last question. It's a little bit delicate.
Why did you stop your frienship with Jana Novotná?
What happened between you two?
.
HM : We didn't decide to stop meeting each other. She also lives in Florida, but ... even I told her many times, like "Jana, call me," she never called me. She didn't ask anything about my children. But I didn't think that there was a serious problem between us. When we meet at some tournaments, US Open or Wimbledon, we speak to each other about what she does, what I do, and so on.

I : Didn't you do anything bad to her?
HM : (laugh) I hope I didn't.

I : (laugh)
.
I : Our guest tonight was a famous tennis player, Hana Mandlíková.
Thank you for coming here tonight.
I wish you luck and many new talents. Good bye.
HM : Good bye.

.

I : Well, this was all for tonight.

Have a nice evening.
.
.

(End)
.

.

English Translation of "TK Sparta Praha Hana Mandlikova"

Isn't she lovely? I love Hana smiling in training wear.
Yesterday, I've received a beautiful e-mail from Czech friend named Tom Pavlica, and he offered me this wonderful English translation of the video that I introduced here last time ("TK Sparta Praha Hana Mandlikova" by PETRLUXA). I screamed like "someone help me understand what Hana's saying here~~~~!!!" Then Tom appeared like a knight and helped me figure it out. Isn't it so sweet??? I pay a big respect to somebody who can do this selfless thing to somebody at anytime. Thank you so much, Tom, my dear!

Tom said that when he was child like 12, Hana was young and pretty, so that he too fell in love with her especially when he saw Hana smiling at court. And he's still in love with Hana! God, see? everybody can't stop loving this cute superstar from Czechslovakia!!! I know how he's been thinking about Hana. It's exactly the way I've been. We've hopelessly been in this pure crazy admiration hell for Hana, no matter if the earth starts turnning opposite way. Call it a fate.

I'm jealous of everyone of Czech people. 'Cos they can understand Hana. Hana shows up in Czech media lot more than any other country. She speaks Czech, then non Czech speaker, like me, would be totally lost... But Tom said he would love to help me if I scream again like "help me again~" anyway. I think I'll count on him.

Or should I learn Czech? What do you think? I, this over 40 woman, starting learning Czech? It maybe laughable. God... It's totally an adventure! I've heard that Czech is as much difficult as Russian. I think I shouldn't start it without some iron-will. Right now, I'm not confident of it at all. I don't know...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVPqTyeAzjU

※Tom, as for your request, I put Hana's image to Český Wikipedia. Also, I put it to every International Wikipedia such as Nederlands, Deutsch, Espanol, Norsk, Polski, Suomi, Chinese, etc... It's FUN! I want people to remember her graceful appearance for good.

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English Translation dedicated by Tom Pavlica

HM : Hi, I am Hana Mandlikova and I came back to Sparta Tennis Club where, actually, I grew up. Also Martina Navratilova and Helena Sukova grew up here, and we were super team. I haven´t been here for many years and I can say that this place (Sparta) is a lot better now; there are such conditions for tennis that you can´t find anywhere else, not even in tennis clubs in the States, and I can recommend to children and parents to come here and look at it here and to see these tennis-encouraging conditions with their own eyes.

Q : What do you think a good tennis club should have?

HM : At least ten courts, definitely, and you can find them here, at least three indoor courts, you can also find them here at Sparta, good rehab and relax centre, good coaches and instructors, and I can guarantee that all this you can find here at Sparta. And also, parents support, I must say.

Q : You are an experienced person, you have seen a lot of tennis clubs around the world. Can you say that Sparta is comparable with the best of them?

HM : Let me put it that way : There are not such tennis clubs in the States, which is pity, because there are not such conditions for tennis; there are country clubs, where I, as a parent, must bring kids in and out, and if I don´t care, they do not play tennis.

It is an advantage here: they have a park aside, they have great courts here, indoor courts, simply all they need. I wish it would be the same in the States, but it is not, so I think that we will spend more time with our kids here, not only during summers, but even winters.

Q : Thank you.

HM : You´re welcome.


(End)

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One word more.

To someone who's Hana's life partner,
You should make her go in a good diet.
You should do it for us!
We want our Hana to make it to 100!
You're the one who's with her all the time.
So you've gotta do it!
Go take care of her, please.

I don't want to see her dying of metabolic syndrome.

I'm worried...

- etsuko209

HOTTEST VIDEO! "TK Sparta Praha - Hana Mandlikova" 18, June, 2009

New Video dedicated by PETRLUXA! It is SO HILARIOUS!

This is absolutely MUST-SEE!

Now I'm so excited to death! Because I found it just today, just this moment!

I check all the article, photos, videos regarding Hana Mandlikova on the internet everyday as much as I can. And today, I've encountered this literally breathtaking beautiful Hana's latest video dedicated by some Czech, called PETRLUXA. I wanna say big big big THANKS to this Czech friend. Oh, God, I don't know and you never know how much I appreciate for his /or her wonderful contribution. Even I have no idea what Hana's speaking there, but I definately feel she is huge. She, this born-athlete, has something in the atmosphere. Something huge in herself to attract people.

Don't waste your valuable time for just reading here. Go click the button, or just go visit PETRLUXA's Youtube, so you can hear her beautiful voice and see the latest Hana! Her amazing voice hasn't changed at all. It's like you go back to the good old days of 80's. Yes! The golden era of tennis!

Somebody who can understand Czech, please please please let me know what Hana's speaking!!!

I'm not gonna go to grave until I figure it out! (-^〇^-)

So you've gotta help me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVPqTyeAzjU

Got A Czech TV Interview with English Transcripts!

Posted 7 May, 2009

Thanks Mcdonald! Now I'm back again with mighty McD. I know you always welcomed me. However I've come here for just accessing the net and what I ordered here was just a cup of orange juice! But you never chaced me away, on the contrary you treated me so nice. I appreciate your it, apprecdiate it. I think I'm gonna order some hot apple pie after posting this.

Well, let's get into today's topic.Perhaps you all remember the interview our Hana had in Czech in 2005. I uploaded it to Youtube and I received a few letters of big 'thanks.' But unfortunately that interview was proceeded all in Czech, so that non Czech speaker like us totally at a loss what Hana said or laughed at in the interview. We just felt the atmosphere of the interview was good, and Hana was far and away hilarious and also in good condition.

But today I can show you the detail of this whole interview. There was this finest person in Czech called Daniel translated it into Enlish for me. God! Can you believe this? He sent me an e-mail and said that he really liked my Hana Blog that he wanted to help me understand the whole interview. I can't stop but thank Daniel. Oh, thank you so much, Daniel. You did so good to me! I'm so happy that we can show the interview in English to every Hana fans all over the world.

As far as I can remember, Hana never done this kind of TV show style interview in America, maybe she doesn't like to show up in media there, 'cos she doesn't really trust them. She accepted an interview, 'cos it was held in Czech, I think. And she talked so many things with so honest mind to Czech people there.God, thank you so much, Hana and all Czech people who're warmheartedly welcoming and applauding her.

All right, here we go!

----------------------------------------------------------------

Talk show host : Jan Kraus (J.K)
-Very popular Czech actor and talk show host, his show airs every friday and its hugely popular in Czech republic.

Guest
Hana Mandlikova (H.M)
Janek Ledecky (J.L) : Popular Czech pop singer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

J.K : Mrs. Hana Mandlikova!
(Applause)
J.K : Good evening.
H.M : Good evening.
J.K : How are you?
H.M : Fine. You are lucky that I am not wearing pajamas.

J.K: I am lucky, I know.　It was a big rush, wasn’t it?.
H.M : Yes, it was.

J.K : The thing was if your children fall asleep or not.
H.M : They are sleeping.
J.K : Yeah, you always put them in bed, right?

H.M : Well, I lie beside them.
J.K : You know that your are not supposed to do that, right?
H.M : Why?
J.K : Well, because you will have to lie beside them until they are 15.

Well, it is said “until children get used to it.”

They can’t fall asleep without it.

H.M : So you have some experience?
J.K : I have 4 sons.
H.M : Well, then yes.
J.K : But I didn’t sleep beside one of them, because I discovered him in 30.

I mean when he was 30. So we sleep together now. (laugh)

Well, somebody told me that I’m not supposed to do it when I was reading those books about how to raise children.

But maybe in America, it’s different. 　　

Maybe children there are treated in a different way.

H.M : Please don’t start this matter. That’s what I hear from my parents everyday.
J.K : Really? And what do parents tell you?
H.M : They are the most rotten children as far as they know. Criticism over and over.
J.K : They are twins, aren’t they?
H.M : Yes, twins. Girl and boy.
J.K : Your parents would be more strict with them?
H.M : No.

J.K : Really? You were very self-dependent when you were in former Czechoslovakia.

Your best ranking was No.3 in the world.
H.M : Yes, No.3.
J.K : You won except Wimbledon...
H.M : Oh, You have wrong information.
J.K : EXCEPT Wimbledon, I said.

H.M : Oh, you said “except”...
J.K : Well, I have good information, don’t I?

You heard me wrong because you rushed here from the children.
H.M : Yeah, you are right, except Wimbledon.
J.K : Well I don’t have so much information, but I remember you, I admired you very much.
H.M : And I admired you, too.

J.K : You admired me?
H.M : I knew you definitely.

J.K : Really? But I played tennis only a little. (laugh)

I played tennis same style like you. Serve and volley.

Right after serving, I rush to the net...

And they always gave me passing shot. (laugh)

Yeah, but I liked your style, also your life style.

Tell me, you were very young when you got outside to the big world.

H.M : Yes, I was 15.

J.K : How was it to get to the big world in communist era.

Was it big shock for you?

H.M : Certainly it was a big shock, because I was only 15.

And it was my first time abroad. Didn’t speak a word of English.

20 dollars in a pocket and a flight ticket.

If I hadn’t won the first tournament, I had to come back.

J.K : The first one was in Australia?
H.M : No, no it was in Montreal.
J.K : So the first condition was to win the tournament to earn...
H.M : No no. I had the round-trip ticket.

But I had to win for being allowed to stay for the next tournament.

So the pressure was big.

J.K : What was the hardest thing for you to get used to?

Coming out of here to western world.

H.M : I was in terrible homesick, because I was completely a family girl in the beginning...
J.K : Well I was also homesick when I used to visit my auntie.

I missed my parents.

I visited auntie in Liberec and I cried there... so I wanted to come back to Prague.
You were completely alone on these tournaments.

H.M : Yeah, I was alone.
J.K : Without a coach.

H.M : Yeah. I hadn’t had a coach until I started to earn some money,
J.K : Tell me how it was to earn big money in Czechoslovakia those days?

It must have been "fun", right?

H.M : Yeah, that was big "fun".
J.K : Tell me the story.
H.M : No, I don’t want to get back to that, It wasn’t easy, really...

I know you heard these stories many times...

And I think that nowadays it’s much easier for everybody.

That’s why we don’t have good tennis player now.

Everything is too easy now.

J.K : And you think that influenced you?

H.M : Yes, sure. It makes you tougher, you want to reach more.

You want more than just to buy a car or house.

You want to win those Grand Slams.

And that’s what we’re wanting in Czech players today.

J.K : Also Lendl mentioned this.

When he came to America, they asked him, "what do you want?"

He said, "I want to be good." They said "Good? You must be No.1."

H.M : Exactly. The system helped you with this.

Mr. Kraus, are you sweating?
J.K : No, I am not.

H.M : Well, I always watch this show...

So I brought you a towel.

J.K : Wow, very nice of you.
H.M : Wait a minute, wait a minute...

This one is a special one. It’s from Wimbledon.

J.K : Oh, very nice of you!

H.M : Wait a second... I must.... Yes, it’s clean.

It’s washed, smell it.
J.K : Well, if it wasn’t washed, it would be even more special.

H.M : No, no, it smells good.

J.K : Well, I can see the grass...

Well I usually sweat, but... not now.

It’s not hot here today.

You know this..., you also do this on court.

H.M : Yeah...

J.K : Whose towel is it?
H.M : Well, it’s mine.
J.K : Yours? From Wimbledon? Really?

So you used this one in final...
H.M : No, I didn’t use it in final, it was maybe first round that I lost... (laugh)

But it doesn’t really matter, huh?

J.K : Yeah... it doesn’t...

So maybe I should wear it like this...
I will call it Mandlikova. Beautiful!

It will be my family treasure.

One day I'm gonna sell it in auction, huh?

H.M : Well, it’s a little bit old and used, so you better hurry up.

J.K : Well, that’s the value of it.
H.M : You think so?
J.K : I will tell people, "Look! You should know how much Hana liked it.

She played with it until it’s little bit faded".

So what do you do these days, Hana?

H.M : Hana... you called me Jana.
J.K : No, Hana.
H.M : Okay.
J.K : I am not that desperate.

Yeah, we have some problems in communication.

But with all respect, I would say that so far it’s not my fault.

H.M : I had twins when I was 39, so maybe I turned to children.

J.K : Yeah, but I read somewhere that you like to go to your office.
H.M : Well, yes, when I have time. I like to go to my office to use computer.

J.K : Yeah? I am a fan of computers too.

He’s a bit behind with this matter.

He still has internet connection over the phone modem, "too too"

J.L : I didn’t expect laughter for this.

(J.L : Janek Ledecky, the famous singer in Czech, had a interview previously with J.K in the studio.)

J.K : You are in Prague, not in some redneck city.

Janek also has kids, he even teaches them himself.

You send them to school?
H.M : Yes, they are attending British International School here in Prague.

I want them to stay in English school, so they won’t forget English.

And besides that, they also have Czech language compulsory starting next year.

J.K : Janek can teach them in the worst case.

You wouldn’t like it?

H.M : He is a teacher, right?
J.K : No he’s not, but he teaches his kids.
H.M : They don’t go to school?
J.K : No, they don’t.
H.M : Oh, its called homeschooling.

J.K : Well, but nobody knows it and maybe it’s even illegal.

Only God knows how it works, I make it public here to save those children.
J.K : Also you were a coach of Jana Novotna for almost 10 years, right?

She did win Wimbledon.

H.M : Yeah, she did. With a little bit of my help, not that I won it, but I perhaps helped it.
J.K : Do you think that a coach is a key person for winning?
H.M : I don’t think it’s a key person, but you can help a lot.

But still, there wouldn’t be anyone who can help you in the court, you’re the only one who’s got to be fight alone in the court.

J.K : So maybe you would coach someone here in Czech republic?
H.M : It’s possible, if there is any chance...

All my life I focused on myself, then on Jana, now I would like to raise my children.

I would like to have power and patience for them.

J.K : But I read somewhere that you didn’t breastfeed them for long period, right?

H.M : Great question! Good bye.
J.K : It’s not a question, I said that I read it somewhere.
H.M : No, no. You didn’t read it. The producer told you to say so.

I’m sure you didn’t read. It wasn’t written anywhere.
J.K : But I have it written.

H.M : Yeah right, from the producer.

J.K : It’s just a question, nothing wrong with that.

H.M : Well, would you breastfeed twins?
J.K : Me? You are right, its either one or the other.

Not to cheat on one of them, right?

H.M : Exactly.

J.K : I didn’t think about it this way.
H.M. Well I breastfed them for a week, but then...

You can't sleep, every three hours you spend one hour with each one...
J.K : Yeah, that’s right, I didn’t think about it.

I didn’t have twins yet…

Or they didn’t call...so far.

H.M : So you think over having twins?
J.K : They didn’t get call yet. I sometimes get call like this.
What was Czech tennis audience like when you played tennis here?

H.M : If you remember 1986, Fed cup in Prague, remember?

Navratilova attended.

J.K : It wasn’t announced, but everybody knew it.

H.M : Right, well when I used to play here... however I didn’t play here much either, I was a little bit disappointed...with the audience...

I understood that now but…

She defected here and showed people in the world also in Czechoslovakia that she didn’t support communism, that she’s supporting western-oriented-idea, so that she made it herself.

But I didn’t live here either, so my feelings were, that they are totally on Martina's side.

But I understood it later when I got older, that it wasn’t against me, it was against the system. But at that moment, on the court, it hurt.

J.K : So if you move back here to Czech republic, would it be permanent stay?

I’m interested in this.

Such a successful person, coming back, it feels good.

H.M : I've thought about it, yes or no?
J.K : I can give you advice. What is the problem?
H.M : There’s no problem.

I just don’t know if it’s a good or bad choice.

J.K : I give you good an advice, okay?

It’s a good choice.

H.M : Why?
J.K : Because we need people like you here.
H.M : Great, but what about me?
J.K : What about you?

H.M : Do “I” need these people here?
J.K : Maybe it’s gonna be a small sacrifice for you.

You must help the country to get back on feet.

H.M : I like helping...
J.K : Where else in the world they need you more?
H.M : How can you know that I am needed here?

J.K : Well, I am sure about it!
Hana Mandlikova!

(Applause)

~Fine

Jeff Rouse Has Just Sent to Me the ever KOOLEST Pics of Hana!

Jeff Rouse (South Jordan, USA) has just sent to me some wonderful pictures through e-mail. I never knew him before, but Jeff visited my blog and kindly enough to give me the pics he had with Hana. He said that Hana was a fabulous tennis player, and he had a pleasure of hitting practice with her in 1988.

Oh, my God! I never had a word from anybody who had been with Hana Mandlikova so closely, so it really was my hugest excitement to receive his mail! What he did for me is just amazing! and the pictures are definately worth watching for old crazy Hana fans. They are indeed beautiful!

I never had a chance to meet face-to-face with Hana Mandlikova. Not a once!
However she made some visits to Japan in her playing days, I've never seen her from a distance or met Hana... And I don't think I will make it in the future. It totally kills me...
But I can say that I'm able to meet her through this beautiful way like Jeff offered to me - through pictures or the moment that someone shared with Hana herself! I'm SO grateful to my friend doing this for me. Thank you so much, Jeff!

And I'm dying to hear more of our superstar Hana Mandlikova now and then from anybody, any time, so any information, any pictures will be just utterly welcomed by me. Please mail me if you have some special story or pictures with her. hana_mandlikova_freak72-tennisfan@yahoo.co.jp

You can brag about spending time with or talking with Hana Mandlikova to me as much as you like. Don't worry about me. I'll be okay. I'd be only jealous to death (^_^).　Let's share fond memories of Hana Mandlikova together, but we have to make sure not to go too far because we don't want to intrude into her private life.