Background
Palada was born in Zagreb and started to play tennis at the age of fifteen on the courts of the Neurological Clinic of the Faculty of Medicine in Zagreb.
Palada was born in Zagreb and started to play tennis at the age of fifteen on the courts of the Neurological Clinic of the Faculty of Medicine in Zagreb.
He was hired as a ball boy by the doctors of the clinic. Palada began practising with "Star" racquets on a daily basis. He was a self-taught player and trained by playing squash alone.
He made his first international appearance at a Budapest-Zagreb inter-club match.
He began working as a state official in the meantime. The team"s first big tour was a visit to India in the winter of 1934.
He became a worldwide sensation in 1938, visiting and winning in various continents such as the Irish Open, where he partnered with George Lyttleton-Rogers in the men"s doubles, and the Scandinavia covered courts championship in Helsinki, teaming with Punčec. He even competed in Buenos Aires, in the championships of South America, and finished second, losing the final to Punčec.
The Nazi invasion of Yugoslavia caught Punčec and Palada by surprise while they were playing in the French Riviera.
Palada continued with good results in tournaments. He defeated many renowned players such as Gianni Cucelli, Torsten Johansson, Philippe Washer, Wladyslaw Skonecki, Lennart Bergelin, Billy Knight, and Jean Borotra. He retired from tennis in 1956 at the age of 44.
Palada went on to a successful career as coach and teacher, transferring his rich experience to younger generations.
He was later appointed the official selector and captain and trainer of the team of his country.