The Czech tennis player who won Wimbledon: Jan Kodeš turns 80
Jan Kodeš, a three-time Grand Slam champion and one of the greatest figures in Czechoslovak sport, celebrates his 80th birthday today. His journey to the top of world tennis was marked by both courage and loyalty.
From Prague courts to Wimbledon
Jan Kodeš grew up in post-war Prague, where his father worked as a tennis court caretaker. It was there that young Kodeš first picked up a racket. At first, he loved football as much as tennis, but after winning a prestigious junior tournament in 1964, he chose to devote himself fully to a career on the court. Before long, he had become the best player in what was then Czechoslovakia.
He broke through on the international stage in the late 1960s. In 1970, he won the French Open, successfully defending his title the following year. He won over the Paris crowds with his resilience and fighting spirit. In 1971, he reached the final of the US Open.
His greatest triumph, however, came in 1973. At Wimbledon, the most celebrated tournament in the world, he progressed through a series of dramatic matches, repeatedly coming back from the brink of defeat. In the final, he defeated Alexander Metreveli and became the first player from the Eastern Bloc to win Wimbledon. For Czechoslovakia at the time, it was an extraordinary moment — a sporting achievement that transcended the nation’s borders.
He turned down offers from the West
Success brought Jan Kodeš the opportunity to remain abroad. After his triumph at the French Open in 1971, French officials offered him support should he decide to emigrate. Kodeš, however, declined. He wished to stay with his family and continue representing his country, even though life as a sportsman in socialist Czechoslovakia meant limited opportunities and more modest financial rewards.
His loyalty to his homeland was unusual at the time. Many athletes from the region chose to leave for the West, where conditions were better. Yet, Kodeš remained and became the only member of Czechoslovakia’s victorious Davis Cup team of 1980 to continue living in Czechoslovakia after his career as a player had ended.
The Davis Cup and life after his career as a player
In 1980, Jan Kodeš helped the Czechoslovak team secure a historic victory in the Davis Cup. It was the final major chapter of his sporting career.
After retiring from competition, he did not let tennis go. He served as a non-playing Davis Cup captain, worked as a tournament organiser, and later became president of the national tennis federation. He stayed active within the tennis community and earned respect as a prominent figure in European sport.
In 2014, he underwent a heart transplant that saved his life. He still returns to the courts today — no longer as a champion, but as a man who simply loves the game.
“I regret not winning the US Open. Otherwise, I have no regrets about anything I experienced in the world of tennis,” he says today.
Jan Kodeš
- Born: March 1, 1946, Prague
- Grand Slam titles: French Open (1970, 1971); Wimbledon Championships (1973)
- US Open finals: 1971, 1973
- Davis Cup: Winner (1980)
- Roles: President of the Czech Tennis Association (1994–1998)
- Awards: the Emil Zátopk Prize (2011)
