Mac´s ownage of Connors at Flushing

kiki · 08-19-2012, 02:47 AM

While Connors beat in straight sets Mac at their first meeting at the USO, Mac beat Connors in 1980 and 1984, after hard fought 5 setters.

I think Mac was the only guy that made work in his favour Connors excitment of the New York crowds.They were Anti Mac and Mac was a pure New Yorker.Connors was a guy from East Sant Louis and Mac could never stand up that he was NY´s favourite boy and not himself.

I think there is a lot of psyco in Mac-Connors matches ( as seen at the 1982 Wimbledon final) but, in this case, it worked in Mac´s benefit.

Any comments about this?

kiki · 08-19-2012, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiki

While Connors beat in straight sets Mac at their first meeting at the USO, Mac beat Connors in 1980 and 1984, after hard fought 5 setters.

I think Mac was the only guy that made work in his favour Connors excitment of the New York crowds.They were Anti Mac and Mac was a pure New Yorker.Connors was a guy from East Sant Louis and Mac could never stand up that he was NY´s favourite boy and not himself.

I think there is a lot of psyco in Mac-Connors matches ( as seen at the 1982 Wimbledon final) but, in this case, it worked in Mac´s benefit.

Any comments about this?

And, of course, mac won in straight sets at their 1979 semi ( and their only real match at the Masters, in 1981)

Mustard · 08-19-2012, 12:09 PM

In their 1978 match, Connors was in very good form and McEnroe was still too inexperienced, not to mention annoyed that a New York crowd seemed to favour Connors (from Illinois) over himself (a New Yorker). Connors wasn't far behind Borg as the world's best player in 1978.

The 1979 match, however, was very poor by Connors. Connors was flat, and not only had Borg pulled well ahead of Connors as the best in the world, McEnroe had also overtaken Connors as the best American player.

The 1980 match was a toss up that went right to the wire. It swung wildly back and forth throughout. McEnroe had set points for a 2 set lead, then lost 11 games in a row, then won 6 of the next 7 games, then went a break up in the fifth set only to be broken back when serving for the match. And McEnroe just won the fifth set tiebreak.

The 1984 match was peak McEnroe, and 32 year old Connors gave it his best shot, pushing McEnroe to 5 sets.

kiki · 08-20-2012, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustard

In their 1978 match, Connors was in very good form and McEnroe was still too inexperienced, not to mention annoyed that a New York crowd seemed to favour Connors (from Illinois) over himself (a New Yorker). Connors wasn't far behind Borg as the world's best player in 1978.

The 1979 match, however, was very poor by Connors. Connors was flat, and not only had Borg pulled well ahead of Connors as the best in the world, McEnroe had also overtaken Connors as the best American player.

The 1980 match was a toss up that went right to the wire. It swung wildly back and forth throughout. McEnroe had set points for a 2 set lead, then lost 11 games in a row, then won 6 of the next 7 games, then went a break up in the fifth set only to be broken back when serving for the match. And McEnroe just won the fifth set tiebreak.

The 1984 match was peak McEnroe, and 32 year old Connors gave it his best shot, pushing McEnroe to 5 sets.

I think the best year for their rivalry was clearly 1980

timnz · 08-21-2012, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiki

I think the best year for their rivalry was clearly 1980

Yeah if you also think that there good WCT finals match was in 1980 also. Connors won that one in 4 sets. It was his best win in the 1979-1981 period.

kiki · 08-22-2012, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timnz

Yeah if you also think that there good WCT finals match was in 1980 also. Connors won that one in 4 sets. It was his best win in the 1979-1981 period.

Phily,Memphis,Dallas,London,New york.all of the titanic battles.

rufus_smith · 08-22-2012, 01:53 PM

Don't forget 1980 was Connors heavy beard/mustache period thus earning him the title of the most heavily facial haired player to be ranked in the top 3 in mens tennis history! Not many people are aware of this accomplishment. http://bodhiman.com/v/38278

kiki · 08-22-2012, 02:12 PM

The more that I think about, the more that I find 1980 the best ever for Connors vs Mac tete a tete.

As for Borg vs Mac, many will choose 1980...but I think 1979 was the best year for their tete a tete.1979 was a wonderful year for tennis.Ashe ended the year ranked at 7 ATP...

Gizo · 08-23-2012, 02:56 AM

Winning 3 matches out of 4 against Connors, who ranks as the greatest ever player at the US Open during the professional era and was so at home there, was an excellent achievement by McEnroe.

I agree that despite Mac being annoyed that Connors was so much more popular than him at Flushing Meadows despite being a New Yorker himsef, he was able to embrace his role as the villain and use the 'everyone is against me' mentality to his advantage when playing him.

The fact that McEnroe has at least two wins over each of his 3 main rivals at the US Open is some feat In total he won 7 matches out of 11 against Connors/Lendl/Borg there, with Lendl inflicting 3 out of those 4 defeats.

kiki · 08-23-2012, 05:28 AM

Good observation.Few players have estem
Lendl in qf
Connors in sf
Borg in f
Like he did in 1980.one of the best ever activament imo

Arafel · 08-23-2012, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiki

Good observation.Few players have estem
Lendl in qf
Connors in sf
Borg in f
Like he did in 1980.one of the best ever activament imo

Especially since the match against Connors was the night match and went to a fifth set tiebreaker.

kiki · 08-23-2012, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arafel

Especially since the match against Connors was the night match and went to a fifth set tiebreaker.

That achievement compares to Borg 79 and 80 Masters run

kiki · 08-24-2012, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gizo

Winning 3 matches out of 4 against Connors, who ranks as the greatest ever player at the US Open during the professional era and was so at home there, was an excellent achievement by McEnroe.

I agree that despite Mac being annoyed that Connors was so much more popular than him at Flushing Meadows despite being a New Yorker himsef, he was able to embrace his role as the villain and use the 'everyone is against me' mentality to his advantage when playing him.

The fact that McEnroe has at least two wins over each of his 3 main rivals at the US Open is some feat In total he won 7 matches out of 11 against Connors/Lendl/Borg there, with Lendl inflicting 3 out of those 4 defeats.

Good remark.For a while, JMac was Flushing´s God.He took it as a personnal thing and maybe, being a NY guy helped.

08-19-2012, 02:47 AM	#1
kiki G.O.A.T. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 10,511	Mac´s ownage of Connors at Flushing While Connors beat in straight sets Mac at their first meeting at the USO, Mac beat Connors in 1980 and 1984, after hard fought 5 setters. I think Mac was the only guy that made work in his favour Connors excitment of the New York crowds.They were Anti Mac and Mac was a pure New Yorker.Connors was a guy from East Sant Louis and Mac could never stand up that he was NY´s favourite boy and not himself. I think there is a lot of psyco in Mac-Connors matches ( as seen at the 1982 Wimbledon final) but, in this case, it worked in Mac´s benefit. Any comments about this? __________________ " I have watched plenty of matches of the 70´s and 80´s" ABMK, the historian

08-19-2012, 12:09 PM	#3
Mustard G.O.A.T. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bristol, England Posts: 18,453	In their 1978 match, Connors was in very good form and McEnroe was still too inexperienced, not to mention annoyed that a New York crowd seemed to favour Connors (from Illinois) over himself (a New Yorker). Connors wasn't far behind Borg as the world's best player in 1978. The 1979 match, however, was very poor by Connors. Connors was flat, and not only had Borg pulled well ahead of Connors as the best in the world, McEnroe had also overtaken Connors as the best American player. The 1980 match was a toss up that went right to the wire. It swung wildly back and forth throughout. McEnroe had set points for a 2 set lead, then lost 11 games in a row, then won 6 of the next 7 games, then went a break up in the fifth set only to be broken back when serving for the match. And McEnroe just won the fifth set tiebreak. The 1984 match was peak McEnroe, and 32 year old Connors gave it his best shot, pushing McEnroe to 5 sets. Last edited by Mustard : 08-19-2012 at 12:14 PM.

08-22-2012, 01:53 PM	#7
rufus_smith Semi-Pro Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 571	Don't forget 1980 was Connors heavy beard/mustache period thus earning him the title of the most heavily facial haired player to be ranked in the top 3 in mens tennis history! Not many people are aware of this accomplishment. http://bodhiman.com/v/38278 Last edited by rufus_smith : 08-22-2012 at 02:08 PM.

08-22-2012, 02:12 PM	#8
kiki G.O.A.T. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 10,511	The more that I think about, the more that I find 1980 the best ever for Connors vs Mac tete a tete. As for Borg vs Mac, many will choose 1980...but I think 1979 was the best year for their tete a tete.1979 was a wonderful year for tennis.Ashe ended the year ranked at 7 ATP... __________________ " I have watched plenty of matches of the 70´s and 80´s" ABMK, the historian

08-23-2012, 05:28 AM	#10
kiki G.O.A.T. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 10,511	Good observation.Few players have estem Lendl in qf Connors in sf Borg in f Like he did in 1980.one of the best ever activament imo __________________ " I have watched plenty of matches of the 70´s and 80´s" ABMK, the historian