Jan Kodes

Jan Kodes is a retired tennis pro who is best known for his brilliant play on clay courts and for his steadfast patriotism to his native country, the Czech Republic. Unlike his fellow Czechs Drobny and Martina Navratilova, Kodes refused to leave his country despite the repression and political turmoil that it faced.

A gorgeous looker, Kodes' 5-foot-nine frame made him stand out and made him popular, not only in the athletic sense. He was largely a crowd favorite, especially among the women spectators.

Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1990, the right-hander Kodes lists three Grandslam titles under his name. He won the 1970 and 1971 French Open titles, and the 1973 Wimbledon top trophy. His other career triumphs include nine (9) professional titles in singles; and seventeen (17) titles in the doubles category. He was included in the Top Ten of the world rankings in 1971 and in 1973.

He had been a Davis Cup team member for sixteen (16) full years, playing in thirty-nine (39) series for his home country. He served as the team captain for the Davis Cup from 1982 through 1987. He also led the Czech Tennis Association as its president for four years, 1994 through 1998, and was the tournament director of ATP Czech Open Tournament for eleven (11) full years.

He is ranked among the top 20 players in terms of the wins-losses ratio in matches. Out of ninety-five (95) games, Kodes was able to win sixty (60) games, an admirable athletic feat.

Kodes was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1990. Two years earlier, he was honored with the ‘ITF Award for Services in the Game’.

He now owns and manages a company called PRO TENNIS JK Consulting.