Maintaining its tradition of honoring great names in Brazilian tennis, the Rio Open, the biggest tournament in South America, will pay tribute to former tennis player and coach Ivan Kley, who died early last year at the age of 66. The competition, which takes place at the Jockey Club Brasileiro, will be held between February 14 and 22.
Kley was one of the most important Brazilian tennis players in the 1980s, excelling in both singles and especially doubles. Born in Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul, he began playing tennis at the age of eight and played professionally between 1979 and 1991.
In singles, he reached the 81st place in the world ranking on December 29, 1986. In doubles, he went even further: he was ranked 56th in the world on July 29, 1985, the year he won his only ATP-level title in Madrid, playing alongside Givaldo Barbosa. In 1990, with Vicente Solves, he won the Gramado Challenger title.
Kley played in three of the four Grand Slam tournaments: Wimbledon, Roland Garros, and the US Open. He also represented Brazil in Davis Cup matches against Uruguay in 1987 and against Spain the following year, playing in both singles and doubles.
After retiring from the courts, Kley maintained a strong connection with tennis, working as a coach and manager. He used to say that the best way for a tennis player to train consistency was against a wall, because since the wall doesn't miss, the player learns not to miss either. His legacy extends beyond the courts as well, being recognized as an important name in the history of the sport in Brazil and as a reference for future generations.
Father of the musician Vitor Kley, he was one of the first Brazilian tennis players to use marketing in the sport. Kley sought sponsors and placed them on his caps and T-shirts when he entered the court, and then sent photos from newspapers and magazines to the supporters. All this at a time when this was not yet regulated as it is today.
Coincidentally, one of his main opponents on the court was Cássio Motta, honored last year by Rio Open. Kley also played against other prominent names of this generation, such as Luiz Mattar and Marcos Hocevar.
Since its first edition in 2014, the Rio Open has introduced a new generation to the idols who built the history of tennis in Brazil. Other honorees include Maria Esther Bueno, Gustavo Kuerten, Thomaz Koch, Nick Bollettieri, Antônio Carlos de Almeida Braga (Braguinha), Fernando Meligeni, Alcides Procopio, Luiz Mattar, Cássio Motta, André Silva, Carlos Kirmayr, Larri Passos, Jaime Oncins, Flavio Saretta, Rogerio Dutra Silva, Thomaz Bellucci, and Bruno Soares.
Kley was one of the most important Brazilian tennis players in the 1980s, excelling in both singles and especially doubles. Born in Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul, he began playing tennis at the age of eight and played professionally between 1979 and 1991.
In singles, he reached the 81st place in the world ranking on December 29, 1986. In doubles, he went even further: he was ranked 56th in the world on July 29, 1985, the year he won his only ATP-level title in Madrid, playing alongside Givaldo Barbosa. In 1990, with Vicente Solves, he won the Gramado Challenger title.
Kley played in three of the four Grand Slam tournaments: Wimbledon, Roland Garros, and the US Open. He also represented Brazil in Davis Cup matches against Uruguay in 1987 and against Spain the following year, playing in both singles and doubles.
After retiring from the courts, Kley maintained a strong connection with tennis, working as a coach and manager. He used to say that the best way for a tennis player to train consistency was against a wall, because since the wall doesn't miss, the player learns not to miss either. His legacy extends beyond the courts as well, being recognized as an important name in the history of the sport in Brazil and as a reference for future generations.
Father of the musician Vitor Kley, he was one of the first Brazilian tennis players to use marketing in the sport. Kley sought sponsors and placed them on his caps and T-shirts when he entered the court, and then sent photos from newspapers and magazines to the supporters. All this at a time when this was not yet regulated as it is today.
Coincidentally, one of his main opponents on the court was Cássio Motta, honored last year by Rio Open. Kley also played against other prominent names of this generation, such as Luiz Mattar and Marcos Hocevar.
Since its first edition in 2014, the Rio Open has introduced a new generation to the idols who built the history of tennis in Brazil. Other honorees include Maria Esther Bueno, Gustavo Kuerten, Thomaz Koch, Nick Bollettieri, Antônio Carlos de Almeida Braga (Braguinha), Fernando Meligeni, Alcides Procopio, Luiz Mattar, Cássio Motta, André Silva, Carlos Kirmayr, Larri Passos, Jaime Oncins, Flavio Saretta, Rogerio Dutra Silva, Thomaz Bellucci, and Bruno Soares.
