Borg d. Connors 6-2, 7-5, 6-4
Borg called this his best big-match performance ever. In some ways that may be true, but he did serve at only 47% (per the New York Times).
He served 13 clean aces -- including three straight from love-40 down at 1-4 in the second.
And he hit one serve at 117 mph (game point for 4-all in the second). Pat Summerall thought only one serve by Tanner at 119 mph had been faster in the tournament.
(In the final Borg served one that CBS measured at 121 mph).
Connors said Borg served “extra-special”. Trabert said he couldn’t remember Borg serving with such authority. Borg thought it was the strongest serving he had done since his fifth set against McEnroe at Wimbledon, when he won 19 straight points on serve -- though he achieved the same stat in a fifth set against Tanner two months later.
Connors’ fastest serve after 16 games was 101 mph.
The match went in straight sets essentially because Borg held from love-40 when Connors had a chance to go up two breaks in the second set; he held again from love-40 when Connors had a chance to go up 3-1 in the third. The first time he did it with three straight aces, as noted above, and four altogether; the second time he did it without any aces.
Borg was 25 and seeded second. Connors was 29 and seeded third.
I think Connors may have been in better shape later, or at other times, in his career. He was sucking wind fairly noticeably after one point.
Newk said that the way for Connors to win was to move Borg around, wait for the short ball, and come in. But he wasn’t doing it, at least not as a plan.
Trabert said that Borg played a very smart match, changing speeds against Connors.
I think Connors started reading Borg’s serve better in the third set.
The match lasted 2 hr. 19 min.
CBS announced the first death threat against Borg as soon as the match was over, and then Borg was informed. The second death threat occurred during the final, and Borg was informed right after leaving the court.
Borg was broken once in the match, at 1-2 in second. Connors was broken 5 times.
My stats:
Borg had 13 aces and 2 doubles.
Connors had 1 ace and 2 doubles.
Borg had 17 winners apart from service: 9 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV, 2 overheads.
(I'm missing one point that he won on Connors' serve).
Connors had 21 winners apart from service: 7 FH, 2 BH, 7 FHV, 3 BHV, 2 overheads.
Borg had 2 FH return winners; one was a pass. He had an additional 5 passes (three BH's).
Connors had no winning returns, and 2 FH passes.
Stats by CBS:
At 3-4 in the third, Borg was serving at 49%, Connors at 79%.
At 1-2 in the third, Borg had won 26 of 35 points on first serve, 17 of 37 on "second serves in" (so this stat does not seem to include double-faults).
At 3-all in the third, Connors had won 34 of 64 points on the first, 8 of 18 on "second serves in".
At 2-3 in the third, Borg had 15 "unforced errors" on the FH, 11 on the BH. Connors had 17 on the FH, 14 on the BH. (I don't know if this stat include volleys or just groundstrokes; obviously, it doesn't include double-faults).
Borg called this his best big-match performance ever. In some ways that may be true, but he did serve at only 47% (per the New York Times).
He served 13 clean aces -- including three straight from love-40 down at 1-4 in the second.
And he hit one serve at 117 mph (game point for 4-all in the second). Pat Summerall thought only one serve by Tanner at 119 mph had been faster in the tournament.
(In the final Borg served one that CBS measured at 121 mph).
Connors said Borg served “extra-special”. Trabert said he couldn’t remember Borg serving with such authority. Borg thought it was the strongest serving he had done since his fifth set against McEnroe at Wimbledon, when he won 19 straight points on serve -- though he achieved the same stat in a fifth set against Tanner two months later.
Connors’ fastest serve after 16 games was 101 mph.
The match went in straight sets essentially because Borg held from love-40 when Connors had a chance to go up two breaks in the second set; he held again from love-40 when Connors had a chance to go up 3-1 in the third. The first time he did it with three straight aces, as noted above, and four altogether; the second time he did it without any aces.
Borg was 25 and seeded second. Connors was 29 and seeded third.
I think Connors may have been in better shape later, or at other times, in his career. He was sucking wind fairly noticeably after one point.
Newk said that the way for Connors to win was to move Borg around, wait for the short ball, and come in. But he wasn’t doing it, at least not as a plan.
Trabert said that Borg played a very smart match, changing speeds against Connors.
I think Connors started reading Borg’s serve better in the third set.
The match lasted 2 hr. 19 min.
CBS announced the first death threat against Borg as soon as the match was over, and then Borg was informed. The second death threat occurred during the final, and Borg was informed right after leaving the court.
Borg was broken once in the match, at 1-2 in second. Connors was broken 5 times.
My stats:
Borg had 13 aces and 2 doubles.
Connors had 1 ace and 2 doubles.
Borg had 17 winners apart from service: 9 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV, 2 overheads.
(I'm missing one point that he won on Connors' serve).
Connors had 21 winners apart from service: 7 FH, 2 BH, 7 FHV, 3 BHV, 2 overheads.
Borg had 2 FH return winners; one was a pass. He had an additional 5 passes (three BH's).
Connors had no winning returns, and 2 FH passes.
Stats by CBS:
At 3-4 in the third, Borg was serving at 49%, Connors at 79%.
At 1-2 in the third, Borg had won 26 of 35 points on first serve, 17 of 37 on "second serves in" (so this stat does not seem to include double-faults).
At 3-all in the third, Connors had won 34 of 64 points on the first, 8 of 18 on "second serves in".
At 2-3 in the third, Borg had 15 "unforced errors" on the FH, 11 on the BH. Connors had 17 on the FH, 14 on the BH. (I don't know if this stat include volleys or just groundstrokes; obviously, it doesn't include double-faults).
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