Who was Lendl's biggest rival?

[dangalak]

I always wondered.

[Mustard]

John McEnroe.

[krosero]

Brad Gilbert.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/...=L018&oId=G016

[BobbyOne]

Originally Posted by dangalak

I always wondered.

Lew Hoad. Ask Dan Lobb!

[krosero]

Jan Kodes.

[dangalak]

No seriously. It's probably between Becker, McEnroe, Connors and Wilander.

If McEnroe is Lendl's biggest rival, was McEnroe's biggest rival Lendl?

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by dangalak

If McEnroe is Lendl's biggest rival, was McEnroe's biggest rival Lendl?

Tough to say. Lendl, Connors and Borg all have good cases to be McEnroe's biggest rival. I was more certain that Lendl's biggest rival was McEnroe because McEnroe was the best player in that period where Lendl was looking to take over as the world's best.

When McEnroe was looking to become the world's best, Borg stood in his way, but McEnroe and Borg got along personally and the rivalry was shortlived due to Borg's early departure from the sport. McEnroe's rivalry with Connors was fiery and intense, while McEnroe's rivalry with Lendl was more of a disdain for one another. McEnroe and Lendl are from the same generation, so that's something else to take into account.

[gavna]

Originally Posted by Mustard

John McEnroe.

Yeah Johnny McEnroe for sure.......those WCT finals from Reunion Arena were classics and you could feel the hate from both of them in the stands.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by Mustard

John McEnroe.

Mac in general terms.but terrific rivalries with Becker indoors and grass,Wilander on clay and Connors on hard

[kiki]

Originally Posted by Mustard

John McEnroe.

Mac in general terms.but terrific rivalries with Becker indoors and grass,Wilander on clay and Connors on hard as well as Cash on hard

[TheFifthSet]

I don't think he's his biggest rival, but I always felt Becker sort of played the foil to Lendl, much like Nadal did to Federer. Lendl was superior to Becker as a player, just as I feel Federer is superior to Nadal, yet Becker won the majority of the big matches....although Lendl led the overall head to head 11-10, he was 1-5 in majors and 0-3 at Wimbledon.

[Nadal_Power]

Originally Posted by TheFifthSet

I don't think he's his biggest rival, but I always felt Becker sort of played the foil to Lendl, much like Nadal did to Federer. Lendl was superior to Becker as a player, just as I feel Federer is superior to Nadal, yet Becker won the majority of the big matches....although Lendl led the overall head to head 11-10, he was 1-5 in majors and 0-3 at Wimbledon.

Well said

[TheFifthSet]

Originally Posted by Nadal_Power

Well said

Thank you.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by krosero

Jan Kodes.

During his first years could be as well

[kiki]

The only guys of the big names of the 80 that Lendl did have a small rivalry were Borg and Edberg, with Borg it would have been huge but Borg quit before it reached epic proportions

[NLBwell]

McEnroe because of the hate factor.

[SystemicAnomaly]

Lendl had a winning h2h record with many of his rivals

Lend vs rival
. 21 - 15 ... J McEnroe
. 22 - 13 ... J Connors
. 13 - 14 ... S Edberg
. 15 - 07 ... M Wilander
. 11 - 10 ... B Becker
. 02 - 06 ... B Borg

[pc1]

Originally Posted by krosero

Brad Gilbert.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/...=L018&oId=G016

I know you're joking but years ago I heard a radio interview with Gilbert in which he said Lendl was the player he found toughest to play.

Gilbert thought Lendl had perhaps the best serve in tennis not necessarily because of the power but also because of the variety.

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by krosero

Jan Kodes.

Hahaha! Of course.

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by dangalak

No seriously. It's probably between Becker, McEnroe, Connors and Wilander.

If McEnroe is Lendl's biggest rival, was McEnroe's biggest rival Lendl?

Connors was past his prime before Lendl came into his. Although Connors continued to compete for another 7-8 years after he was passed his prime, he was clearly not as great as he was in the 70's up to 82'.

You might make the same argument for McEnroe. Lendl's prime began in about 1984. After 1984, Mac's level of play dropped off just enough to make him something less than an all time great from there on out. IMO, it was caused by cocaine abuse. If not for that, both McEnroe's and Lendl's careers would not look like they do in retrospect.

Wilander's prime coincided with Lendl's and, IMO, Lendl was clearly the better player.

Becker's peak also coincided with Lendl's, although Becker was a bit younger. Becker may have had a slightly higher level of play at his absolute peak, but, Lendl was the more consistent champion between the two.