What It Was Like To Beat Rod Laver For The First Time

In his book “Journey To Glory From Behind The Iron Curtain” Czech tennis great Jan Kodes describes one of his most memorable victories – beating Rod Laver at the 1971 Stockholm Open. Read the book excerpt below and to order the book, click here: Jan Kodes: A Journey to Glory from Behind the Iron Curtain: Kodes, Jan, Kolar, Peter: 9780942257687: Amazon.com: Books

In 1971, all of Lamar Hunt’s champion players entered the tournament: Rosewall, Okker, Ashe, Laver, Drysdale… I defeated the Swede Lars Ölander 6:2, 6:0, Bob Lutz 6:4, 6:2, and then, in the quarterfinals, I came across Rod Laver. By this meeting we had played only twice – once in the Grand Prix Masters in Tokyo in 1970, and this year in Rome – I lost both times. Would the third encounter turn out differently…?

The outcome was decided in the third set tie-break. His left-handed serve was enigmatic. Few players ever anticipated where he would place it. Jan Kodes had observed him for years and had a trifle of an idea about how to deal with Rod’s serve by now. The ball served to the forehand side bounced on a curve into the body, whereas served into the backhand it bounced away.

It is seemingly simple and logical, but tackling it on the court is anything but that. It is not easy for a right-hander to adapt to it, and by the time one accomplishes it the match is about over. I knew that there was only one solution to confronting Rod’s serve – by reacting to it a few hundredths of a second earlier, even without knowing the direction of the ball.

Waiting for the ball to bounce on Stockholm’s fast surface was suicidal. I moved forward already during his toss. It was terribly risky! If he served into my forehand I would totally miss it. It was impossible to change the body movement once I was on the go.

That type of gamble proved fruitful in the important moments! The Kodes backhand return made the Hunt Group’s star drop to his knees. Jan Kodes defeated Laver 4:6, 6:4, 7:6! He then overcame Cliff Drysdale 2:6, 6:2, 6:4 in the semifinals, but lost to Arthur Ashe in the final.

Yet, I had a great chance in the fifth set when I was leading 4:1 and 0:30 on his serve! However, I messed up two returns in a row due to my late backswing and then lost the set 4:6. I regretted very much that I allowed

the championship slip out of my grasp; I lost concentration in the end.

I still want to return to my match with Laver. When we returned to the locker room he was taking a shower and I was just sitting around. When he came out of the shower I asked him: “Rod, do you remember the 1961 Centre Court exhibition in Prague against Korda and Javorsky?”

“Yes! Prague – it was beautiful there, I loved it. I remember Stvanice Island.”

“And do you remember the boy at the net post? The net ballboy? That was me!”