Anyone see McEnroe-Nystrom at 1985 U.S. Open

[McEnroeisanartist]

Has anyone seen this match? I have heard that it was possibly the last near flawless match of McEnroe's career. McEnroe defeated 10th seed Nystrom 6-1, 6-0, 7-5 in the quarterfinals. McEnroe needed 5 sets to defeat him that year in the French Open.

[suwanee4712]

I wish I could remember more but I don't think I saw much of the match. I do remember it being a night match on the stadium court. And I remember Mac approaching sometimes even off Nystrom's first serve. Every indication from that match was that Mac was working his way into championship form.

Nystrom was a fine player and had a lot of tools to work with. I always thought that his game and Pernfors' were very similar. But when Mac was on he could make him look rather pedestrian.

[Gizo]

Mac was indeed excellent during that match. It was probably more remembered for him repeatedly losing his temper with the umpire, tournament referee, and a line judge and the CBS camera crew.

[kiki]

didn´t Nystrom beat Mac at the Dallas Finals just a few months before?

[Gizo]

Yes Nystrom straight setted him at Dallas that year. He hit so many winners past a helpless Mac from the baseline, and his cross court backhand in particular was on fire that day. That was some win from Nystrom.

Bear in mind that Mac was in amazing form at that time. He had won the last 8 official tournaments that he had entered, the US Open, San Francisco, Stockholm and the Masters in 1984, and Philadelphia, Houston, Milan and Chicago in 1985. Following his Cincinnati match against Amritraj in August 1984 until his Forest Hills final in May 1985, that was one of only two defeats suffered by Mac in 54 official matches (the other coming against Sundstrom in the 1984 Davis Cup final of course).

From his defeat to Amritraj at Cincinnati in August 1984 to his defeat to Lendl at Forest Hills in May 1985, that was one of only two defeats that Mac suffered in 54 matches (the other being his loss to Sundstrom in the 1984 Davis Cup final of course).

Plus Mac's record at Dallas in the previous 6 years from 1979-1984 had been incredible, with him reaching the final every year and winning 4 titles.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by Gizo

Yes Nystrom straight setted him at Dallas that year. He hit so many winners past a helpless Mac from the baseline, and his cross court backhand in particular was on fire that day. That was some win from Nystrom.

Bear in mind that Mac was in amazing form at that time. He had won the last 8 official tournaments that he had entered, the US Open, San Francisco, Stockholm and the Masters in 1984, and Philadelphia, Houston, Milan and Chicago in 1985. Following his Cincinnati match against Amritraj in August 1984 until his Forest Hills final in May 1985, that was one of only two defeats suffered by Mac in 54 official matches (the other coming against Sundstrom in the 1984 Davis Cup final of course).

From his defeat to Amritraj at Cincinnati in August 1984 to his defeat to Lendl at Forest Hills in May 1985, that was one of only two defeats that Mac suffered in 54 matches (the other being his loss to Sundstrom in the 1984 Davis Cup final of course).

Plus Mac's record at Dallas in the previous 6 years from 1979-1984 had been incredible, with him reaching the final every year and winning 4 titles.

Truly amazing.and he was Mr Dallas, with the record of wins at the great WCT Championships.In fact, his win there against Borg ( and Connors) in 79 is considered his first great win ( he had a prettye asy path at the 1978 Masters)

[Gizo]

Yes Mac said the same thing in his autobiography that his 1979 Dallas title was his big breakthrough and convinced people that he was a serious rival to Borg and Connors, and a big threat to win multiple major titles.

His record at Dallas before 1985:
1979 - Champion, destroying Connors in his semi and beating Borg in 4 sets in the final
1980 - Runner-Up, losing to Connors in 4 sets in the final
1981 - Champion, winning all his matches in straight sets
1982 - Runner-Up, losing to Lendl in 4 sets in the final
1983 - Champion, beating Lendl in a classic 5 set final
1984 - Champion, destroying Connors in the final

So beating a prime Mac at Dallas was probably more a difficult achievement than beating a prime Mac at any other tournament.

Mac started 1985 so strongly. After his defeat in Dallas he won the title at Atlanta and was the runner-up to Lendl at Forest Hills, so 5 titles and 1 other final in his first 7 official tournaments of the season.

[kiki]

Dallas was a big big showcase during the 70´s and 80´s and, except Nastase,Laver,Kodes,Vilas and Wilander there is no single big player of those 20 years that didn´t win it.