In tennis, Hana Mandlíková is a legendary figure and history creator whose legacy stands firm in the hearts and thoughts of tennis fans worldwide. Her story is an inspiration and a constant reminder for aspiring tennis players.
So this article will describe her inspiring journey and discuss the person who has supported the tennis hall of Fame, Hana, in her career. So, without further ado, let’s know more about Hana Mandlíková’s partner.
Knowing Hana Mandlíková
- The former professional tennis player, Hana Mandlíková, was born on 19 February 1962 in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Hana Mandlíková’s father, Vilém Mandlík, was an Olympic 200-metre semi-finalist for Czechoslovakia at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne.
- The dedication and effort she put into tennis is immense. She has caught the attention of fans and professionals since her junior tennis era.
- The former right-handed tennis player secured four grand slam titles. She earned titles in the Australian Open, French Open, and the US Open. Unfortunately, she couldn’t earn the title at Wimbledon.
- During her professional journey as a tennis player, she was under the care of former coach Betty Stöve.
- Due to her amazing performance and excellent gameplay, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1994.
Career As A Coach And Former Tennis Player
Hana was one of the most talented and brightest athletes of her generation. Since the very early of her tennis career, she has shown her potential in tennis.
When she was in her junior tennis era, Hana ranked as the first female world no.1 junior as per the International Tennis Federation in 1978.
The former tennis player secured her first Grand Slam win at the Australian Open in singles at 18, where she defeated Wendy Turnbull in straight sets.
Similarly, her second Grand Slam win in singles was against West German Sylvia Hanika at the French Open. However, she couldn’t win the US Open and Wimbledon but had to be satisfied with her first runner-up position.
Furthermore, Hana led Czechoslovakia to the first of three consecutive titles in the Federation Cup. By winning tournaments and games, she achieved her career-high ranking at world no 3 in April 1984.
One of the most amazing tournamnets in history can be said as the US Open in 1985, where Hana defeated Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. After this victory, she became the third woman to win Grand Slam titles on all three grass, clay, and hard court.
The former tennis player not only showed her excellent gameplay in singles but exhibited great coordination in doubles.
Hana teamed up with Wendy Turnbull to defeat two strong teams of that time, Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver, in the semifinals and Claudia Kohde-Kilsch and Helena Suková in the finals.
The win over Navratilova in straight sets in the final of the Australian Open 1987 gave Mandlíková her fourth and last Grand Slam victory.
Due to the injuries from the past several years, Hana’s performance couldn’t remain consistent after 1988. So, ten years after her first Grand Slam victory, Hana Mandlíková 1990, at the age of 28, retired from professional tennis.
Even after her retirement, she was prominent in the tennis industry as a successful coach. She coached Jana Novotná for nine years and was the Czech Republic’s Fed Cup team captain.
With such an outstanding performance and career, Hana received The Hall of Fame ring in 2017.
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Companionship For Life: Hana Mandlíková’s Partner
The former professional tennis player and now coach Hana married an Australian restaurateur Jan Sedlak during the 1986 Federation Cup. However, the couple divorced just after two years of marriage.
Every person needs a companion in their life who can support them and be with them to share every moment. Likewise, Hana found this companionship in Liz Resseguie, a personal fitness trainer.
Hana Mandlíková’s partner has transformed her life. She has made Hana happiest and has been there during her tough times.
Hana Mandlíková’s companion is not just her supporting person but also her best friend. Liz has been the person who helped her to raise her two kids,
So, Liz is like the father figure to her kids. Hana said that people will gossip about it but can think whatever they want. The priority for them is their kid’s happiness.
Liz and Hana have been tight-lipped to share details about their relationship. After so many years, the couple has been intensely private and is fiercely protective of their privacy.
The Result Of Hardwork And Strategy: Hana Mandlíková’s Twins
The former tennis player was pregnant when she was 25. at that stage, she was at the peak of her career, where she had to decide between the baby and her career.
So, Hana took the harsh decision of not keeping the baby. However, she always wanted to have a child of her own.
Years after, when she wanted to have a baby, nature had a different plan as she had problems with a woman’s nature. Moreover, she didn’t want her single status to be an obstacle in her way. Hana said that she tried for five years, but nothing happened.
So Hana decided to take help from a male friend and got pregnant. The former tennis player gave birth to twins, Mark Mandlik and Elizabeth Mandlik, on 19 May 2001. Her male friend has no role in raising the kids.
Like any mother, Mandlíková was also excited about her motherhood journey. As her kids grew up, she wanted to know their interests. So she put them in various sports, including tennis, gymnastics, and soccer.
The former tennis player would take her kids everywhere. Elizabeth even said that she would cry for a whole week when her mom didn’t take her to some games.
Hana supported their decision when both of her kids found their passion for tennis. Mark always wanted to go college, so she supported his decision, while Elizabeth had a different mindset of being professional without a college degree.
As a supportive mom, she respected the decision of both kids. She knows about tennis more than anyone, so her kids are open to asking anything to her. She always tries to build up a positive environment for them.
Therefore, it can be said that Hana Mandlíková has done a great job as a mother, and Liz has equally supported Hana in her every role.
