Watch this match

[CyBorg]

Connors - McEnroe in the semi of Vegas in 1979. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEQSHgprSTs .. in eight parts.

Aside from the excellence of tennis, there is some very interesting commentary in this one. You'll get a good idea of what people in the media said about the young hotshot McEnroe. One of the commentators predicts that Mac will take over both Connors and Borg "in two years". Later he compares Mac's game to a mix of Nastase and Rosewall.

These perception are quite interesting.

Mac plays some brilliant points here and Connors is the typical himself here with his impossibly flat strokes that somehow clear the net. Lovely.

I watch McEnroe play here and I'm concerned about the state of the game today. The widespread belief that a pure power game equates to great tennis, as opposed to soft hands, deft touch and a well-placed lob. Things don't get any better than this match and this era.

 

[BTURNER]

Yea, Cyborg. Ashe was predicting a 'shortened career' for Connors because he threw too much of his body into each stroke."I don't
think he be playing when he is my age" Evidently that was the concensus back then. LOL He retired from the main tour after Mac and Borg just to become the star of the legends tour!

 

[Moose Malloy]

rare find - 1980 Stockholm Open final, Borg-Mac!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrVlJ-oDrEA

 

[kiki]

Connors - McEnroe in the semi of Vegas in 1979. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEQSHgprSTs .. in eight parts.

Aside from the excellence of tennis, there is some very interesting commentary in this one. You'll get a good idea of what people in the media said about the young hotshot McEnroe. One of the commentators predicts that Mac will take over both Connors and Borg "in two years". Later he compares Mac's game to a mix of Nastase and Rosewall.

These perception are quite interesting.

Mac plays some brilliant points here and Connors is the typical himself here with his impossibly flat strokes that somehow clear the net. Lovely.

I watch McEnroe play here and I'm concerned about the state of the game today. The widespread belief that a pure power game equates to great tennis, as opposed to soft hands, deft touch and a well-placed lob. Things don't get any better than this match and this era.

So many thanks for posting it.Mac and Connors best rivalry years were 1980 and 1979.Incredible matches.

 

[muddlehead]

MM thanks for the Mac Borg Stockholm 1980 heads up. Good one. At about 1hr 45min mark, Borg's victory leap and fist pump seem out of character. Don't remember him doing that stuff. Guess playing in Stockholm... For Borg fans, post match presser beginning at 1:53:22 provides about 20 mins interesting viewing.

 

[thor's hammer]

Those are both great matches - thx for posting!

 

[borg number one]

Great videos CyBorg and Moose! Thanks for posting these.

 

[krosero]

rare find - 1980 Stockholm Open final, Borg-Mac!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrVlJ-oDrEA

Borg told the press afterward that it was his best match since Wimbledon (his last tournament victory).

Newspaper article the next day reported that most players considered this new surface (not the fast one of 1978-79) “as slow as clay.” Another quote from the article:

And he failed seven previous times to win this tourney, the oldest indoor Grand Prix event in the world.​

The Miami News called it a “slow vinyl carpet.”

UPI:

The indoor court, once very fast, was resurfaced this year and played no faster than clay, which is not as suitable for McEnroe’s serve-and-volley style.

McEnroe said: “I could not finish the points. To beat him, I must be more patient and play more consistently.”

Toward the end of the first set, Borg played superbly, taking 7 points in a row. McEnroe started the second set well, breaking serve and holding with fine net play. But then the battle fluctuated, with the Swede fighting back.

McEnroe led, 4-3, but Borg broke him with brilliant passes. The Swede then held for 5-4 and, returning serve viciously, ran out the match. In their career meetings, Borg has won six matches and McEnroe four.​

 

[kiki]

would that be an indicator of a never to happen clay court match between both men? 6-3, 6-4 for Borg ( who had the home advantage anyway)

 

[hoodjem]

Connors - McEnroe in the semi of Vegas in 1979. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEQSHgprSTs .. in eight parts.

Aside from the excellence of tennis, there is some very interesting commentary in this one. You'll get a good idea of what people in the media said about the young hotshot McEnroe. One of the commentators predicts that Mac will take over both Connors and Borg "in two years". Later he compares Mac's game to a mix of Nastase and Rosewall.

These perception are quite interesting.

Mac plays some brilliant points here and Connors is the typical himself here with his impossibly flat strokes that somehow clear the net. Lovely.

I watch McEnroe play here and I'm concerned about the state of the game today. The widespread belief that a pure power game equates to great tennis, as opposed to soft hands, deft touch and a well-placed lob. Things don't get any better than this match and this era.

Arthur Ashe and Howard Cosell commentating.

 

[krosero]

would that be an indicator of a never to happen clay court match between both men? 6-3, 6-4 for Borg ( who had the home advantage anyway)

Yes this could have been the closest they ever came to playing on a clay court. Borg himself said in his press conference that the court suited him more than McEnroe because John, with his serve, likes faster surfaces.

(Yet strangely he also says that the court might be slightly faster than the USO).

I saw some long rallies in the upload; I counted one of 34 shots.

And I don't remember any aces, except one on a second serve that aced Borg because he guessed wrong; but no aces from sheer speed.

Borg held in 6 of 9 service games, McEnroe in only 4 of 10.

(In each set McEnroe held twice to start but was broken 3 straight times).

I noticed that a Borg service hold is missing in the upload, but by my count: Borg made his first serve on 6 of 11 break points, McEnroe on only 2 of 11.

I don't know what they did with the surface in later years but McEnroe came back in '84 and '85 and won both times; in his entire career he lost in Stockholm only twice, once to Borg and in 1990 to Goran.

Borg's record at Stockholm is interesting: he won and lost a lot of matches in third-set tiebreaks: http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Bo/B/Bjorn-Borg.aspx?t=pa&y=0&m=s&e=429#

 

[kiki]

Mac did better than Borg at Stockholm.I am not sure that Bjorn ever took the title there, even being homseoil.I think he was very reluctanct to play it due to his poor relationships with the sweden fed and, generally speaking, with the Swede government due to the hight taxes of the socialist sweden ( higher in the 70´s than currently).That´s why he went to live to Monaco, where taxes were much lower ( or inexistent).

Borg had a contract with SAS, the national airline and sosme other sponsors, as a result of which, he was obliged to play DC and..just one event on swede´s soil.He always chose to play Bastad, a summer clay court event than Stockholm, a winter indoors event where the opposition was much tougher.And, at the end of the year, we all know Borg just concentrated on big money exos and special events.

 

[JAY1]

1983 London / Queen's Club
England Grass F Connors, Jimmy
6-3, 6-3
1982 San Francisco
CA, U.S.A. Carpet F McEnroe, John
6-1, 6-3
1982 Wimbledon
England Grass F Connors, Jimmy
3-6, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4
1982 London / Queen's Club
England Grass F Connors, Jimmy
7-5, 6-3
1982 Philadelphia
PA, U.S.A. Carpet F McEnroe, John
6-3, 6-3, 6-1
1981 Masters
NY, U.S.A. Carpet RR McEnroe, John
6-2, 7-5
1981 Wembley
England Carpet F Connors, Jimmy
3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
1980 US Open
NY, U.S.A. Hard S McEnroe, John
6-4, 5-7, 0-6, 6-3, 7-6
1980 Wimbledon
England Grass S McEnroe, John
6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
1980 Dallas WCT
TX, U.S.A. Carpet F Connors, Jimmy
2-6, 7-6, 6-1, 6-2
1980 Memphis
TN, U.S.A. Carpet F McEnroe, John
7-6, 7-6
1980 Philadelphia
PA, U.S.A. Carpet F Connors, Jimmy
6-3, 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
1979 US Open
NY, U.S.A. Hard S McEnroe, John
6-3, 6-3, 7-5
1979 Dallas WCT
TX, U.S.A. Carpet S McEnroe, John
6-1, 6-4, 6-4
1979 Las Vegas
NV, U.S.A. Hard S Connors, Jimmy
7-5, 6-4
1979 Pepsi Grand Slam
Boca Raton, FL, USA Clay S Connors, Jimmy
6-3, 6-4
1978 Masters
NY, U.S.A. Carpet RR McEnroe, John
7-5, 3-0 RET
1978 US Open
NY, U.S.A. Hard S Connors, Jimmy
6-2, 6-2, 7-5

 

[kiki]

1983 London / Queen's Club
England Grass F Connors, Jimmy
6-3, 6-3
1982 San Francisco
CA, U.S.A. Carpet F McEnroe, John
6-1, 6-3
1982 Wimbledon
England Grass F Connors, Jimmy
3-6, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4
1982 London / Queen's Club
England Grass F Connors, Jimmy
7-5, 6-3
1982 Philadelphia
PA, U.S.A. Carpet F McEnroe, John
6-3, 6-3, 6-1
1981 Masters
NY, U.S.A. Carpet RR McEnroe, John
6-2, 7-5
1981 Wembley
England Carpet F Connors, Jimmy
3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
1980 US Open
NY, U.S.A. Hard S McEnroe, John
6-4, 5-7, 0-6, 6-3, 7-6
1980 Wimbledon
England Grass S McEnroe, John
6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
1980 Dallas WCT
TX, U.S.A. Carpet F Connors, Jimmy
2-6, 7-6, 6-1, 6-2
1980 Memphis
TN, U.S.A. Carpet F McEnroe, John
7-6, 7-6
1980 Philadelphia
PA, U.S.A. Carpet F Connors, Jimmy
6-3, 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
1979 US Open
NY, U.S.A. Hard S McEnroe, John
6-3, 6-3, 7-5
1979 Dallas WCT
TX, U.S.A. Carpet S McEnroe, John
6-1, 6-4, 6-4
1979 Las Vegas
NV, U.S.A. Hard S Connors, Jimmy
7-5, 6-4
1979 Pepsi Grand Slam
Boca Raton, FL, USA Clay S Connors, Jimmy
6-3, 6-4
1978 Masters
NY, U.S.A. Carpet RR McEnroe, John
7-5, 3-0 RET
1978 US Open
NY, U.S.A. Hard S Connors, Jimmy
6-2, 6-2, 7-5

...and a few glorious exos at the Cote d´Azur, Suntory/Tokyo, Frankfurt and, of course, Chicago.In 1981,J mac beat Connors in straight sets ( 6-1, 6-2, 6-4) but in 1982 Connors won that torrid final ( 6-7, 7-5, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4) which has become almost a myth

 

[JAY1]

...and a few glorious exos at the Cote d´Azur, Suntory/Tokyo, Frankfurt and, of course, Chicago.In 1981,J mac beat Connors in straight sets ( 6-1, 6-2, 6-4) but in 1982 Connors won that torrid final ( 6-7, 7-5, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4) which has become almost a myth

Who won the exos Kiki?

 

[kiki]

Who won the exos Kiki?

In the Cote D´Azur, the french riviera, they played along Vilas and Nastase in the summer of 79 at three diferent ( but very close) venues ( Frejus,Aix,Cap D´Agde), I think it was always a semis and final contest,since they were 4 players but I don´t have the results.

At Tokyo, I just don´t remember the results, should check out.They played the 1980 and 1984 tournaments.That, I think, I am right.

At 79 Frankfurt, Borg beat Connors in a good four setter at the finals.Borg defeated Vitas Gerulaitis in one of the semis and Connors defetaed Mc Enroe at the other semi ( don´t have the score right now).

As I said, at Chicago 8 the week before the Masters started), it´s one win each 8 they only met at the finals)

 

[krosero]

Mac did better than Borg at Stockholm.I am not sure that Bjorn ever took the title there, even being homseoil.I think he was very reluctanct to play it due to his poor relationships with the sweden fed and, generally speaking, with the Swede government due to the hight taxes of the socialist sweden ( higher in the 70´s than currently).That´s why he went to live to Monaco, where taxes were much lower ( or inexistent).

Borg had a contract with SAS, the national airline and sosme other sponsors, as a result of which, he was obliged to play DC and..just one event on swede´s soil.He always chose to play Bastad, a summer clay court event than Stockholm, a winter indoors event where the opposition was much tougher.And, at the end of the year, we all know Borg just concentrated on big money exos and special events.

Are we talking about the same topic Kiki? Please have a look at the link I provided.

And here's a link to Borg's Bastad activity: http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Bo/B/Bjorn-Borg.aspx?t=pa&y=0&m=s&e=316#

 

[kiki]

Borg had a very tough time during the second half of the 70´s with his country tax authorities and, as a result, with any public organism, such as the swedish tennis Federation.

Many people criticised Borg for picking the money and go away from his country.I remember how it became a topic among tennis community...

 

[krosero]

Borg had a very tough time during the second half of the 70´s with his country tax authorities and, as a result, with any public organism, such as the swedish tennis Federation.

Many people criticised Borg for picking the money and go away from his country.I remember how it became a topic among tennis community...

Of course that's true. I just found it strange that you couldn't recall whether Borg won Stockholm (you haven't even watched the YT clip? or read the link I provided?), and that you said Borg "always chose" to play in Bastad rather than in Stockholm, when in fact he played Stockholm more often.

Check the links; all this stuff is documented and very easy to find. There is no need to go exclusively on one's memories.

 

[krosero]

Who won the exos Kiki?

Carlo made a great list of Connors' events: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=273759

 

[borg number one]

would that be an indicator of a never to happen clay court match between both men? 6-3, 6-4 for Borg ( who had the home advantage anyway)

It does seem fairly slow, especially for that era. It is an indicator of how their matches would have gone on the slower hard courts of today. On red clay, you have some different dynamics in terms of movement through the clay, but you do see some similar point constructions. If you had the slower hard courts back then, that would be to Borg's liking. The current AO surface would great for Borg's game. He'd relish the heat as well. Borg performed great on fast indoor carpet as well, winning the Masters Cup YEC twice in 80-81 (5-0 against McEnroe, Connors, and Lendl).

 

[kiki]

And Borg was a great hard court player.he didn´t win the Open, even if he should have won it in 1980...but won big titles on hard such as 1979 Vegas ( Mayer and Connors ) and 1979 Toronto (Lendl and Mc Enroe).

In 1980 he also repeated at the Nevada tourney, trashing both Gerulaitis and Solomon ( who had previously beaten Mc Enroe)

he was no slouch on fast hard courts.

Did he ever win the other big hard court tournament, Palm Springs?