Hana Mandlíková was, according to Bud Collins, “the least understood player of her generation.” A 4-time major champion, Hana was “some whimsical genius,” the presumed successor to the Evert-Navratilova reign, and at times she sure did make their lives difficult. But let’s dispense with the “next” whoever and the what ifs – Hana on her own is a fascinating figure, an explosive talent with a creative, athletic, and captivating serve-and-volley game. With the help of Hana’s memoir and contemporary accounts, we learn what it was like to be an internationally recognized athlete playing for a strict Communist government shaken by the defection of Martina Navratilova and other major athletes. We interrogate a bit about why Czech(oslovakia) has produced such a deep bench of tennis talent since the early 20th century. Hana Mandlíková is one of its greatest exports: a gifted, straight-talking tennis wunderkind who we hope is becoming both more understood and more appreciated.
4:40 You can’t argue with the résumé
11:00 A very quick history of Czechoslovakian tennis
21:00 Hana’s origins and the Prague Spring
27:45 Life as an Eastern Bloc athlete abroad; and Martina’s defection
35:40 1980: the jump off
39:00 Excitement builds around Mandlíková: those pesky “next Navratilova” proclamations
49:15 Big chat: Hana’s mouth gets her in trouble
55:20 1985 US Open: The crowning achievement
60:55 No what ifs
68:15 Hana & Jana
71:50 Learnings
WTA Moments of 2018
Look At Us, We're Going The Distance
Khachanov Hatches In Paris
Undefeated, Undeniable, and Under Scrutiny
Just Djoking: Novak's Purple Patch Continues
So Disrespectful: Please Remember My Name
US Open Wrap: Multiple Things Are True *Oprah Shrug Gif*
(You Make Me Feel Like) The US Open Is Burning, Literally
The Good, the Bad, and the Tragic: US Open Preview f/ David Taylor and Kamau Murray
Kiki-ing Down The Door In Cincy
Getting the Conversation Started: Creating a Safe Space to Come Out in Men's Tennis
Rogers Cup Wrap, Sascha Bajin Chat
Midsummer Mailbag
Postcards From Wimbledon: Pleading The Fifth
Wimbledon Week 1: Opportunities Earned
Previewing the Nature Valley WimbleBowl
Pride Is Political: A Partial History of LGBTQ People in Tennis
La Primera y La Undécima: 1s Across the Board at French Open
Much Ado About Mother: The Catsuit's Out of the Bag
Songs In C-lay Major: Roland Garros Preview
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Tennis Podcast
Served with Andy Roddick
Diary of a Professional Tennis Coach
Tennis Insider Club
Tennis Channel Live Podcast