By Justin Ross
In recognition of her outstanding career, 1994 International Tennis Hall of Fame Inductee Hana Mandlikova was presented with her hall of fame ring at the 2017 Miami Open. The ceremony was held at center court at the conclusion of Friday’s match between Grigor Dimitrov and Guido Pella.
Accompanied by International Tennis Hall of Fame CEO Todd Martin, Mandlikova was all smiles when she was presented with her ring.
Over the course of her illustrious career, Mandlikova captured four major singles titles and one major doubles title. With a career-high singles ranking of world No. 3, she ranked top 50 in the world for 12 straight seasons, including 7 years in the top 10.
A native of Prague, Mandlikova’s mom, Vilem Mandlik, was an Olympic runner.
During Mandlikova’s time in tennis, the 5-foot-8 pro led Czechoslovakia to three straight Fed Cup titles. In 1980, she was voted the WTA Tour’s Most Improved Player.
She was a two-time champion at the Australian Open, in 1980 and 1987, and she also won once at the French Open, in 1981, and once at the US Open, in 1985. Mandlikova was one of just 13 players in the Open Era to reach the finals of all four majors.
At the time of her retirement from pro tennis in 1990, she had amassed 46 titles and over 850 wins in a career that didn’t last past age 28! After her retirement, she coached the Czech Republic’s Jana Novotna for 9 years, in which she helped her win at Wimbledon in 1998.
In addition to Mandlikova, several hall of famers received unique rings to commemorate their achievements. The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island.
Check out her official hall of fame page here: https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/hana-mandlikova/
Tickets for the annual event start at $12 for youth and $15 for adults. A group rate of $7 is also available for 20 or more and grant access to all day session matches. Tickets are on sale now, for more information go to www.miamiopen.com or call the Miami Open ticket office at 305-442-3367.
The 2017 Miami Open is scheduled for March 20 – April 2 and will once again be the hottest ticket in town. With ticket packages starting at just $136 and individual sessions starting at $20 the Miami Open will be the place-to-be.
About the Miami Open presented by Itaú
The 2017 Miami Open will be played March 20-April 2 at the Crandon Tennis Center in Miami. The two-week combined event is owned and operated by IMG. The Miami Open is one of nine ATP Masters 1000 Series events on the ATP calendar, a Premier Mandatory event on the WTA calendar, and features the top men’s and women’s tennis players in the world. The tournament is widely regarded as the most glamorous on the ATP and WTA calendars because of its exotic Miami location, thriving nightlife, five-star hotels and restaurants, beautiful weather and beaches, and its celebrity appeal. For ticket information, call +1.305.442.3367 or visit www.miamiopen.com.
About Itaú
Itau is the largest Latin America privately owned bank, with approximately 95,000 employees and operations in 20 countries throughout the Americas, Asia and Europe. Itaú’s relationship with sport goes back to the 1970s, when Itaú first sponsored the Itaú Tennis Cup in Brazil in 1970. Itaú has been a sponsor of the Miami Open for the last six years, and also sponsors the Rio Open, the only combined ATP/WTA event in South America. Itaú also supports the Brazilian Women’s Tennis Circuit, only female professional tournament in South America, certified by the Brazilian Tennis Confederation (CBT) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF), as well as the Tennis Institute Training Center, responsible for the development of young, new talent.
About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion and media operating in more than 25 countries around the world. IMG’s businesses include Events Media, College, Golf, Tennis, Performance and IMG Academy, Fashion, Models, Clients, Licensing, Joint Ventures, and creative management agency Art + Commerce. In 2014, IMG was acquired by WME, the world’s leading entertainment and media agency. Together, the companies offer an unparalleled client roster; strategic partnerships with sponsors and brands; and marquee assets across sports, entertainment, events, music and fashion.
