Generation game | Good genes: 5 great sporting families

Sebastian Korda will look to keep his family name in the headlines when he attempts to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Monday and emulate his father Petr, who made the last eight in 1998.

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A look at five sporting families where success is passed down through the generations:

KORDA

Sebastian Korda will celebrate his 21st birthday on Monday and will hope to celebrate by defeating Karen Khachanov and reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

His father Petr was a quarter-finalist in 1998, the same year he won his only major at the Australian Open and reached number two in the world. 

Sebastian’s mother Regina Rajchrova won two titles on the WTA Tour in her career.

Sister Nelly last week won her first golf major at the US PGA and took the world number one spot.

Older sister Jessica is also a professional golfer with six titles and has been as high as number eight in the world.

ANDRETTI

Mario Andretti won the Formula One world title in 1978 and remains the only man to have won the F1 championship, Indy 500 and Daytona 250. He also won races in the IndyCar series in four decades.

His sons, Michael and Jeff also raced – Michael won the IndyCar title in 1991 while his nephew John joined the series in 1988. 

Mario’s grandson Marco finished second in the 2006 Indianapolis 500, having overtaken his father Michael earlier in the race.

COWDREY

Colin Cowdrey was one of England’s finest batsmen, playing 114 Tests over a 21-year career. Cowdrey scored 7 624 runs with 22 centuries and an average of a shade over 44.

He enjoyed a county career which stretched for a quarter of a century.

When he died at the age of 67 in 2000, former British Prime Minister John Major said: “He left us too soon, but it was a gem of an innings. He lived life with a clear eye, a straight bat and a cover drive from heaven.”

Cowdrey’s eldest son Chris played six times for England and captained the side for one game in 1986. Colin and Chris Cowdrey were only the second father and son combination to have both captained England.

Chris Cowdrey’s son Fabian made his Kent debut in 2012, becoming the fourth Cowdrey (Colin’s third son Graham had a 14-year county career) to play for the county and the third generation of the same family to do so. 

MALDINI

Cesare Maldini won four Serie A titles and a European Cup with AC Milan and 14 caps for Italy, featuring at the 1962 World Cup. He also coached the national team at the 1998 World Cup where Italy were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals.

Maldini’s son Paolo spent his entire playing career at Milan winning a host of trophies including five European Cup/Champions League titles and seven Serie A championships.

He played over 100 times for Italy, reaching the final of the 1994 World Cup.

His younger son Daniel, 19, made his Milan debut in February 2020 while older brother Christian played for the Milan youth team before moving to the lower leagues.

BOTHAM

Ian Botham is regarded as England’s greatest cricket all-rounder and probably the most controversial. He played 102 Tests, making 5 200 runs with 14 centuries while claiming 383 wickets. 

Botham’s son Liam played professional rugby league and rugby union. He toured with England in South Africa in 2000 but never won a cap.

His son and Ian’s grandson, James, has already played seven times for Wales as a flanker.