Jan Koželuh

Jan Koželuh (29 January 1904 – 4 June 1979)[2] was a Czech tennis player of the 1920s, not to be confused with his older brother Karel Koželuh (1895–1950), a player of the same era. Although Karel was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, in 2006, Jan is almost totally forgotten today outside his native Czechoslovakia.

Jan Koželuh
Country (sports) Czechoslovakia
Born29 January 1904
Prague, Austria-Hungary
Died4 June 1979(1979-06-04) (aged 75)
Turned pro1938 (amateur tour from 1926)
Retired1945
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Singles
Highest rankingNo. 10 (1927, A. Wallis Myers)[1]
Grand Slam Singles results
French Open4R (1926)
WimbledonQF (1926, 1927)

Biography

Jan Koželuh was the son of Josef and Maria Koželuh, one of 7 brothers and two sisters. All six brothers and one sister were active in sports, a new phenomenon of that era. Karel, the most notable of the Koželuh family, achieved his fame as one of the first professional players in tennis, soccer, and field and ice hockey.

Jan, said by some to be the most talented of them all, remained an amateur throughout his career. He was the Czech national singles and doubles champion 1925-1928 as well as a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 1926 and 1927. He played many matches for the Czechoslovakia Davis Cup team 1924–1930. His highest world ranking was World No. 10 in 1927. Although Karel continued to play at a top level on the professional tennis circuit until he was in his forties, Jan ended his amateur career in the mid 1930s, which many considered a mistake. Afterwards, he lived in Florida, where he gave tennis lessons until his death.

References
  1. United States Lawn Tennis Association (1972). Official Encyclopedia of Tennis (First Edition), p. 424.
  2. Gjerde, Arild; Jeroen Heijmans; Bill Mallon; Hilary Evans (June 2012). "Jan Koželuh Biography and Olympic Results". Olympics. Sports Reference.com. Archived from the original on 16 December 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012.


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