František Pála

František Pála (born 28 March 1944) is a former professional tennis player from the Czech Republic who competed for Czechoslovakia.[1] His son Petr was also a tennis player.

František Pála
Country (sports) Czechoslovakia
ResidenceBrussels, Belgium
Born (1944-03-28) 28 March 1944
Velké Popovice, Bohemia and Moravia
PlaysLeft-handed
Singles
Career record57–108
Career titles0
Grand Slam Singles results
French Open3R (1970, 1972)
Wimbledon3R (1972)
US Open2R (1975)
Doubles
Career record61–94
Career titles1
Grand Slam Doubles results
French Open2R (1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976)
Wimbledon2R (1971, 1972)
US Open1R (1971, 1976)

Career

The Czechoslovak player took part in 15 Davis Cup ties for his national team, the first in 1966.[2] At a tie in Barcelona in 1972, Pala had a win over Manuel Orantes.[2] Earlier that year, in a tie against Sweden, Pala defeated Björn Borg, although the Swede was only 15 at the time.[2] In all he played 25 rubbers, of which he won 15, all but one of them in singles.[2] He later served as Czechoslovak Davis Cup captain.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5] As a doubles player he was able to reach three finals and won one of them, the 1977 BMW Open.[5]

Grand Prix/WCT career finals

Singles: 2 (0–2)
Result No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 1. 1972 Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay Ilie Năstase 1–6, 0–6, 3–6
Loss 2. 1972 Madrid, Spain Clay Ilie Năstase 0–6, 0–6, 1–6

Doubles: 3 (1–2)
Result No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1. 1972 Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay Jiří Hřebec Patrice Beust
Daniel Contet		 6–3, 1–6, 10–12, 2–6
Loss 2. 1974 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Balázs Taróczy Iván Molina
Jairo Velasco		 6–2, 6–7, 4–6, 4–6
Win 3. 1977 Munich, West Germany Clay Balázs Taróczy Nikola Špear
John Whitlinger		 6–3, 6–4

References
  1. ITF Pro Circuit Profile
  2. Davis Cup Profile
  3. Los Angeles Times, "Czechs Are Mated Poorly", 1 April 1990
  4. Tennis Archives Profile
  5. ATP World Tour Profile


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