Vladimir Korotkov

Soviet tennis player Vladimir Korotkov had a promising start to his career, winning three junior Grand Slam titles, but never lived up to his full potential. Korotkov began playing the sport when he was five-years-old, becoming a Soviet youth champion in the doubles in 1963. Two years later he won the boys’ singles title at Wimbledon, before retaining his title the following year and winning the boys’ singles at the French Open.

In 1968 Korotkov was part of the Soviet team that competed at the Mexico City Olympics where tennis was played as a demonstration sport. He played in multiple singles and doubles events at the Games, including winning a mixed doubles event with Zaiga Jansone. After the Olympics he won gold in the doubles with Teimuraz K’ak’ulia at the 1973 Summer Universiade in Moskva. Korotkov reached the third round at a Grand Slam on two occasions, the first in the singles at Wimbledon in 1968 and the second in the doubles at the 1971 French Open.