Djokovic v Immortality
- Thread starter Spencer Gore
- Start date
Spencer Gore
Legend
GRAND SLAM THIRD LEG
WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS
1933 JACK CRAWFORD (Australia)
The reigning champion, Vines, was the firm favourite to retain his crown but he stumbled a little on his way to the final, including a hard fought four set victory over Cochet. Crawford, seeded two, was taken to five sets in the first round against Maier of Spain but otherwise made an untroubled path to the final. The 1933 final is considered one of the greatest of all-time (for decades after it was considered THE greatest). It was a baseline battle with very little volleying: Vines power against Crawford's defence. They reached the fifth set having won twenty three games each. They remained locked at 4-4 until Crawford, serving first, took a 5-4 lead. He suddenly decided to start charging the net on Vines' service. The American, through a combination of shock and fatigue couldn't find any passing winners and Gentleman Jack won the title and a shot at the then un-named Grand Slam.
WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS
1933 JACK CRAWFORD (Australia)
The reigning champion, Vines, was the firm favourite to retain his crown but he stumbled a little on his way to the final, including a hard fought four set victory over Cochet. Crawford, seeded two, was taken to five sets in the first round against Maier of Spain but otherwise made an untroubled path to the final. The 1933 final is considered one of the greatest of all-time (for decades after it was considered THE greatest). It was a baseline battle with very little volleying: Vines power against Crawford's defence. They reached the fifth set having won twenty three games each. They remained locked at 4-4 until Crawford, serving first, took a 5-4 lead. He suddenly decided to start charging the net on Vines' service. The American, through a combination of shock and fatigue couldn't find any passing winners and Gentleman Jack won the title and a shot at the then un-named Grand Slam.
Spencer Gore
Legend
GRAND SLAM THIRD LEG
WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS
1938 DONALD BUDGE (USA)
With three times champion Fred Perry gone to the pros, top-seed Budge was overwhelming favourite to retain his title. True to form, he reached the final without dropping a set. Budge combined a legendary backhand with a fierce serve, sublime volleys and an aggressive game, learned from Perry. His victim in the final was Britain's Bunny Austin who was destroyed 6-1, 6-0, 6-3.
WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS
1938 DONALD BUDGE (USA)
With three times champion Fred Perry gone to the pros, top-seed Budge was overwhelming favourite to retain his title. True to form, he reached the final without dropping a set. Budge combined a legendary backhand with a fierce serve, sublime volleys and an aggressive game, learned from Perry. His victim in the final was Britain's Bunny Austin who was destroyed 6-1, 6-0, 6-3.
Spencer Gore
Legend
GRAND SLAM THIRD LEG
WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS
1956 LEW HOAD (Australia)
The Australian tennis twins, Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall, justified their #1 and #2 seeding by reaching the final with little fuss (Hoad dropped one set in the quarters to Mal Anderson). Hoad and Rosewall were tennis opposites: Hoad was strongly built with a powerful forehand and serve, Rosewall was slightly built and famed for his return of serve and legendary backhand. Hoad had a reputation as a lazy player but on this day he rose to the occasion, defeating his compatriot in four close sets.
WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS
1956 LEW HOAD (Australia)
The Australian tennis twins, Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall, justified their #1 and #2 seeding by reaching the final with little fuss (Hoad dropped one set in the quarters to Mal Anderson). Hoad and Rosewall were tennis opposites: Hoad was strongly built with a powerful forehand and serve, Rosewall was slightly built and famed for his return of serve and legendary backhand. Hoad had a reputation as a lazy player but on this day he rose to the occasion, defeating his compatriot in four close sets.
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Spencer Gore
Legend
GRAND SLAM THIRD LEG
WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS
1962 ROD LAVER (Australia)
Top seed, Laver, had now set himself the target of winning the Grand Slam. All went well until the quarter finals when an inspired Manuel Santana found himself up 16-14, 5-1. The Rockhampton Rocket then set his boosters to full-power, storming back to take the match and create a momentum that swept him to the final. His scheduled opponent, Emerson, had to retire in the 4th round with an injured toe. His opponent, Marty Mulligan, made his way to the final, hoping to go one better than the French were he had match-point against Laver. But Rod was merciless in the final, sweeping Mulligan aside in straight sets for the loss of only five games. The Grand Slam was on!
WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS
1962 ROD LAVER (Australia)
Top seed, Laver, had now set himself the target of winning the Grand Slam. All went well until the quarter finals when an inspired Manuel Santana found himself up 16-14, 5-1. The Rockhampton Rocket then set his boosters to full-power, storming back to take the match and create a momentum that swept him to the final. His scheduled opponent, Emerson, had to retire in the 4th round with an injured toe. His opponent, Marty Mulligan, made his way to the final, hoping to go one better than the French were he had match-point against Laver. But Rod was merciless in the final, sweeping Mulligan aside in straight sets for the loss of only five games. The Grand Slam was on!
Spencer Gore
Legend
GRAND SLAM THIRD LEG
WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS
1969 ROD LAVER (Australia)
The year of the legendary Gonzales-Pasarell match (when the 41 year old Pancho proved beyond doubt that he would have been a Wimbledon winner if almost his whole career hadn't been spent as a pro) saw top-seed Laver fight back from two sets to love down against Lall of India in round two. He was also taken to five by future champ Stan Smith in the quarters before a closely fought four set victory against future champ Arthur Ashe. The final against 1967 champion, Newcombe (who would win twice more) saw the younger man change his normal tactics to rob Laver of power. It almost worked. Laver looked unsettled and lost the first set before steadying the ship to take the title in four sets, setting up an historic tilt at a second Grand Slam.
WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS
1969 ROD LAVER (Australia)
The year of the legendary Gonzales-Pasarell match (when the 41 year old Pancho proved beyond doubt that he would have been a Wimbledon winner if almost his whole career hadn't been spent as a pro) saw top-seed Laver fight back from two sets to love down against Lall of India in round two. He was also taken to five by future champ Stan Smith in the quarters before a closely fought four set victory against future champ Arthur Ashe. The final against 1967 champion, Newcombe (who would win twice more) saw the younger man change his normal tactics to rob Laver of power. It almost worked. Laver looked unsettled and lost the first set before steadying the ship to take the title in four sets, setting up an historic tilt at a second Grand Slam.
Spencer Gore
Legend
The information in the original post is correct, with the US as the final slam.
Spencer Gore
Legend
GRAND SLAM THIRD LEG
WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS
2021 NOVAK DJOKOVIC (Serbia)
Top seed Djokovic lost the first set of the championships to Britain's Draper but then didn't lose another as he progressed to the final. #2 seed Medvedev was a surprise fourth round loser to Hurkacz of Poland, who proceeded to defeat Federer in straight sets (including a bagel -the first inflicted on Federer since Nadal managed it in 2008). In the final, Djokovic faced Matteo Berrettini, the seventh seed, who won the first set. The Serb regrouped to take the title in four sets, becoming the first man in 52 years to win the first three slams. Immortality beckoned...
WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS
2021 NOVAK DJOKOVIC (Serbia)
Top seed Djokovic lost the first set of the championships to Britain's Draper but then didn't lose another as he progressed to the final. #2 seed Medvedev was a surprise fourth round loser to Hurkacz of Poland, who proceeded to defeat Federer in straight sets (including a bagel -the first inflicted on Federer since Nadal managed it in 2008). In the final, Djokovic faced Matteo Berrettini, the seventh seed, who won the first set. The Serb regrouped to take the title in four sets, becoming the first man in 52 years to win the first three slams. Immortality beckoned...
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I was hoping to see how you would incorporate your Fed hating into this one, lol
Third Serve
Talk Tennis Guru
and there it is, lads!
Spencer Gore
Legend
Indeed. There it is. A factual account of almost 100 years of players trying to win the Grand Slam. Glad you appreciated it!
D
Deleted member 771911
Guest
It will be just like some of us with players before our time. We know who they are and something about what they did. But people will focus on the players of their time. Djokovic may be immortal but really so what. He hit a ball back and forth across a net.
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