Meet a member: Helena Suková, IC of the Czech Republic

Former Czech professional tennis player Helena Suková enjoyed a successful career on the international stage, renowned for her finesse in both singles and doubles play. Born into a prominent Czech tennis family, she rose to fame during the 1980s and 1990s, achieving a career-high singles ranking of world No. 4 and capturing an impressive 14 Grand Slam doubles titles. In addition to the legacy of her illustrious career as a player, Helena has continued to contribute to the tennis world, particularly through her role in the IC of the Czech Republic.

Helena first got involved in the IC in December 1998, when some of her tennis colleagues from I.CLTK – the oldest tennis club in Czechoslovakia – asked if she would be willing to help re-establish the IC in the Czech Republic. The IC had been suspended since the Second World War and Helena took on the key role of gathering the necessary documentation and following the procedures to bring the Czech IC back to life. Upon achieving this, she took on the presidency of the IC of the Czech Republic, a role which she held for 25 years until stepping down this summer. From 2001 until 2008, she also served as a co-opted member of the IC Council.

“The thing I like most about being part of the IC is having friends all around the globe”, Helena says, reflecting on the lasting friendships she has built across the IC community. "Staying in touch with so many past players who, normally, you wouldn’t have the chance to meet anymore. It’s wonderful to be part of an organization that keeps the legend of the game alive."

Helena’s favourite IC moment was helping to establish the highly successful IC doubles event originally known as the "IC June in Prague." Now renamed the "IC Jiri Medonos Cup by Deloitte," this event has become a staple of the IC event calendar. "It has been a continuing success, and I hope it will take place for many years to come."