Was Lendl's win over Edberg at the 1987 Wimbledon his best ever grass court win?

[sandy mayer]

I know he beat Becker to win the 90 Queen's but I tend to think Lendl's Wimbledon semi final win over Edberg in 87 was his best grass court win. That is because Wimbledon is a much bigger event than Queen's and also because it was best of 5. Edberg was already a double Australian Open champion on grass and only one year away from being Wimbledon champion, and Edberg was a genuine contender for the Wimbledon crown in 87, especially after Becker was knocked out.

 

[Gizo]

I think so, considering the opponent - Edberg won 7 titles that year including his 2nd consecutive Australian Open title of course, and ended it as the world no. 2 and had already beaten Lendl in grass court major SF at the 1985 Australian Open, and stage (Queen’s while a tournament with a rich history is not on the same scale as Wimbledon). I remember his play during the big points during the crucial 3rd set tiebreak was excellent, as he saved a couple of set points and then won it himself. And Edberg was 40-0 up on serve but was broken in the final game of the 2nd set.

Beating Wilander in a RG final on clay basically playing as a defensive grinder, and then a month later beating Edberg in a Wimbledon semi-final on grass serve and volleying behind every 1st and 2nd serve, was hugely impressive.

 

[buscemi]

Venue: Wimbledon is the biggest grass court tournament in the world. Queen's Club was the second biggest grass court tournament in the world in 1990.

Round: Lendl beat Becker in the Queen's Club final. Lendl beat Edberg in the Wimbledon SF.

Quality of opponent: Becker was the defending Wimbledon champion in 1990 and had won three titles there. Edberg had 2 AO grass titles by 1987 Wimbledon but his prior Wimbledon results were 2R, 2R, 4R, 3R.

Decisiveness of win: Lendl smoked Becker, 6-3, 6-2. Lendl beat Edberg, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4.

ConclusionL Lendl's win over Becker was a more decisive win against a better opponent (at the time) in a final. Lendl's win over Edberg was a closer win over a lesser opponent (at the time) in a SF. The venue of the Edberg win makes things closer, but I'd still take the win over Becker as his best grass court win.

 

[HBK4life]

I would say so.

On a side note watching Lendl on grass is not comfortable viewing.

 

[Pheasant]

Level-wise, Lendl’s 1990 Queens run was his best ever. He had taken the clay season off to really focus on serving and volleying. And he played quite well at the net that tourney by completely curb-stomping McEnroe in the semi and then Becker in the final. He was incredibly dominant against 2 grass court legends. Him skipping the clay season proba bly costed him a bunch more weeks at #1 by losing all of those clay points. But since he had the weeks at #1 record all but guaranteed, it made sense for him to go for it.

I’d agree that his win in 1987 over Edberg was more valuable. But his best level was in 1990, due to skipping the clay season to really focus on playing grass court tennis.

 

[Cerdany]

Yes. But please let's not talk about the final, I'm still not over that

 

[toth]

I vote yes

 

[GuyForget]

I would say so.

On a side note watching Lendl on grass is not comfortable viewing.

he's great to watch on grass, watch the 89 SF highlights vs Becker or the 90 match at Queens

 

[sandy mayer]

Venue: Wimbledon is the biggest grass court tournament in the world. Queen's Club was the second biggest grass court tournament in the world in 1990.

Round: Lendl beat Becker in the Queen's Club final. Lendl beat Edberg in the Wimbledon SF.

Quality of opponent: Becker was the defending Wimbledon champion in 1990 and had won three titles there. Edberg had 2 AO grass titles by 1987 Wimbledon but his prior Wimbledon results were 2R, 2R, 4R, 3R.

Decisiveness of win: Lendl smoked Becker, 6-3, 6-2. Lendl beat Edberg, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4.

ConclusionL Lendl's win over Becker was a more decisive win against a better opponent (at the time) in a final. Lendl's win over Edberg was a closer win over a lesser opponent (at the time) in a SF. The venue of the Edberg win makes things closer, but I'd still take the win over Becker as his best grass court win.

You make good points but Wimbledon is so much bigger than Queen's I still rate the win over Edberg as his best grass win. Queen's is really a warm up to Wimbledon. I would rather win Wimbledon once than Queen's 10 times.

 

[Gizo]

Yes the gulf in importance between Wimbledon and Queen's is so vast, notcieably bigger than that between RG and Rome for example (plus Wimbledon was still clearly regarded as a bigger deal than RG then including by Lendl), that I think that's easily enough for his win over Edberg at the event that really counted to rank above his ones against McEnroe and Becker at a tune-up event.

From 1986 onwards, after he had finally achieved his single biggest career goal and won the US Open in 1985, Wimbledon was clearly the tournament that he wanted to win the most every year. While his Wimbledon obsession went up another notch in 1990 with him skpping RG, by 1987 he was still obsessed and hell-bent on trying to 'finally' win it, so beating Edberg in his SF under those circumstances adds to the impressiveness of the victory.

 

[dryeagle]

Though it was a loss and devastating, 89 SF Wimbledon five setter vs Becker could be a high point. He played so well, especially in sets 2 and 3. Unlucky with a rain delay which seemed to change momentum. And remember this was probably Becker at his peak form.

 

[timnz]

I know he beat Becker to win the 90 Queen's but I tend to think Lendl's Wimbledon semi final win over Edberg in 87 was his best grass court win. That is because Wimbledon is a much bigger event than Queen's and also because it was best of 5. Edberg was already a double Australian Open champion on grass and only one year away from being Wimbledon champion, and Edberg was a genuine contender for the Wimbledon crown in 87, especially after Becker was knocked out.

My feeling is that Lendl potentially could have won Wimbledon in 89. He was very close to beating Becker in the semis in 5 sets. If he had prevailed, he would face Edberg who wasn’t as strong as in 88 or 90

 

[sandy mayer]

Though it was a loss and devastating, 89 SF Wimbledon five setter vs Becker could be a high point. He played so well, especially in sets 2 and 3. Unlucky with a rain delay which seemed to change momentum. And remember this was probably Becker at his peak form.

Yes it was a good performance from Lendl, but I can't put a loss as his greatest ever grass court match. Lendl didn't win Wimbledon because he couldn't beat the very best grass court players there, with the exception of Edberg in 87.

 

[Vincent-C]

Yes it was a good performance from Lendl, but I can't put a loss as his greatest ever grass court match. Lendl didn't win Wimbledon because he couldn't beat the very best grass court players there, with the exception of Edberg in 87.

Because he was not a great GC player, himself. A little heavy and unsure in the feet..
GC tennis is brutal that way.