Country (sports) Czechoslovakia French Open 3R (1970, 1972) Residence Brussels, Belgium Career titles 0 Role Tennis player | Career record 57–108 Name Frantisek Pala Plays Left-handed Wimbledon 3R (1972) Handed Left-handed | |
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Born 28 March 1944 (age 79)
Velke Popovice, Czechoslovakia ( 1944-03-28 ) | ||
František Pála (born 28 March 1944) is a former professional tennis player from the Czech Republic who competed for Czechoslovakia.
Career
The Czechoslovak player took part in 15 Davis Cup ties for his national team, the first in 1966. At a tie in Barcelona in 1972, Pala had a win over Manuel Orantes. Earlier that year, in a tie against Sweden, Pala defeated Björn Borg, although the Swede was only 15 at the time. In all he played 25 rubbers, of which he won 15, all but one of them in singles. He later served as Czechoslovak Davis Cup captain.
Pala, who won the Czechoslovakian Championships in 1973, played in the singles draw of 18 Grand Slam tournaments and made the third round three times, at the 1970 French Open, 1972 French Open and 1972 Wimbledon Championships.
He had his best year on the tennis circuit in 1972, when he was a finalist at Monte Carlo and Madrid, losing both matches to Ilie Năstase. As a doubles player he was able to reach three finals and won one of them, the 1977 BMW Open.