love and hate relationships in the 70´s and 80´s rivalries

[magnut]

Maybe Rios really hated Argentinians and thought he had an ally in Henman Really bizarre pairing, could not see them hanging out together with prostitutes watching boxing matches

i suspect they had common interests in the way of being the figurehead of tennis for their country. both had rabid followings in their homelands. thats about the only thing that makes sense IMO.

i think henman was a pretty mature and intelligent fellow from early on and saw through a lot of the BS backtalk that surrounded rios. Rios was a pretty nice guy deep down he was just an extreme introvert and liked his space. i have never heard rios speak ill of other players. he is quite frank and comes off as abrasive sometimes. he doesnt really fake anything and I have never heard him give a scripted answer to a question.

 

[kiki]

For all the harrasement Lendl got in his heydays, few have been brightest at press conferences.Many journalist I know from that time just rushed in.

 

[Irish Lass]

What about Okker v Nastase? Nastase hated that Okker had such a good record against him and called him names and tried to rattle him before a match and on court but in the Seniors they became friends and played doubles together.

Okker liked by most people. Is still friends with Marty Reissen, Frew McMillan, Bob Lutz and Ismael El Shafei. Was a great friend of Arthur Ashe. Learned a lot about art from Wojtek Fibak but not sure if they are still friends

 

[kiki]

No, Nastase and Okker used to play a lot together when at their prime

Nastase used to call him cheese ( not jew, BTW) because netherland´s most famous product is cheese.

Okker and Nastase probably got along fine always

BTW, Ilie called Kodes " The Russian", but it was a long time joke between both.When The CCSR played the SU in DC, Nastase travelled to Prague to support the czechs.He and Kodes were friends and both hated the Soviets, quite understandable in those times...

 

[Tennisknowledge99]

I see Laver has some respect for Roche but Roche seem doesn't want to be involved with Laver

Connors and Mac is weird relationship, they had a lot of heat argument but they actually practiced together, in 1992 USO, Connor said that his attitude, along with Mac and Borg are kind of classic and made a triangle between them while he mocked and said Lendl out of the rivalries. Connors and Lendl are really torrid rivalry. Both are very hot-head and prideful

Lendl and Mac become closer today but I think Mac still has some hard feeling, probably he still not get over their 1984 FO match

 

[Rosewall]

Somewhere I read Evert told Billie Jean King they could not be friends until after they had retired.

Were there two players more competitive than Evert and BJK? They intimidated a lot of opponents in their day. Their rivalry at Wimbledon was pretty sweet. 1978 and 1982 semifinals come to mind. They both looked tight in 82 which I thought was weird for two of the most experienced slam competitors. BJK looked like she threw the third set and I remember her chit chatting at Evert after the match, but Evert wouldn't even look at BJK much less talk to her.

 

[Rosewall]

Ashe was a loner. That was understandable given the circumstances, but it was a personality trait as well. Somewhat ironically, Ashe was an establishment guy when it came to the ATP and always came off a little self righteous, especially when it came to conduct. The feud with Connors had been beaten to death, but I never had the feeling that Ashe was involved in any big rivalry with any player. He was a pretty good guy that stuck mostly to himself. Pretty non-threatening for a #1 ranked player.

 

[Gizo]

Ashe was also a huge misogynist who made numerous disparaging comments about women's tennis, saying that they didn't deserve any prize money, belonged in the kitchen etc, plus he was a player off the court (more so than Nastase actually), but then again so were many of the best players in the 60s and 70s.

His attitudes incurred the wrath of BJK on numerous occasions.

 

[jrepac]

Connors and Mac is weird relationship, they had a lot of heat argument but they actually practiced together

This is very true..weird huh? I remember one year watching Mac and Jimmy hitting for about an hour in Armstrong stadium. It was a hoot. That was an insiders secret....hang out after the matches are done and the big kids come out to practice. They had a very odd relationship; Mac even said as much in his bio.

 

[jrepac]

Ashe was a loner. That was understandable given the circumstances, but it was a personality trait as well. Somewhat ironically, Ashe was an establishment guy when it came to the ATP and always came off a little self righteous, especially when it came to conduct. The feud with Connors had been beaten to death, but I never had the feeling that Ashe was involved in any big rivalry with any player. He was a pretty good guy that stuck mostly to himself. Pretty non-threatening for a #1 ranked player.

totally agree....Ashe is worshipped nowadays, but there was a side to him I never really cared for..

 

[jrepac]

I never got the sense that Mac and Connors hated Wilander and Edberg...it wasn't a love fest, but hatred? I thought Connors and Edberg had a pretty good rivalry even tho' Connors was reaching the age of Social Security eligibility.

 

[boris becker 1]

The deepth and contrast of characters in the 70´s and 80´s, gave a big boost to the rivalries, beyond the contrast of styles and technichal aspects.

Here is, based on what I saw, the main rivalries under that angle.

Laver vs Rosewall: mates and sporting rivals, could accept being beaten by the other
Newcombe vs Laver: more hate than love.Same for Laver-Roche, a very torrid rivalry
Newcombe vs Rosewall: they liked each other. in a similar way as Laver and Emerson did.
Nastase vs Borg: loved each other
Kodes and Nastase: good friends, never took bad to be beaten by the other
Smith vs Nastase: real hate, too diferent
Newcombe vs Smith: very sporting guys but more hate than love, both very prideful people
Borg and Ashe: liked and respected each other.Ashe´s only bas relationship was vs Connors, who disliked so much Arthur.Ashe, instead, liked geniously Mc Enroe
Connrs and Mac, Mac and Lendl, Lend land Jimmy: needless to say.The heat in their meetings left no air left.

Borg vs Mac: liked each other, even if going through the possibly greatest moderne ra rivalry.Culturally, I always found them to be pretty similar, quite liberal both and willing to experience
Connors and Borg: respected each other but somewhat, more hate than love
Borg vs Vilas: disliked each other.Vilas and Connors hated each other.Vilas and mac were pretty good friends, but never had a big rivalry, other than Davis Cup
Vilas and Clerc: disliked each other
Gerulaitis vs anybody else: not possible to dilike Gerulaitis.Of couse, lendl was the only guy to REALLY HATE Vitas and I can see why
Connors vs Tanner: not so muc talked but, a lot of hate between both of them.maybe that started when they were both juniors (Tanner was probably the guy that most supported Ashe in the 75 final)
Connors and Smith hated each other.Connors liked a lot Nastase ( although they never played a major final against each other) and liked pretty much Kodes
Newcombe vs Copnnors: hate
Ashe vs Laver: almost hate.Ashe was more anxious to beat Laver than to beat Rosewall or even Newcombe 8 Newc and Ashe were pretty good friends)

Becker and Edberg: liked each other, in spite of their fierce rivalry
Becker and Wilander: not too much love, Mats could not stand Boris coockyness
Edberg and Wilander: rivals from their early years.Similar to Connors vs Tanner but not so torrid
Lendl liked Edberg...but Lendl disliked a lot Wilander and hated Becker
Connors liked Becker but disliked Wilander and Edberg, although there was no rivalry ( Connors was getting old when they reached their peak)
Mac disliked Becker and Wilander and him were pretty good friends, in spite of some mac´s criticism.Probably, Mac saw in Mats the guy that would fill the void left by Borg´s retiriement, that he resented so much

I don´t know about Mac and Edberg.I know Mac disliked a bit Cash ( although they became quite close in the long term) and Cash couldn´t stand neither Lendl, neither Becker.However, was in good terms with Wilander

Any opinions? any other rivalries forgotten?

Becker and Mac are/were buddies. Often pratised/still go out to dinner