In the 1990s, Martin Procházka founded OKsystem and simultaneously discovered his passion for tennis. Today, thanks to his love for this sport, our company is proud to support two exceptional young talents in Czech tennis – Linda Nosková and Jakub Menšík.
From a young age, Martin Procházka was active in various sports, including table tennis, swimming, judo, and football. However, about thirty years ago, he became captivated by tennis, seeking an activity to help him unwind from managing a rapidly growing company. He also introduced his wife to the sport. Now, when they travel, their primary requirement for accommodation is a tennis court. His passion for tennis has not only become a form of active relaxation, which he continues to enjoy regularly even at the age of seventy-one, but it has also increasingly influenced the operations of his company. Today, OKsystem, a company renowned for developing large-scale information systems, is also home to two of Czech tennis's brightest prospects.
When Linda Nosková celebrated her first WTA title in Monterrey, Mexico, last weekend, the celebrations at OKsystem's headquarters in Prague's Pankrác district may have been even more jubilant than elsewhere. The nineteen-year-old Czech tennis player signed a multi-year contract with OKsystem last year, marking the beginning of a long-term partnership aimed at supporting her development. "Just three years ago, she was virtually unknown, but now we're witnessing her first fantastic results at the highest level," Martin Procházka beams with pride.
While the global tennis community is just beginning to recognize another talented Czech player who aims to follow in the footsteps of her successful compatriots, the founder of OKsystem has known her for much longer. The connection traces back to the Precheza Tennis Club in Přerov, where Linda Nosková honed her skills. It was in this Moravian town that Martin Procházka first made a significant tennis-marketing impact with OKsystem by partnering with the local club.
The partnership came about somewhat by chance. "Our CEO, Vítězslav Ciml, discovered years ago that a friend of his had ties to Přerov's tennis scene. We were offered the opportunity to become partners of Zlatý kanár, an award recognizing the best Czech tennis players. Initially, we passed on the opportunity due to other commitments. However, after witnessing the remarkable achievements of our female tennis players and connecting them with our passion for tennis, we decided to get involved," Procházka explains the genesis of OKsystem's tennis partnership with the Přerov club.
The club, along with other entities, organizes Zlatý kanár, an award now in its fourth year, with OKsystem as the general partner. Known primarily for developing complex systems for public administration, OKsystem has increasingly embraced tennis. This sport became a significant passion for Procházka despite his lack of interest in rackets and tennis balls until his forties. As the company grew, with its workforce expanding from a few employees to hundreds and its revenues reaching hundreds of millions of Czech crowns, one of its founders sought a way to relax and shift his focus.
According to Procházka, he began playing tennis in the 1990s with a clear purpose. "When I decide to do something, I do it very thoroughly," he smiles. To this day, he regularly participates in various amateur tournaments and, together with his wife, attends tennis academies in Croatia every year. By combining his passion for sport with his business, Procházka now leverages not only the marketing potential but also supports the values he personally upholds.
"Linda Nosková is an incredibly talented tennis player who has already demonstrated great discipline and determination at a young age. These are qualities we value both in sports and business. She is an inspiration to all young tennis players and proof that hard work and perseverance can lead to achieving one's dreams. That's why we welcomed the opportunity to support her on her path to further tennis success," explains OKsystem's chairman of the board.
Together with his colleagues, Procházka is closely following the progress of Czech tennis players at the current US Open, the final Grand Slam of the season. Although Linda Nosková, fresh off her big victory in Mexico, did not progress far this time, the nineteen-year-old Czech hopeful is not the only rising star under OKsystem's wing. Earlier this year, the company signed a multi-year agreement with another promising talent, Jakub Menšík.
Currently, Jakub Menšík is the only eighteen-year-old tennis player ranked in the top 100 of the ATP rankings, where he holds the 65th position. The only other teenager in the top 100 is China's Shang Juncheng. Menšík first drew attention at the age of 16 when he reached the final of the junior competition at the Australian Open, and this year, he advanced to the final of a major ATP tournament in Doha, Qatar.
"We support both players because of my personal connection to tennis, but also because I see some of our own story in them. Linda Nosková was an unknown girl from Vsetín not long ago. Yet, thanks to her diligent and precise work on developing her tennis skills, she is now achieving global success," Martin Procházka said, explaining the reasons for connecting his company with these tennis hopefuls.
To coincide with the ongoing US Open, OKsystem has launched a major campaign featuring its young tennis stars, complemented by the slogan "You can put your name to good work." While both players appear in the outdoor and online parts of the campaign, the television commercial, which you can view above, currently only features Jakub Menšík.
This article was originally published on the CzechCrunch website (czech only).