ITF

42 Spring 2021 ITF World It is hardly surprising when Pinterova reveals that her opponent in the final was King, who that year won three of the four Grand Slams following victories at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open. There is, however, a wider tale to tell. "There was a strict regime concerning foreign travel at the time but, being the No. 1 player, they let me go on my own," added Pinterova, "I borrowed money to travel from my teammates and I arrived in Florida as one of the rare Czech players to play in the United States. "I had only five dollars pocket money for the trip, not even enough for some Coca Cola. In order to make some money I worked as a line judge during my free time. It happened that I was sitting on the chair at the baseline during the match of Billie Jean King. "I called a ball out and Billie Jean started to argue with me, telling me that it was a bad call. Life is strange sometimes and I got to the final where I faced Billie Jean, the No. 1 player in the world. "I beat her in straight sets. It was the biggest win of my life and I collected $3500, enough to pay back the money I borrowed and buy a small Fiat car. As a bonus, I became She would peak at No. 13 in the unofficial world rankings and claim Tour-level titles, although such talent was nearly lost before it had even hinted at being able to mix with such exalted company. "I was born left-handed but was forced to do everything with my rigtht hand in school, consequently I had a lot of troubles at the beginning. It came to the point that my coach at the time told me to try another sport," said Pinterova. "But the small white balls had charmed me so much that I did not give up, I practiced whenever I had free time and, at the age of 25, I became the No. 1 player in Czechoslovakia. "But the problems I had in the beginning have stayed with me all my life; I serve with my left hand and play with my right." Pinterova's professional career began in 1969, with her finest Grand Slam performance arriving five years later when she navigated her way to the last eight in the French capital before losing to eventual finalist Olga Morozova. But when asked to recall her finest career moments the Roland Garros adventure, despite its magnitude, does not feature, with top spot reserved for her victory at Virginia Slims in Jacksonville, Florida in 1972. SENIORS No. 13 in the unofficial world rankings." The 1974 Cairo International Championship is the next event to feature on Pinterova's personal highlights reel, a tournament which combined silverware with a chance meeting, which blossomed into something far greater. "I won a championship and I won a husband," said Pinterova. "During the tournament I met Andras Pinter, an Hungarian textile engineer working in Egypt and it was love at first sight. "One day he asked me to play a match. He was a solid player but he lost and we played again the next day with the same result. Within a few weeks we married in Prague and we have played tennis again and again for 47 years." "But the problems I had in the beginning have stayed with me all my life; I serve with my left hand and play with my right." Top Pinterova a er winning the 1979 Borden Classic in Tokyo Middle A quirk of her play is that Pinterova plays right-handed, but serves with her le Right Media acclaim followed her victory at the Japan Open in 1981

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