Can You Put Up With Being Stared By These Top Queens?

This photograph of three Wimbledon tennis Queens (Chris Evert, Virginia Wade, Martina Navratilova) during the women's Centenary presentation at last year's Championships was taken by contributing photographer Roy Peters and won for him the Courage Sports Photograph of the year award. Roy has also received an award in the nationwide Canon/UK Press Gazette Sports Photography competition. ("Tennis" May, 1985)

"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.

Way To Go! Czech! We've Waited For This Awesome Moment!!!

Petra Kvitová smiling at the audience with her winning trophy after defeating Maria Sharapova (Russia) 6-3, 6-4!

Finally, a new Czech tennis star conquered Wimbledon!

Oh, Petra... dont make us waiting such loooong time for this, but you finally made it that our Hana never could and we're sooo happy for you. God! We have to celebrate for it. Anybody, just stop by and have a drink at my place! Today is the day for Cezch's new hero!!!

Go, go, go, Czech!

Hand singed by Hana Mandlikova. 1996, in Wimbledon

Hand singed by Hana Mandlikova. 1996, in Wimbledon

Bought it on ebay.

This photo's definitely one of my faves. Yeah!(^^)/

Hana Mandlikova Always Looks Amazing in Wimbledon!

All photos are from Alpha Press!

JANA NOVOTNA & HANNA MANDLIKOVA

JUNE - JULY, 1997, AT WIMBLEDON IN LONDON

17, 06, 1997 HANNA MANDLIKOVA ATTEND " THE DIRECT LINE INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE LADIES TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS " IN LONDON

17, 6, 1997 JANA NOVOTNA AND HANNA MANDLIKOVA ATTEND " THE DIRECT LINE INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE LADIES TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS " IN LONDON

21, 6, 1999 LONDON.JANA NOVOTNA AND HANA MANDLIKOVA WIMBLEDON TENNIS 1999

23, 6, 1999 WIMBELDON.HANA MANDLIKOVA.

2000, 7, 1

Sixty-five current and former players

©Alpha M041291 01.07.2000 London.One of the largest gatherings of Wimbledon tennis champions in recent times took part in a special Champions' Parade to celebrate the Millennium Championships at Wimbledon..Sixty-five current and former players were presented with a specially created Waterford Crystal plate by HRH The Duchess of Gloucester. (Left to Right back row) : Goran Ivanisevic, Fred Stolle, Ken Rosewell, Kurt Nielsen, Peter Fleming, Pam Shriver, Helena Sukova, Hana Mandlikova,...
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©Alpha M041291 01.07.2000 London. One of the largest gatherings of Wimbledon tennis champions in recent times took part in a special Champions' Parade to celebrate the Millennium Championships at Wimbledon..Sixty-five current and former players were presented with a specially created Waterford Crystal plate by HRH The Duchess of Gloucester. (Left to Right back row) : Goran Ivanisevic, Fred Stolle, Ken Rosewell, Kurt Nielsen, Peter Fleming, Pam Shriver, Helena Sukova, Hana Mandlikova, Darlene Hard, Gigi Fernandez, Natasha Zvereva, Rosie Casals, Frew McMillan, Owen Davidson, Tony Roche, Ken Fletcher, Bob Hewitt, Ken McGregor.(Left to Right middle row) Michael Stich, Stefan Edberg, Pat Cash, Boris Becker, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Jan Kodes, Stan Smith, John Newcombe, Manuel Santana, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Neale Fraser, Alex Olmedo, Ashley Cooper, Tony Trabert, Frank Sedgman, Dick Savitt, Budge Patty..(Left to Right front row) Bunny Austin, Sidney Wood, Jana Novotna, Conchita Martinez, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Ann Jones, Margaret Court, Maria Bueno, Pauline Betz-Addie, The Duchess of Gloucester, Shirley Fry-Irvin, Angela Mortimer, Billie Jean King, Evonne Goolagong-Cawley,Virginia Wade, Steffi Graf, Bob Falkenburg,Ted Schroeder, Vic Seixas, Jaroslav Drobny.

http://alphapress.photoshelter.com/search?I_DSC=mandlikova&I_ORG_ID=O0000Cuh_pIrxUE4&I_DSC_AND=t&_ACT=search

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Thanks for the beautiful photos, Alpha Press.

We are surely want to visit your beautiful site to see our hottest stars every day and night!

Hana's Last Wimbledon in 1989. Who knew it was her last try... It really was the nightmare for me.

I always say to my friends and my family that I'm the happiest person to have encountered and enjoyed the 80's tennis headed by Hana Mandlikova. But I can't help feeling some emptiness as years go by. My sadness never let go of me... It's not because she never won Wimbledon, it's because I will never share this fantastic real moment with my superstar again. Now I have nothing, but just sitting back on my couch and watching Hana's old DVD matches's become the only entertainment to please me. And every time I watch them, I can't help but cry missing Hana at least once a day. Don't call me A freak, just call me a Hana Freak! That's who I was born to be.

God, please tell me why I haven't been able to get another superstar after Hana Mandlikova for over 30 years? Why haven't I got strongly attracted by one of others? I know there've been so many tennis hotties blooming in waves in tennis court. Why, for me, it's always been Hana Mandlikova? Why aren't I into those beauty powers of Russian tennis? ... I just dont know...

All I know is... I have to go with my sadness for the rest of my life. Yes, I have to go with this empty feeling of never-coming-back Hana Mandlikova in my life again. Oh, Damn it! What I'm writing about... Forget it! I'm too sensitive today. Better quit it now...

I won these photos in ebay auction by the way.

Yes, you know how cool they are!

She Is So Happy Playing On The Grass Court Of Wimbledon 2009!

Yes! Yes! Yes! Hana is vigorous and bouncing!

At the Invitation Doubles, Hana played with Jo Durie against

Martina Navratilova and Helena Sukova.

- Martina and Hana, 2009 -

Two beautiful tennis legends of 80 to 90s.

We tennis fans always love you two forever and ever.

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A Japanese tennis lover, Naoko who's living in England visited 2009 Wimbledon allowed me to use these beautiful pics to my Hana Blog due to my ardent begging. (^O^)　I'm so grateful to her contribution. Aren't they super beautiful? They're just amazing! Many, Many, Many thanks to Naoko. You know what? You're doing an incredibly beautiful thing not only to me, but to all the Wimbledon and Hana & Martina freaks!

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Surprisingly, Naoko had never known about Hana well before we got to know each other, although she knew Martina as a queen of tennis. Maybe Naoko is too younger than me to encounter this tennis legend, Hana Mandlikova. She said that my blog is far and away HOTTEST what so ever! So now that I can be in so good mood to make this comment today!

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Naoko enjoyed watching the Wimbledon Invitation Doubles and told me how fantastic it was. She said as below.

"There were no killer serves or smashes at all, but they hit any ball back to one another perfectly and seldom net. Isn't it amazing? They do it with no problem. Is it just because they're the masters in tennis? God, it's huge. Don't you think it's so elegant in a way everytime they happened to return the ball little too hard, they screamed, like, "oh, my God, so sorry! I didn't mean that."?

Or you can enjoy totally another phase - relaxed tenderness - of Wimbledon. It especially appears here in Invitation Games while you are supposed to be polite audience, like, no clapping to miss shots or making sounds in main tournament. The game was so relaxed and full of joys. Here I can tell you some:

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Jo Durie made us hell laugh speaking to us, like, "what's going on in centre court? Oh, you better hurry go see that instead of staying here, aren't you?" S.Williams and Elena Dementieva were on at centre court making dead heat match then, we laughed and enjoyed Jo's funny jokes. It was totally different atmosphere of Wimbledon. It's a lovely moment. When Martina made a flashy smash and got cheered from the audience, like, "you're all doing so well, girls!", she quickly answered back to them "oh, we're still girls!!!" When a volley happened to hit Martina's leg, a player another court bothered to rush to Martina to take care of her, crying with a laugh, "SO SORRY~!" Jo Durie made a fun of ball boys and demanded more balls. And she finally could gather 6 balls together from two ball boys and looked quite satisfied with it. At the very last serve, Jo shouted and wanted us to cheer her up, "can't hear you! Say JOOOO!" Funny, isn't it? Jo and Hana lost the match in straight set, though, there were so many laughs and cheers between the serves. It's incredible. I've never thought Wimbledon would be like this. You could feel the seniors and old fans were totally enjoying the tennis as one. Yes, this is another Wimbledon you can also enjoy."

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Naoko, thanks for letting us share this beautiful story you had in Wimbledon. You never know how much I envy you. I recall I went to see Wimbledon centre court for a graduation trip once when I was 24, but it was out of season for tournament, and I've never ever been able to make it since. It's unbelievably dreadful. (＾-＾；) I wish I can go see the tournaments in near future. I mean I want to go see Invitation games where Hana and Martina would be on before I die, hopefully.

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Once again, thanks Naoko for your contribution.

It's wonderful.

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http://naokt.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2009/07/post-1258.html

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Hana Is Playing Against Martina In Wimbledon Invitation Doubles Today!

Hana vs. Martina, Wimbledon Semifinal, 1981

Hana won 7-5, 4-6, 6-1

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London is 9 hours behind Japan. So now it must be around 9 o'clock in the morning in London. Our Hana is playing Invitation Doubles with Jo Durie against Helena Sukova and Martina Navratilova today!
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God, this card is abso, abso, abso, absolutely Must-See! You can't miss it at any cost! I wish we could watch the game, but unfortunately they wouldn't broadcast it here in Japan. 'Cos less people are playing tennis and tennis is called as one of those "dying sports" as rare animals. I think even Federer, Nadal, or whoever kool can't do anything about it.
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I can say that Japan used to be called as "the country where sun rises", but not anymore. It's definately "the country where sun goes down." I don't think our country will be vigorous again as much as it used to be, sad to say though.
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Let’s talk something brighter.
Our Hana is playing against Martina on court 3 at 12:00.
I love these two monsters than anything else. You do too?
Yes, they are scary and … so precious!
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Result : M. Navratilova & H. Sukova df. H. Mandlikova & Jo Durie

6-4, 6-1

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Hana Is Playing Invitation Doubles In Wimbledon Today!

Hana Mandlikova in Wimbledon 2008

by David Rawcliffe, Photoshelter

My dear friend, Andrew (USA) who's a huge fan of Martina, has just informed me that Hana is playing doubles in Wimbledon as a senior player TODAY! Can you believe this? She's showing up today! He said that Hana is going to play with Jo Durie against Tracy Austin, and Kathy Rinaldi. Isn't it fun? It's worth watching! You should not ever miss it!

Thank you so much, Andrew, my friend!
You know what? Your notice totally makes me fall into raptures.
It's, like, I conquered this entire world!

And I think your Martina Web is so mint!
I wanna make an tennis ally with you.

Now! We all go cheer for Hana Mandlikova in Wimbledon!!!
(Court 4, 12:00 starts)


Game, Set and Match, Martina!
http://navratilova.tripod.com/

※If anybody take photos or videos of Hana there, please please please let me show them. I'm dying to see our Hana!!! God, I wish I could go to Wimbledon!

Result : T. Austin & K. Rinaldi Stunkel def. H. Mandlikova & Jo Durie 6-1, 6-0

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A Dream Girl from Czechoslovakia

In 1978,

a dream girl came from Czechoslovakia

with a wood racket.

She didn't know much about

western country.

Going through all sorts of hardships and misery,

she rocked this tennis world.

She inspired us to follow our dreams.

Her name is ...

Hana Mandlikova.

Hana's Aura of Invinciblity's Still Alive and Kicking!

How can I not love this superstar!
I just have no words how to express this super superstar... I can confess that it sure is the hardest thing for me to count just how many times or how much I got inspired by this superstar in my life. Certainly, it is countless! No matter how millions of days or years passed, I'm sure I'd be totally into this superstar my whole life and my next life. I kid you not.

The pictures are found in Propaganda Photo.com, however I couldn't find them anymore when I accessed it yesterday. Maybe they get deleted. These hot photos uploaded here with are now being used as my desktop slideshows. I did find them some months ago this year. Many of them were taken when Hana and Novotna played game in Wimbledon as a curtain-raiser this year. In the court, they're making some funny scenes and laughing and caring for each other while playing. It seems to me like they are much happier and appreciate their recent situation. Just take a look at Hana's beautiful blue eyes and especially her sharp eagle-eyes when she receives and serves! It's so alive and kicking! Makes me deadly HAPPY!!!

As you can see, our Superstar has put on a bit of weight, however Novotna keeps her shape as hot as she used to be. It might be a kind of taboo to say this, but, yes, Hana's got a huge plumpy body which might makes you hard to believe
that this woman had the most graceful and hottest athlete figure ever in this world. Her appearance changed a lot. Much more than that of Evert and Navratilova are now (Oh, how they keep their shape in so good... I wanna know!). It seems obvious to me that Hana prefers to be a "mother" than to be a tennis star.

But no matter how much weight she's put on, no matter how many times she changed her hair color into blond which I don't think it really suits her...(my apologies to all other Hana fans!), I just can't stop adoring this superstar my whole life. I just can't stop thinking of her everyday life and wishing her happiness. If we just remember all these beautiful games she showed us in that glory days... God, I can declare to the whole world that I totally and completely love this superstar (ofcourse with her cute brown hair !!!). And I'm sure there're thousands of her fans do think as I do.

Yes! Hana Mandlikova is noncomparable and nonreplaceable.
She is our eternity! No objection!



Photos : by David Rawcliffe, Photoshelter

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Hana Pulls Her Face Like a Child in 86 Wimbledon Single Final!

Hana pulled her face like a little child after she was defeated by Martina Navratilova 7-6, 6-3, in 86 Wimbledon Single Final. And I think this face is cute! than any angel. Don't get Hana wrong, she celebrated Martina's winnning from the bottom of her heart. Hana always pays a huge respect to this tennis champion Martina.

Then why she pulled her face like this? It is just because she didn't wanna lose any match since she's born as athlete. And Wimbledon was the only major slam title that she couldn't get through in her tennis life. No wonder Hana desparately wanted it. And after this, she never came back to Wimbledon Final, though she said she would at the interview. It totaly killed me...

I'm positive that this senior male interviewer with beard was obviously Hana's fan. He tried to be closer to Hana as much as he could. Look at his face. It's only 2 inches far from Hana's nose. And I don't like his blatant attempt at all!!! Hmmmmmm~

Martina, you're the champion of the champions!