Selkirk Sport adds former No. 1 tennis player Ivan Lendl to its roster
April 04, 2024
COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO, April. 3, 2024 — Selkirk Sport, the leading manufacturer of pickleball paddles and equipment, today announced a sponsorship deal with Ivan Lendl, a former No. 1 tennis player in the world.
Originally from Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, Lendl is regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Lendl won 94 singles titles and was cumulatively ranked world No. 1 for 270 weeks throughout his 13-year career.
Lendl competed in 19 major finals, capturing eight titles. Known for his steely demeanor, Lendl often faced off against players such as Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe and holds a winning record against both.
After his tennis retirement, Lendl went on to coach several players, including Andy Murray, whom Lendl helped win three major championships.
Lendl was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2001. Now, he has transitioned into the pickleball world, often competing in local 5.0 40-and-over tournaments.
“We are pleased to welcome Ivan to Team Selkirk,” said Selkirk Sport Co-Founder and Co-CEO Rob Barnes. “As a player whose career was marked by an indomitable competitive spirit and stellar winning record, Ivan embodies the excellence we value at Selkirk. Ivan’s transition from tennis to pickleball is not just a testament to his versatility, but also a demonstration of how the successes achieved in tennis can translate into the pickleball arena.”
A resident of Vero Beach, Florida, Lendl first picked up the game in November 2022 after his daughter urged him to try the sport.
A lifelong athlete, Lendl turned to golf after chronic back issues forced him to retire from tennis at age 34. He became a scratch golfer and even won an event on the Celebrity Tour.
Now, he’s looking forward to taking his passion for sports into his pickleball career. As a member of Team Selkirk, Lendl will lend his coaching and motivational speaking experience to public appearances and Selkirk TV courses.
“As I learn the game and try to improve, Selkirk provides a wide range of paddles for me to grow into and have fun with,” Lendl said.
His paddle of choice is the Vanguard Control Invikta.
About Selkirk Sport
Selkirk Sport, manufacturer of pickleball paddles and accessories, is a family-owned and operated company. Selkirk Sport is based in Hayden, Idaho, in the shadows of its namesake, the Selkirk mountain range. Founded in 2014, Selkirk Sport was born from a passion for sport and the Western outdoor leisure lifestyle that was afforded to the company’s founders, Rob and Mike Barnes, along with their father Jim, who is Selkirk’s production manager. Backed by the philosophy of always pushing the limits, Selkirk Sport is committed to manufacturing products that deliver the highest performance with unmatched quality and service. Selkirk Sport has become one of the industry’s fastest-growing companies, with paddles used by many of the game’s premier players, such as Jack Sock, Catherine Parenteau, Parris Todd, Dylan Frazier, Mary Brascia, Maggie Brascia, James Ignatowich and a host of others premier players and national/regional champions.
Media Contact:
Kyle Whatnall, Public Relations Manager
Brynn Grissom, Public Relations Associate
brynn@selkirk.com
