Ivan Lendl: What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

This is a standing question in The Guardian's decades-long The Q&A and also recurs independently in career and life interviews.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Ivan Lendl said elsewhere, not written here

I always wanted to play tennis. Otherwise, I always thought it would be fun to do something in mathematics or physics.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 July 2017 source ↗

Others on this question

I remember really wanting to go into space. I liked the idea of flying.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 February 2025 source ↗

Romesh Ranganathan English actor and comedian

A comedian or rapper. You can tell by the way I’m dressed that I’m a frustrated rapper.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 31 August 2024 source ↗

Dan Stevens English actor

Jobs that I saw on television, until I realised they were all played by actors – then I wanted to be an actor.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 November 2017 source ↗

Serena Williams United States professional tennis player, 1995–2022

A veterinarian.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 January 2021 source ↗

As a guy who had fun.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 July 2017 source ↗

I am not thinking about dying yet.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 July 2017 source ↗

People who have done really well in their sports: in tennis, Steffi Graf; in ice hockey, Wayne Gretzky.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 July 2017 source ↗

Plenty of matches got away, but there’s nothing I can do about it, so why worry?

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 July 2017 source ↗

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