As you say, there is a rich history of Czech-centered tennis, both before and after the Velvet Divorce. Allow me to bring up the great Jan Kodes, Wimbledon champion as well as 2 French Opens and two USOpen (losing) finals.
(And I realize you could not cite every Czech player; that was neither a correction nor critique. Kodes was a favorite of mine to watch.)
Never saw Kodes play in person, though I did get the chance to meet him. My feelings about him historically are, perhaps too colored by the fact that he won the boycotted Wimbledon in 1973. But as you rightly mention, he did plenty more than that. So he belongs to be sure in the Czech tennis timeline and is of course in the Hall of Fame. It would be interesting to ask today's Czech players, men and women, about him and what they know about him.
He was a smooth, beautiful player to watch, and far more of an all-court player than one might think with the two titles in Paris; seeded 5th at the 1972 Wimbledon for example, lost in the semis to Smith in 4. This is only conjecture, but between the lines I suspect his playing the boycott year was at the direction of the Czechoslovakian LTA, much like his opponent in the finals, Russia's Alex Metreveli, and not a tennisverse political statement of his own choice.
Czech tennis has always been unusually strong for such a small country ever since Karel Kozeluh became one of the first touring pros in the 1920s along with Vinnie Richards, later joined by Tilden. There have been so many great Czech tennis players male and female since then. Names like Drobny, Lendl and Navratilova are only but a few of them. I would have thought Drobny was the greatest Czech male, but some Czech tennis coaches told me in 1983 that Kozeluh used to beat Drobny's brains out!! My high school tennis coach in New Orleans, Franicis Soyka, had played on the Czech Davis Cup team in the 1920s. Muchová is long overdue to win a major in my book, as I've always been impressed with her purposefulness, her quiet maturity, and her game, and I think she's the heavy favorite tomorrow. Whoever wins, they should play Bedrich Smetana's "The Moldau," which I think is sort of the Czech national anthem. It's gorgeous music, deeply rousing and stirring.
The story that the Czech tennis coaches told me about Kozeluh is pretty amazing. I met and spoke with these coaches when they came to the Miami Orange Bowl Juniors, coaching some young Czech girls. These were heavy middle-aged older men with rich Eastern European accents, and I said to them, "I guess Drobny was the greatest Czech man, right?" "Oh no!", they expostulated, "He once played Kozeluh, who beat him three straight sets very badly by hitting every ball to Drobny's backhand, after which Drobny walked up to the net and asked Kozeluh, 'Please, Mr. Kozeluh, would you play me another set and hit some balls to my forehand?' Whereupon Kozeluh played him a fourth set in which he hit every ball to Drobny's forehand and beat him 6-love."
I enjoyed going back and really looking at those points on video as well and examining the body language and the details in a way you can't do in real time. Both are important
Throw in Pliskova in 2021 and this means there will be five *different* Czech women who've reached the Wimbledon final in six years. And all of them are still active. Crazy.
Dear Mr C
Not wishing to clog up your comments page I have sent an email to you at christopherclarey@substack.com.
Just some idle, randon, speculative thoughts about two Czech Girls having a game of tennis on, probably, the biggest tennis day of their lives.
Have loved all of the Wimbledon notes & pics.
Top Stuff.
KInd regards
Trevor Chenery
Trevor, thanks, love when people clog up the comments page!
But feel free to email me: best at clareystack@gmail.com please
CC
A lovely write-up, thanks.
As you say, there is a rich history of Czech-centered tennis, both before and after the Velvet Divorce. Allow me to bring up the great Jan Kodes, Wimbledon champion as well as 2 French Opens and two USOpen (losing) finals.
(And I realize you could not cite every Czech player; that was neither a correction nor critique. Kodes was a favorite of mine to watch.)
Thanks Skip
Never saw Kodes play in person, though I did get the chance to meet him. My feelings about him historically are, perhaps too colored by the fact that he won the boycotted Wimbledon in 1973. But as you rightly mention, he did plenty more than that. So he belongs to be sure in the Czech tennis timeline and is of course in the Hall of Fame. It would be interesting to ask today's Czech players, men and women, about him and what they know about him.
Thanks for being here and bringing the depth
CC
He was a smooth, beautiful player to watch, and far more of an all-court player than one might think with the two titles in Paris; seeded 5th at the 1972 Wimbledon for example, lost in the semis to Smith in 4. This is only conjecture, but between the lines I suspect his playing the boycott year was at the direction of the Czechoslovakian LTA, much like his opponent in the finals, Russia's Alex Metreveli, and not a tennisverse political statement of his own choice.
Appreciate the reply.
Czech tennis has always been unusually strong for such a small country ever since Karel Kozeluh became one of the first touring pros in the 1920s along with Vinnie Richards, later joined by Tilden. There have been so many great Czech tennis players male and female since then. Names like Drobny, Lendl and Navratilova are only but a few of them. I would have thought Drobny was the greatest Czech male, but some Czech tennis coaches told me in 1983 that Kozeluh used to beat Drobny's brains out!! My high school tennis coach in New Orleans, Franicis Soyka, had played on the Czech Davis Cup team in the 1920s. Muchová is long overdue to win a major in my book, as I've always been impressed with her purposefulness, her quiet maturity, and her game, and I think she's the heavy favorite tomorrow. Whoever wins, they should play Bedrich Smetana's "The Moldau," which I think is sort of the Czech national anthem. It's gorgeous music, deeply rousing and stirring.
Great historical depth Joe. I have been covering tennis for 40 years and had never heard of Karel Kozeluh. Thank you for adding him to my memory bank
CC
The story that the Czech tennis coaches told me about Kozeluh is pretty amazing. I met and spoke with these coaches when they came to the Miami Orange Bowl Juniors, coaching some young Czech girls. These were heavy middle-aged older men with rich Eastern European accents, and I said to them, "I guess Drobny was the greatest Czech man, right?" "Oh no!", they expostulated, "He once played Kozeluh, who beat him three straight sets very badly by hitting every ball to Drobny's backhand, after which Drobny walked up to the net and asked Kozeluh, 'Please, Mr. Kozeluh, would you play me another set and hit some balls to my forehand?' Whereupon Kozeluh played him a fourth set in which he hit every ball to Drobny's forehand and beat him 6-love."
Spot on.
Lovely, lovely, piece.
Sat through it all and hadn't realised quite how much I had missed.
One can look, but one cannot always see.
Thank you for filling in the gaps Mr. C.
Thank you Trevor
I enjoyed going back and really looking at those points on video as well and examining the body language and the details in a way you can't do in real time. Both are important
Appreciate your positive energy for tennis
CC
Throw in Pliskova in 2021 and this means there will be five *different* Czech women who've reached the Wimbledon final in six years. And all of them are still active. Crazy.
Yes, and it's not like there are grasscourts galore in Czechia!
CC
Great stuff, Chris. Yes, the tennis canvas. Intriguing to see how the final plays out.
Looking forward to reading this by you Joel: https://www.thesecondserve.com/czech-mate/
Thanks for the comment and best from the AELTC
CC