Pavel Složil

Pavel Složil
Country (sports) Czechoslovakia
Born (1955-12-29) 29 December 1955 (age 68)
Opava, Czechoslovakia
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
PlaysRight-handed
Prize money$925,242
Singles
Career record144–163
Career titles2
Highest rankingNo. 35 (12 November 1984)
Grand Slam singles results
French Open3R (1982)
US Open2R (1985, 1986)
Doubles
Career record360–155
Career titles32
Highest rankingNo. 4 (18 February 1985)
Grand Slam doubles results
French OpenF (1984)
WimbledonSF (1986)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
French OpenW (1978)
Medal record
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1977 Sofia Doubles
Gold medal – first place 1977 Sofia Mixed Doubles

Pavel Složil (born 29 December 1955) is a former professional tennis player from Czechoslovakia.

Složil enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career, he won 32 doubles titles and finished runner-up an additional 29 times, including at the French Open in.

Slozil and his partner, Renata Tomanová (also from Czechoslovakia), won the 1978 French Open mixed-doubles championship, defeating Virginia Ruzici (Romania) and Patrice Dominguez (France). The mixed doubles championship was an important event in those days, contested by top players, with John McEnroe and Mary Carillo having won the year before.

In 1985, Složil achieved a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 4.

Složil participated in eleven Davis Cup ties for Czechoslovakia from 1978 to 1986, posting a 7–2 record in doubles and a 4–2 record in singles. He was a member of the winning Czech Davis Cup team in 1980, along with teammates Ivan Lendl, Tomáš Šmíd and Jan Kodeš.

Složil served as Steffi Graf's coach from November 1986 until the end of 1991. Shortly after the start of his tenure as Graf's coach, she had her Grand Slam breakthrough year in 1987, winning six tournaments and then defeating Martina Navratilova in the French Open. Graf went on to be a finalist at Wimbledon and the US Open, losing both times to Navratilova. The next year, Graf achieved a calendar year's Grand Slam, a feat performed only twice before. She also won the 1988 Olympics singles and the Wimbledon ladies' doubles that same year.

From 1987 through 1991, coached by Složil, Graf won ten Grand Slam singles championships, winning the Australian Open (1988–89-90), the French Open (1987–88), Wimbledon (1988–89-91) and the US Open (1988–89), plus numerous side tournaments.

He subsequently served as coach for Jennifer Capriati, Anna Kournikova and Magdalena Maleeva between 1992 and 1999.

In 2002, he began work at the World Tennis Club in Naples, Florida. He served there as Tennis Director until 2014 when he began coaching and teaching at the Sanchez-Casal Tennis Academy, also in Naples. There he works with the junior players in the morning and continues to teach tennis to a wide range of players.

Career finals

Singles (2 titles, 3 runner-ups)

Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 Jul 1979 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay United States Vitas Gerulaitis 2–6, 2–6, 4–6
Win 1–1 Mar 1981 Nancy, France Carpet (i) Romania Ilie Năstase 6–2, 7–5
Loss 1–2 Feb 1983 Delray Beach WCT, U.S. Clay Argentina Guillermo Vilas 1–6, 4–6, 0–6
Loss 1–3 Oct 1984 Vienna, Austria Carpet (i) United States Tim Wilkison 1–6, 1–6, 2–6
Win 2–3 Aug 1985 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay West Germany Michael Westphal 7–5, 6–2

Doubles (32 titles, 29 runner-ups)

Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1. 1978 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Czechoslovakia Pavel Hutka United States Mike Fishbach
New Zealand Chris Lewis
7–6, 4–6, 3–6
Loss 2. 1978 Madrid, Spain Clay Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd Poland Wojciech Fibak
Czechoslovakia Jan Kodeš
7–6, 1–6, 2–6
Loss 3. 1979 Nice, France Clay Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd Australia Peter McNamara
Australia Paul McNamee
1–6, 6–3, 2–6
Loss 4. 1979 Florence, Italy Clay Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl Italy Paolo Bertolucci
Italy Adriano Panatta
4–6, 3–6
Loss 5. 1979 Stuttgart Outdoor, Germany Clay Poland Wojciech Fibak Switzerland Colin Dowdeswell
South Africa Frew McMillan
4–6, 2–6, 6–2, 4–6
Loss 6. 1979 Cologne, Germany Carpet (i) Switzerland Heinz Günthardt United States Gene Mayer
United States Stan Smith
3–6, 4–6
Loss 7. 1980 Vienna, Austria Clay Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd Italy Gianni Ocleppo
France Christophe Roger-Vasselin
def.
Loss 8. 1980 Barcelona, Spain Clay Hungary Balázs Taróczy United States Steve Denton
Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl
2–6, 7–6, 3–6
Loss 9. 1980 Vienna, Austria Carpet (i) Switzerland Heinz Günthardt United States Bob Lutz
United States Stan Smith
1–6, 2–6
Loss 10. 1981 Linz, Austria Hard (i) Australia Brad Drewett Sweden Anders Järryd
Sweden Hans Simonsson
4–6, 6–7
Loss 11. 1981 Nice, France Clay New Zealand Chris Lewis France Yannick Noah
France Pascal Portes
6–4, 3–6, 4–6
Loss 12. 1981 Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
Hungary Balázs Taróczy
3–6, 3–6
Win 1. 1981 Florence, Italy Clay Mexico Raúl Ramírez Italy Paolo Bertolucci
Italy Adriano Panatta
6–3, 3–6, 6–3
Win 2. 1981 Boston, U.S. Clay Mexico Raúl Ramírez Chile Hans Gildemeister
Ecuador Andrés Gómez
6–4, 7–6
Loss 13. 1981 Washington, D.C., U.S. Hard United States Ferdi Taygan Mexico Raúl Ramírez
United States Van Winitsky
7–5, 6–7, 6–7
Loss 14. 1981 North Conway, U.S. Clay United States Ferdi Taygan Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
Australia Peter McNamara
7–6, 5–7, 4–6
Loss 15. 1981 Geneva, Switzerland Clay Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
Hungary Balázs Taróczy
4–6, 6–3, 2–6
Loss 16. 1981 Basel, Switzerland Hard (i) Switzerland Markus Günthardt Argentina José Luis Clerc
Romania Ilie Năstase
6–7, 7–6, 6–7
Win 3. 1982 Genova WCT, Italy Carpet (i) Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd United States Mike Cahill
United Kingdom Buster Mottram
6–7, 7–5, 6–3
Win 4. 1982 Brussels, Belgium Carpet (i) United States Sherwood Stewart United States Tracy Delatte
United States Chris Dunk
6–4, 6–7, 7–5
Win 5. 1982 Madrid, Spain Clay Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
Hungary Balázs Taróczy
6–1, 3–6, 9–7
Win 6. 1982 Hamburg, Germany Clay Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd Sweden Anders Järryd
Sweden Hans Simonsson
6–4, 6–3
Loss 17. 1982 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Australia Rod Frawley Australia Mark Edmondson
Australia Kim Warwick
6–4, 4–6, 3–6
Loss 18. 1982 Cap d'Agde WCT, France Clay Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd United States Andy Andrews
United States Drew Gitlin
2–6, 4–6
Win 7. 1982 Geneva, Switzerland Clay Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd Australia Carl Limberger
South Africa Mike Myburg
6–4, 6–0
Loss 19. 1982 Basel, Switzerland Hard (i) United States Fritz Buehning France Henri Leconte
France Yannick Noah
2–6, 2–6
Win 8. 1982 Vienna, Austria Carpet (i) France Henri Leconte United States Mark Dickson
United States Terry Moor
6–1, 7–6
Win 9. 1982 Dortmund WCT, Germany Carpet (i) Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd United States Mike Cahill
Paraguay Francisco González
6–2, 6–7, 6–1
Win 10. 1982 Toulouse, France Carpet (i) Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd France Jean-Louis Haillet
France Yannick Noah
6–4, 6–4
Win 11. 1983 Richmond WCT, U.S. Carpet (i) Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd United States Fritz Buehning
United States Brian Teacher
6–2, 6–4
Win 12. 1983 Delray Beach WCT, U.S. Clay Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd India Anand Amritraj
United States Johan Kriek
7–6, 6–4
Loss 20. 1983 Rotterdam, Netherlands Carpet (i) United States Peter Fleming United States Fritz Buehning
United States Tom Gullikson
6–7, 6–4, 6–7
Win 13. 1983 Milan, Italy Carpet (i) Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd United States Fritz Buehning
United States Peter Fleming
6–2, 5–7, 6–4
Loss 21. 1983 Lisbon, Portugal Clay United States Ferdi Taygan Brazil Carlos Kirmayr
Brazil Cássio Motta
5–7, 4–6
Win 14. 1983 Madrid, Spain Clay Switzerland Heinz Günthardt Switzerland Markus Günthardt
Hungary Zoltán Kuhárszky
6–3, 6–3
Win 15. 1983 Munich, Germany Clay New Zealand Chris Lewis Sweden Anders Järryd
Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd
6–4, 6–2
Win 16. 1983 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd United Kingdom Colin Dowdeswell
Poland Wojciech Fibak
6–7, 6–4, 6–2
Loss 22. 1983 Stuttgart Outdoor, Germany Clay Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd India Anand Amritraj
United States Mike Bauer
6–4, 3–6, 2–6
Win 17. 1983 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Poland Wojciech Fibak United Kingdom Colin Dowdeswell
Hungary Zoltán Kuhárszky
7–5, 6–2
Win 18. 1983 Basel, Switzerland Hard (i) Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd Sweden Stefan Edberg
Romania Florin Segărceanu
6–1, 3–6, 7–6
Win 19. 1983 Toulouse, France Carpet (i) Switzerland Heinz Günthardt South Africa Bernard Mitton
United States Butch Walts
5–7, 7–5, 6–4
Win 20. 1984 Masters Doubles WCT, London Carpet (i) Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd Sweden Anders Järryd
Sweden Hans Simonsson
1–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–1, 6–3
Win 21. 1984 Milan, Italy Carpet (i) Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd South Africa Kevin Curren
United States Steve Denton
6–4, 6–3
Loss 23. 1984 French Open, Paris Clay Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd France Henri Leconte
France Yannick Noah
4–6, 6–2, 6–3, 3–6, 2–6
Win 22. 1984 Washington, D.C., U.S. Clay United States Ferdi Taygan United States Drew Gitlin
United States Blaine Willenborg
7–6, 6–1
Win 23. 1984 Bordeaux, France Clay United States Blaine Willenborg France Loïc Courteau
France Guy Forget
6–1, 6–4
Win 24. 1984 Barcelona, Spain Clay Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd Argentina Martín Jaite
Paraguay Víctor Pecci
6–2, 6–0
Win 25. 1984 Basel, Switzerland Hard (i) Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd Sweden Stefan Edberg
United States Tim Wilkison
7–6, 6–2
Loss 24. 1984 Wembley, England Carpet (i) Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd Ecuador Andrés Gómez
Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl
2–6, 2–6
Win 26. 1984 Treviso, Italy Clay United States Tim Wilkison Sweden Jan Gunnarsson
United States Sherwood Stewart
6–2, 6–3
Loss 25. 1984 Toulouse, France Carpet (i) United States Tim Wilkison Sweden Jan Gunnarsson
Denmark Michael Mortensen
4–6, 2–6
Loss 26. 1984 Masters, New York Carpet (i) Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd United States Peter Fleming
United States John McEnroe
2–6, 2–6
Win 27. 1985 Memphis, U.S. Hard (i) Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd South Africa Kevin Curren
United States Steve Denton
1–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win 28. 1985 Rotterdam, Netherlands Carpet (i) Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd United States Vitas Gerulaitis
Australia Paul McNamee
6–4, 6–4
Win 29. 1985 Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd Israel Shlomo Glickstein
Israel Shahar Perkiss
6–2, 6–3
Win 30. 1985 Nice, France Clay Italy Claudio Panatta France Loïc Courteau
France Guy Forget
3–6, 6–3, 8–6
Loss 27. 1985 Indianapolis, U.S. Clay Australia Kim Warwick United States Ken Flach
United States Robert Seguso
4–6, 4–6
Loss 28. 1985 Toulouse, France Carpet (i) Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd Chile Ricardo Acuña
Switzerland Jakob Hlasek
6–3, 2–6, 7–9
Win 31. 1986 Nice, France Clay Switzerland Jakob Hlasek United States Gary Donnelly
United Kingdom Colin Dowdeswell
6–3, 4–6, 11–9
Win 32. 1986 Saint Vincent, Italy Clay Belgium Libor Pimek United States Bud Cox
Australia Michael Fancutt
6–3, 6–3
Loss 29. 1986 Toulouse, France Carpet (i) Switzerland Jakob Hlasek Czechoslovakia Miloslav Mečíř
Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd
2–6, 6–3, 4–6