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All In The Family

CHRIS HOFFMAN/HIGHLANDS TODAY

Tennis legend Ivan Lendl, shown here caddying for daughter Daniela, has three daughters playing this week at the Harder Hall Women's Invitational.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: January 6, 2008

SEBRING — The thrill of victory and the commitment to compete at the highest level should be a given when your father is widely known as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

That kind of pressure would make most children wince under the heavy burden of expectation, but ask the Lendl sisters (Marika, Isabelle and Daniela) and they'll tell you — they're just having fun on the golf course.

"I love the sport," said 17-year-old Marika. "I never thought I would, but my dad pushed me to try it and I've never looked back."

All three siblings are enjoying the fun and sun — and some unusual cold weather — at the 53rd annual Harder Hall Women's Invitational, which finishes up its final round today.

Their father, Ivan Lendl, is an eight-time Grand Slam tennis champion, has been called "the father of modern tennis" by many in the tennis community and is responsible for ushering in the "power" tennis game we see today from the likes of Roger Federer.

Many wonder why the daughters of a tennis great are not spending their time on the grass courts instead of the grass fairways.

"I led them to sports," Ivan said. "They chose golf and I'm trying to support them."

Isabelle, who started in the sport of tennis, said that pressure from the Lendl name wasn't the reason she switched to golf.

"I couldn't beat my older sister [Marika] at tennis, and that drove me crazy," Isabelle, 16, said. "I was already playing golf and loved the game. I love that success depends on me. If I do good or bad, it's all on me."

Four of Ivan's daughters attend David Leadbetter's Golf Academy at IMG Academies in Brandenton, and the eldest, Marika, just signed a letter of intent to play golf in the fall for the University of Central Florida.

"Marika is such a solid player and hits the ball long," said UCF women's golf coach Emilee Klein. "I love her dedication and all the work she is putting in is starting to pay off.

"She doesn't have too many weaknesses."

Recently, Marika, carded a first-round 66 and placed second at the Future Collegian World Tour event in St. Augustine in November. Her introduction to the sport of golf is well documented: She made a deal with her father to play golf for six months in exchange for a dog.

Marika won out all-around with her decision, as her play is blossoming and the dog — a German Shepherd — is a welcomed member of the family.

Isabelle shot a final-round, even-par 72 to win the FCWT World Golf Village Open Nov. 11, where she opened her round with nine consecutive pars and finished with another steady even-par 36 to rally from four back to begin the day. She was the youngest player to qualify for the 2004 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship at age 12 and was a member of the United States team in the 2006 Junior Ryder Cup, where she went 2-0 to help the U.S. earn a 6-6 tie.

"Playing on the Ryder Cup team was amazing," Isabelle said. "You learn to stay focused and it opened my eyes to the world. I learned how to travel and get use to time changes. It was a great honor."

Daniela, 14, is the youngest of the Lendl sisters in the field, but in age only. Her shots are powerful beyond her years and she's gaining the wisdom needed to think her way to lower scores.

But don't call her by her real name.

"Her real name is Daniela," Ivan said. "But she'd be insulted if you used it."

Just call her "Crash."

That's right ... Crash.

There are conflicting stories on how she acquired the nickname — though Ivan blames it on the simple act of walking the dog.

"She was supposed to take the dog for a walk," Ivan says. "So she gets in the golf cart, ties the dog to the cart, takes off and keeps looking back at the dog, instead of the tree. The dog was fine."

Isabelle has a different version of the introduction of the nickname.

"She was always the adrenaline junkie in the family," Isabelle said. "I know she used to crash into things a lot and she hated the name at first, but now she loves it."

With their father at their sides, the Lendl sisters have inherited the ambition, desire and dedication to become a world class golfer.

It's now up to them.

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