Thursday, August 01, 2002
'Mom' Mandlikova easing back into tennis
Seniors event her 2nd since birth of twins
By Michael Perry mperry@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Hana Mandlikova practices Wednesday at the ATP Tennis Stadium.
(Michael Snyder photo)
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MASON - Hana Mandlikova is the only newcomer to the Seniors Championship of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters, and she is playing only her second tennis tournament since having twins 15 months ago. The seniors event begins tonight at the ATP Tennis Center in Mason.
Mandlikova, who was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1994, returned to the court just a few months ago to get ready for her first tournament back, the Ladies' 35 & Over Doubles at Wimbledon where she teamed with Ilana Kloss of South Africa.
“I was just trying to get back in shape,” she said Wednesday at the Seniors tournament draw. “It's hard. I played pretty well at Wimbledon, but it's grass. This is hardcourt.
“You can't expect to do what you did when you were playing as a pro, that's for sure. I'm also 40. It's different. I'm just happy to be here. I'm enjoying seeing old friends and having a good time.”
Mandlikova is the only Hall of Famer in the Seniors field. She was ranked as high as No.3 in the world (1984 and '85), and her resume includes two Australian Open titles, one French Open title and one U.S. Open championship. She was runner-up twice at Wimbledon and twice at the U.S. Open.
This is the second time Mandlikova will be playing in Cincinnati. She competed in the Avon Championships at then-Riverfront Coliseum in 1981.
The native of the Czech Republic, who lives in Boca Raton, Fla., was named as a replacement for the Seniors Championship here in 1999, but she had to withdraw because of an injury.
She will be paired with Jaime Fillol and plays in the second match tonight.
“Every match you play helps you.” Mandlikova said. “I'm hoping that it's going to get better.”
Her plan is to play a couple of events a year. When she returns to Florida, Mandlikova said, she is going to start coaching a 12-year-old girl.
She does not enjoy traveling anymore because she has to be away from her children, Mark and Elizabeth.
“When we went to Wimbledon for a week, I left them with my parents in Prague, and it was the first time I left them for a week,” Mandlikova said. “I was calling every two hours. It is hard. It's just like missing part of yourself.”
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'Mom' Mandlikova easing back into tennis
