Question about 1978 Hamburg

[Mustard]

Is it true that Manuel Orantes won 7 out of 8 games against Guillermo Vilas in the semi finals and then retired to give Vilas the win? Does anybody know what happened to Orantes in this match that made him retire?

[AndrewTas]

Orantes withdrew because of an injury. World of Tennis states Vilas "trailed 06 1-1 to Orantes after less than an hour's play, gaining only nine points during a period when almost every shot the Spaniard played was a magical winner. Then suddenly Orantes, reaching for a shot, clutched his back and appeared to stumble. Tournament referee, Frank Hoffman and the ATP physiotherapist Todd Fullerton raced to the courtside, but by the time they arrived the pain-ridden Orantes had been forced to default.

Orantes didnt play the Italian the following week but did play the French Open at the end of May. He reached the quarter-finals but lost to Stockton 75 61 63. I never thought Stockton was a good clay-courter.

[Mustard]

Thanks for that bit of information, AndrewTas. I always wondered what happened in that match because it looked odd seeing Vilas as the winner by 0-6, 1-1 ret.

[urban]

I saw parts of the match on tv. I think, the last part of the first set, and the two games of the second. Orantes had sometimes those magical streaks, when he - like a spider - put a web around his opponent, with his soft skills and slice shots.

[Q&M son]

... and that was the only time Willy won Hamburg...