Ivan Lendl first came to the tennis world's attention as an outstanding junior player. In 1978, he won the boy's singles titles at both the French Open and Wimbledon, and was ranked the World No. 1 junior player. Lendl's first Grand Slam title came at the 1984 French Open, where he defeated John McEnroe in an epic final to claim what was arguably his most memorable victory.

1985 was among Lendl's best years on the tour, as he captured 11 singles crowns in 17 tournament appearances. Lendl lost in the final of the 1985 French Open to Mats Wilander. He then went on to face McEnroe again in the final of the US Open, and this time it was Lendl who emerged victorious in a straight sets win. It was the first of three consecutive US Open titles for Lendl, and part of a run of eight consecutive US Open finals. Two consecutive French Open titles also came in 1986 and 1987, as he won both the French and US Open titles in those years.

Lendl retired from the professional tour in 1994. He had won a total of 94 career singles titles and 6 doubles titles, and he earned prize money totalling US$21,262,417 (a record at the time). In 2001, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, USA.

After finishing his tennis career, Lendl has taken up golf, earning a handicap of 0.