Ing. Ladislav (Rázný)
Žemla (Zemla)
Male
Czechoslovakia
1887-11-06
Kladruby, Czechoslovakia
1955-06-18
Praha, Czechoslovakia
Ladislav Žemla was one of the top Bohemian and Czechoslovak singles players in the years leading up to and just after World War One. He also formed an excellent doubles partnership with his older brother Zdeněk. Due to the opposition of the political and educational authorities to young students playing sports, in the early years both brothers had to enter tournaments under pseudonyms; Ladislav was ‘Rázný’ and Zdeněk was ‘Jasný’. Both brothers were members of the 1st Czech Lawn Tennis Club in Prague.
At the Olympic Games, Ladislav Žemla represented Bohemia and Czechoslovakia at tennis five times: in 1906, 1908, 1912, 1920 and 1924). Žemla was the first and only player to represent his country as many as five times until Arantxa Sánchez Vicario took part in the tennis events at the Olympic Games for the fifth time in 2004. At the Olympic Games in 2012, Leander Paes broke this record when he represented India at tennis for the sixth time.
At the Intercalated Games in Athens in 1906, Ladislav and Zdeněk Žemla won the bronze medal in the men’s doubles event. However, the International Olympic Committee does not officially recognize this tournament. In 1912, at the outdoor tennis events held during the Olympic Games in Stockholm, Ladislav Žemla lost the playoff match for bronze in the men’s singles event to Harold Kitson of South Africa.
In the mixed doubles event at the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920, Ladislav Žemla and Milada Skrbková won the bronze medal by beating the Danes Amory Hansen and Erik Tegner, 8-6, 6-4, in the playoff match. Milada Skrbková was the first woman to represent Czechoslovakia at the Olympic Games. She and Ladislav Žemla later married each other.
An engineer by profession, Ladislav Žemla served with the Czechoslovak Legions during World War One. (These were volunteer armed forces consisting predominantly of Czechs and Slovaks fighting on the side of the Entente powers during World War One and the White Army during the Russian Civil War.) He finished with the rank of captain.
1903 - 1927
24
133
89
1927 - Mlada Boleslav (Amateur)
1926 - Praha (Prague) Championships (First Czech LTC) (Amateur)
1924 - Hainz Memorial (Amateur)
1923 - Praha (Prague) Championships (First Czech LTC) (Amateur)
1923 - Czechoslovakian International Championships (Open)
1921 - Hainz Memorial (Amateur)
1914 - Bohemian Crown Lands Championships (Amateur)
1914 - Praha (Prague) Championships (First Czech LTC) (Amateur)
1913 - Praha (Prague) Championships (First Czech LTC) (Amateur)
1913 - Bohemian Crown Lands Championships (Amateur)
1912 - Bohemian Crown Lands Championships (Amateur)
1912 - Praha (Prague) Championships (First Czech LTC) (Amateur)
1911 - Bohemian Crown Lands Championships (Amateur)
1910 - Bohemian Crown Lands Championships (Amateur)
1909 - Czechoslovakian International Championships (Open)
1909 - Budapest Championships (Amateur)
1909 - Bohemian Crown Lands Championships (Amateur)
1907 - Bavarian International Championships (ATP World Tour 250 series)
1907 - Championships of München (Munich) (Amateur)
1907 - Bohemian Crown Lands Championships (Amateur)
1906 - Budapest Championships (Amateur)
1906 - Bohemian Crown Lands Championships (Amateur)
1905 - Praha (Prague) Championships (First Czech LTC) (Amateur)
1904 - Praha (Prague) Championships (First Czech LTC) (Amateur)
Round 1
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Dr. Jiri Novotny
2-6
6-4
6-4
Round 2
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Mr. Fiska
6-2
6-3
Round 3
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Ferenc Marsalek
6-4
6-4
Quarterfinals
Ernst-Arnošt Gottlieb 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
0-6
8-6
9-7
Round 2
Alfons Noblom 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
3-6
6-4
7-5
Semifinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Mr. Meisner
?
Final
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Dr. Jaroslav Just
?
Round 1
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
E.S. Gonzales
6-1
6-2
Round 1
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Norman Latchford
1-6
7-5
6-2
6-2
Round 2
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Norman Dicks
2-6
6-3
6-3
2-0
ret.
Round 3
Jacques (Toto) Brugnon 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-3
6-0
6-2
Round 2
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Dr. Walter Hoffmann
6-3
6-4
Round 1
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Bohuslav Hyks sr
6-3
6-1
Quarterfinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Ernst-Arnošt Gottlieb
7-5
2-6
6-2
Semifinals
Pavel Macenauer 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
4-6
6-0
6-2
Final
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Sergei Rodzianko
6-4
6-4
Quarterfinals
Karel Ardelt 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-2
5-7
6-4
Semifinals
František (Franz) Soyka 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
?
Semifinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
J. Brabec
?
Final
Jan Kozeluh 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-3
6-1
6-2
Round 2
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Mr. Pridal
6-1
6-4
Quarterfinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Dr. Felix
6-3
7-5
Semifinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Friedrich Rohrer
6-4
6-8
6-0
Final
Jan Kozeluh 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
w.o.
Round 2
Takeichi Harada 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-3
3-6
6-2
6-2
Semifinals
Charles Aeschlimann 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-2
7-6
Quarterfinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Bohuslav Hyks sr
6-4
6-4
Semifinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Frantisek Stejskal Sr
?
Final
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Frantisek Tyr
6-2
3-6
6-2
7-5
Quarterfinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Ernst-Arnošt Gottlieb
6-4
6-2
6-3
Semifinals
Pavel Macenauer 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
3-6
6-0
6-3
6-3
Round 2
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Hassan Ali Fyzee
w.o.
Round 3
Brame Hillyard 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-3
9-7
7-5
Round 2
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Dr. Jaroslav Just
6-3
6-2
Round 1
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Pavel Macenauer
6-1
6-4
Quarterfinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Jan Kozeluh
6-3
6-2
Semifinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Frantisek Stejskal Sr
6-3
6-4
Final
Karl Robětín 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
7-5
4-4
ret.
Final
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
František (Franz) Soyka
7-5
2-6
7-5
6-4
Semifinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Karel Ardelt
6-2
6-8
6-4
Final
Sergei Rodzianko 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-3
6-3
Round 1
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Alberto Henri Chiesa
w.o.
Round 2
Charles Aeschlimann 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-0
6-2
6-1
Round 3
Pavel Macenauer 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
1-6
6-1
7-5
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
František (Franz) Soyka
6-3
6-4
Final
Pavel Macenauer 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-3
7-5
7-5
Round 3
Quarterfinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Jiří Kodl
7-5
6-4
Semifinals
Georg Demasius 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
11-9
6-4
Round 3
Quarterfinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Dr. Glücklich
6-3
6-1
Semifinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Frantisek Tyr
6-3
6-1
Final
Friedrich Rohrer 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
10-8
6-8
6-4
6-1
Unknown
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Bela Von Kehrling
6-3
6-4
Semifinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Friedrich Rohrer
6-3
4-6
7-5
Final
Heinrich Kleinschroth 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-4
6-4
Semifinals
Bela Von Kehrling 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-3
2-6
6-2
Round 1
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Frantisek Tyr
7-5
6-3
Quarterfinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
dr. ? Hlousek
6-2
6-4
Semifinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Karl Robětín
6-2
6-4
Final
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Dr. Jaroslav Just
?
Round 2
Sune Malmstrom 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
4-6
6-2
6-3
7-5
Challenge Round
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Karel Ardelt
6-4
6-1
ret.
Challenge Round
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Josef Sebek
6-0
6-1
ret.
Challenge Round
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Mr. Široký
6-2
6-1
ret.
Challenge Round
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Mr. Algy
6-4
6-1
6-4
Round 4
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Lionel Tapscott
1-6
4-6
6-2
6-4
6-2
Quarterfinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Otto Von Muller
6-4
7-5
6-4
Semifinals
Harold Kitson 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
2-6
6-3
6-2
4-6
6-3
Challenge Round
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Dr. Jaroslav Just
6-0
6-3
6-2
Challenge Round
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Jiří Kodl
?
Challenge Round
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
George Logie
6-3
6-1
7-5
Semifinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Bohuslav Hyks sr
6-3
7-5
Final
Dr. Jaroslav Just 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-3
7-5
1-0
ret.
Final
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Jaroslav Hainz
w.o.
Final
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Jenő von Zsigmondy
9-7
6-4
Round 1
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Hugh Lawrence (Laurie) Doherty
w.o.
Round 2
Robert Powell 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
2-6
6-0
6-4
6-1
Final
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Otto Mario Widmann
7-5
10-8
4-1
ret.
Quarterfinals
Tony Wilding 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-0
6-2
Challenge Round
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Fritz Felix Pipes
6-4
6-1
7-5
Round 1
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Herbert Fuchs
w.o.
Round 2
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
František Čistecký
6-4
6-2
Quarterfinals
Fritz Felix Pipes 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
11-9
4-6
8-6
Round 1
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
H.E. Von Langen
6-0
6-2
Round 2
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
G.K. Roberts
2-6
6-1
6-3
Quarterfinals
Rudolf (Rolf) Kinzl 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-2
6-2
Round 1
Karel Beukema 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-0
6-4
Round 1
F. Holmers 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-2
6-2
Round 2
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Dr. Hans Roth
w.o.
Round 3
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
dr. J. Jechenthal
6-3
6-3
Quarterfinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Graf Maximilian Joseph Ernst (Max) Wratislaw
6-2
6-3
Semifinals
Tony Wilding 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-4
6-2
Final
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
František Čistecký
6-2
8-6
6-4
Round 1
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Dr. F. Krumbholz
6-1
6-3
Round 2
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Mr. Roth
6-4
6-2
Quarterfinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Friedrich Wilhelm Starke
6-2
6-4
Semifinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
H. Haltegg
6-3
3-6
6-3
Final
Tony Wilding 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-2
6-2
ret.
Round 1
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Dr. A.H. Zweifel
w.o.
Round 2
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Prinz Engelbert Ferdinand Maria von Auersperg
w.o.
Round 3
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Baron Hupmann
6-4
6-0
Quarterfinals
Otto Froitzheim 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-1
6-2
Round 1
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
O. Fuchs
6-2
6-1
Round 2
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
R. Freund
6-1
5-6
ret.
Round 3
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Curt von Wessely
6-0
6-4
Quarterfinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Hans von Ringhoffer
6-4
6-4
Semifinals
Otto Froitzheim 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-8
6-1
7-5
Quarterfinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
H. Haltegg
8-6
6-3
Semifinals
Tony Wilding 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-1
6-2
Final
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Franz Kursaa
6-3
3-6
7-5
Challenge Round
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Baron Alfred von Ringhoffer
3-6
4-6
6-2
6-3
6-0
Challenge Round
Dr. Jaroslav Just 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
w.o.
Round 1
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
K. Waldek
6-0
6-2
Round 2
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
E. Kabat
6-2
6-2
Quarterfinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
H. Märky
6-3
7-5
Semifinals
Oscar Kreuzer 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-4
6-1
Round 1
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Zdeněk (Jánský) Žemla
6-1
6-3
Round 2
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
R. Schartel
6-0
6-3
Quarterfinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Friedrich Petrina
6-1
8-6
Semifinals
Curt von Wessely 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-3
6-2
Challenge Round
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Zdeněk (Jánský) Žemla
w.o.
Round 1
Curt von Wessely 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-2
3-6
6-1
Round 2
Curt von Wessely 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
7-5
6-0
Semifinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Mr. Trojan
6-4
6-3
Final
František Čistecký 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
10-8
6-4
Challenge Round
František Čistecký 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-4
4-2
ret.
Semifinals
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Dr. Jaroslav Just
7-5
6-4
Final
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Mr. Trojan
?
Challenge Round
Ladislav Zemla 1 *
Zdeněk (Jánský) Žemla
6-2
7-5
6-3
Round 1
Major Josiah George Ritchie 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-1
6-1
Semifinals
Zdeněk (Jánský) Žemla 1 *
Ladislav Zemla
6-1
14-12