Wimbledon: 1980–1982 Finals vs. 2007–2009 Finals

[nowhereman]

Which trilogy is better? The 2007–2009 finals were all five-setters, while the 1980–1982 finals had two five-setters and a tight four-setter. The first two finals of both trilogies involved the same participants of each respective era (Federer and Nadal, McEnroe and Borg). The first finals ended with the superior Wimbledon player and defending champion winning his fifth consecutive title (Federer in 2007 and Borg in 1980). The second finals ended with the previous year's runner-up getting revenge and dethroning the five-time defending champion (McEnroe in 1981 and Nadal in 2008). Both players who dethroned the five-time champs were also lefties. The third finals included one of the aforementioned participants of the previous finals (Mac in 1982 and Federer in 2009), and a third finalist who was the third best grass court player/third best player at Wimbledon at the time (Connors and Roddick). One of the three finals contained a long, epic tiebreak in which championship point(s) were saved (1980 and 2008), and one match from each trilogy is considered to be among the greatest matches of all time (also 1980 and 2008, although the 2007 final was higher quality IMO). Some interesting parallels here, and some useless info/trivia for y'all. Thoughts?

1980 Final: B. Borg d. J. McEnroe 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7(16), 8–6
1981 Final: J. McEnroe d. B. Borg 4–6, 7–6(1), 7–6(4), 6–4
1982 Final: J. Connors d. J McEnroe 3–6, 6–3, 6–7(2), 7–6(5), 6–4

2007 Final: R. Federer d. R. Nadal 7–6(7), 4–6, 7–6(3), 2–6, 6–2
2008 Final: R. Nadal d. R. Federer 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5), 6–7(8), 9–7
2009 Final: R. Federer d. A. Roddick 5–7, 7–6(6), 7–6(5), 3–6, 16–14

 

[metsman]

07-09 imo

 

[Chadillac]

No contest, it was grass court tennis in the 80's. We got a french open, aus open and us open rematch with fed/nadal. The matches were played the same way.

 

[nadalfan2013]

2008 is better than all the rest combined.

 

[NEW_BORN]

2008 is better than all the rest combined.

This post of mine is better than all your posts combined, and then some.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Which trilogy is better? The 2007–2009 finals were all five-setters, while the 1980–1982 finals had two five-setters and a tight four-setter. The first two finals of both trilogies involved the same participants of each respective era (Federer and Nadal, McEnroe and Borg). The first finals ended with the superior Wimbledon player and defending champion winning his fifth consecutive title (Federer in 2007 and Borg in 1980). The second finals ended with the previous year's runner-up getting revenge and dethroning the five-time defending champion (McEnroe in 1981 and Nadal in 2008). Both players who dethroned the five-time champs were also lefties. The third finals included one of the aforementioned participants of the previous finals (Mac in 1982 and Federer in 2009), and a third finalist who was the third best grass court player/third best player at Wimbledon at the time (Connors and Roddick). One of the three finals contained a long, epic tiebreak in which championship point(s) were saved (1980 and 2008), and one match from each trilogy is considered to be among the greatest matches of all time (also 1980 and 2008, although the 2007 final was higher quality IMO). Some interesting parallels here, and some useless info/trivia for y'all. Thoughts?

1980 Final: B. Borg d. J. McEnroe 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7(16), 8–6
1981 Final: J. McEnroe d. B. Borg 4–6, 7–6(1), 7–6(4), 6–4
1982 Final: J. Connors d. J McEnroe 3–6, 6–3, 6–7(2), 7–6(5), 6–4

2007 Final: R. Federer d. R. Nadal 7–6(7), 4–6, 7–6(3), 2–6, 6–2
2008 Final: R. Nadal d. R. Federer 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5), 6–7(8), 9–7
2009 Final: R. Federer d. A. Roddick 5–7, 7–6(6), 7–6(5), 3–6, 16–14

1980 Final: B. Borg d. J. McEnroe 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7(16), 8–6
1981 Final: J. McEnroe d. B. Borg 4–6, 7–6(1), 7–6(4), 6–4
1982 Final: J. Connors d. J McEnroe 3–6, 6–3, 6–7(2), 7–6(5), 6–4

Without question. Historic matches.

 

[Druss]

2008 is better than all the rest combined.

2007 was better quality!

2007-09 best trilogy.

 

[mightyrick]

Recency bias alert!

 

[Bender]

If Roddick won 2009, I'd have voted 2007-2009.

But since he didn't, I voted equal.

 

[mavsman149]

Absolutely recency bias, but anything from the wood racket era is mostly unwatchable for me.

 

[Bukmeikara]

If Roddick didn't lost to Lu 2010 we could have saw a nice final between Nadal-Roddick!

 

[Prabhanjan]

The one involving Pete Sampras, wait, there is none!

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

the nadal-free trilogy.

 

[mike danny]

If Roddick didn't lost to Lu 2010 we could have saw a nice final between Nadal-Roddick!

Nah, Roddick was past it in 2010 already. His last good run of form was at IW-Miami. After that, he declined completely, despite reaching a SF at Cincy afterwards.

It's a miracle he even reached the WTF that year.

 

[Prabhanjan]

1980 Final: B. Borg d. J. McEnroe 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7(16), 8–6
1981 Final: J. McEnroe d. B. Borg 4–6, 7–6(1), 7–6(4), 6–4
1982 Final: J. Connors d. J McEnroe 3–6, 6–3, 6–7(2), 7–6(5), 6–4

2007 Final: R. Federer d. R. Nadal 7–6(7), 4–6, 7–6(3), 2–6, 6–2
2008 Final: R. Nadal d. R. Federer 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5), 6–7(8), 9–7
2009 Final: R. Federer d. A. Roddick 5–7, 7–6(6), 7–6(5), 3–6, 16–14

The question is do we really have to choose one over another?

I remember during the 2008 finals people were saying that will Nadal do a McEnroe, and I was like wait. Didn't Fed already see the back of Nadal twice already during 2006/07? 1980-82 is awesome in terms of the setups. 2007-09 is also good, but 2006-08 remains better for me.

 

[xFedal]

the nadal-free trilogy.

Nadal has always been standing higher than Federer and Djokovic 9-2/9-4....

 

[Tennisanity]

Fed is the GOAT no doubt, but the greater trilogy is from the 80s.

 

[BorgCash]

Of course 1980-82, brings so many good memories. 1980 Final is the best ever.