While unseeded, the 17 year old Boris Becker was having a great run on grass that 1985 summer having won Queens (beating Cash and Kriek) and working his way through the Wimbledon draw. Had some tough battles along the way with Nystrom in Round 3 and Mayotte in Round 4, both 5 setters where Becker was on the brink of losing. Becker came into the final against 8th seed Kevin Curren who had taken out Edberg, McEnroe and Connors all in straight sets on the strength of hard serve & volley game. I was a little young at the time, but I would have thought Curren to be favorite going into that final. But Boris came out and broke the nervous Curren quickly and took set 1. After losing set 2 in tiebreak and down a break in the 3rd, Boris rallies for a break then takes tiebreak to win set. Then he breaks early in the 4th set and holds throughout, becoming the youngest and first unseeded champion at Wimbledon.
John McEnroe came into 1985 after his strongest year and maybe the best year in the history of tennis in 1984 with 84-3 record. Again, I was too young at the time but I would have to assume he was the favorite going into 1985 Wimbledon as the #1 ranked player and winner of three of the last four Wimbledons. After getting to the QFs, he is surprisingly bounced easily by Curren at 62 62 64. It appeared that the power game had finally caught up to Mac in this match and he acknowledged as much afterwards. But he would go on to have a good summer winning 2 tournaments in straights over Lendl before losing in US Open final to Lendl. Finishes the 1985 season with a 71-9 record and #2 ranking. McEnroe was never the same after his 6 month sabbatical to start 1986.
Question: If Mac somehow gets by Curren and gets to final, who would win Wimbledon in 1985?
Becker had a great tournament, but would he have been ready to beat established #1 and defending champion? Was he just fortunate enough to avoid some of the bigger name players in that draw? (i.e. Mac, Connors, Lendl). While Mac was not the same as in 1984, he still had a very good year and something left in tank that summer. Would he have held is nerves a little better than Curren did that final Sunday?
To answer my own question, I would still lean to Becker over McEnroe that day. Perhaps an historic 5 setter similar to their 1987 Davis Cup classic. I think he had too much going his way that fortnight, and his heart, toughness and ability to play well in the biggest moments would have persevered.
Interested in your thoughts? And technical assessment as well.
John McEnroe came into 1985 after his strongest year and maybe the best year in the history of tennis in 1984 with 84-3 record. Again, I was too young at the time but I would have to assume he was the favorite going into 1985 Wimbledon as the #1 ranked player and winner of three of the last four Wimbledons. After getting to the QFs, he is surprisingly bounced easily by Curren at 62 62 64. It appeared that the power game had finally caught up to Mac in this match and he acknowledged as much afterwards. But he would go on to have a good summer winning 2 tournaments in straights over Lendl before losing in US Open final to Lendl. Finishes the 1985 season with a 71-9 record and #2 ranking. McEnroe was never the same after his 6 month sabbatical to start 1986.
Question: If Mac somehow gets by Curren and gets to final, who would win Wimbledon in 1985?
Becker had a great tournament, but would he have been ready to beat established #1 and defending champion? Was he just fortunate enough to avoid some of the bigger name players in that draw? (i.e. Mac, Connors, Lendl). While Mac was not the same as in 1984, he still had a very good year and something left in tank that summer. Would he have held is nerves a little better than Curren did that final Sunday?
To answer my own question, I would still lean to Becker over McEnroe that day. Perhaps an historic 5 setter similar to their 1987 Davis Cup classic. I think he had too much going his way that fortnight, and his heart, toughness and ability to play well in the biggest moments would have persevered.
Interested in your thoughts? And technical assessment as well.
