Borg v MacEnroe 1981 US Open
KeskusteluTennis, Anyone?
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1littlegeek
Is on tv right now. God, how I miss a good volley. And I forgot Borg's weird backhand, how he used to take his left hand off the racquet in the middle and follow through only with his right hand.
It was infinitely more difficult to hit a solid shot with those little racquets, but these guys managed it. And you had to rely on spin and placement much more since there was much less power. So much more interesting!
And the tiny little shorts. I think I miss those most of all....
It was infinitely more difficult to hit a solid shot with those little racquets, but these guys managed it. And you had to rely on spin and placement much more since there was much less power. So much more interesting!
And the tiny little shorts. I think I miss those most of all....
2karenmarie
The tiny little shorts were sexy, weren't they? My daughter goes "blech" when I say that.
We were watching the 1979 Tracy Austin - Chris Evert Lloyd US Open final for a while on Saturday.
The average rally was 25 shots. They just lobbed them back and forth and stayed on the baseline as much as they could. Their first serves wouldn't even do well as seconds serves now.
No advertising on their outfits, either.
Strange to watch.
We were watching the 1979 Tracy Austin - Chris Evert Lloyd US Open final for a while on Saturday.
The average rally was 25 shots. They just lobbed them back and forth and stayed on the baseline as much as they could. Their first serves wouldn't even do well as seconds serves now.
No advertising on their outfits, either.
Strange to watch.
3stellarexplorer
>1 littlegeek:
I agree that tennis was more interesting strategically and for the spectator in the day before power ruled. Though it is striking now to see the fantastic athleticism competitors must muster to succeed now.
I agree that tennis was more interesting strategically and for the spectator in the day before power ruled. Though it is striking now to see the fantastic athleticism competitors must muster to succeed now.
4Jargoneer
>3 stellarexplorer: - interestingly a number of experts still claim Borg was the best athlete to play tennis.
It's not just the shorts that are tiny, those racquets look tiny as well, more like table tennis bats. It would be interesting to see modern players have to use equipment with such a small sweet spot - it would completely change the game: gone would be standing at the back of the court and just bashing it.
McEnroe claims that he hits the ball harder now than he did then and with less effort - the ball literally bouncing off the strings but it means that the control is virtually gone, especially at the net.
One of the last players to use a wooden racquet on the regular tour was Mecir, a Czech player - very very stylish - won the Olympics, reached a couple of GS finals but got blasted off by Lendl. That sums up the way tennis has gone - Lendl is the true instigator of the modern game.
It's not just the shorts that are tiny, those racquets look tiny as well, more like table tennis bats. It would be interesting to see modern players have to use equipment with such a small sweet spot - it would completely change the game: gone would be standing at the back of the court and just bashing it.
McEnroe claims that he hits the ball harder now than he did then and with less effort - the ball literally bouncing off the strings but it means that the control is virtually gone, especially at the net.
One of the last players to use a wooden racquet on the regular tour was Mecir, a Czech player - very very stylish - won the Olympics, reached a couple of GS finals but got blasted off by Lendl. That sums up the way tennis has gone - Lendl is the true instigator of the modern game.
5stellarexplorer
>4 Jargoneer:
I agree with you, jargoneer. Lendl was the first guy on the tour who took his fitness and preparation to a whole new level. Running, practicing, preparation: the other players had no choice but to follow suit if they wanted to keep up.
It was interesting to hear Agassi tell the story differently. Instead of wistful sentimentality for the lost game of finesse (of which admittedly, for all his remarkable gifts, he was not the most accomplished practitioner), he says the modern game admits the truth: tennis is a game of supreme athleticism, essentially (once, one assumes, the strokes themselves have been mastered) less about running, but instead about how quickly you can accelerate, decelerate, change directions. It is a brutal, physical contest. Blood left on the court.
I don't doubt MacEnroe. I played with those small-faced wood racquets. I was fortunate if i could keep them from warping, even with a press. No power, but nice placement!
I agree with you, jargoneer. Lendl was the first guy on the tour who took his fitness and preparation to a whole new level. Running, practicing, preparation: the other players had no choice but to follow suit if they wanted to keep up.
It was interesting to hear Agassi tell the story differently. Instead of wistful sentimentality for the lost game of finesse (of which admittedly, for all his remarkable gifts, he was not the most accomplished practitioner), he says the modern game admits the truth: tennis is a game of supreme athleticism, essentially (once, one assumes, the strokes themselves have been mastered) less about running, but instead about how quickly you can accelerate, decelerate, change directions. It is a brutal, physical contest. Blood left on the court.
I don't doubt MacEnroe. I played with those small-faced wood racquets. I was fortunate if i could keep them from warping, even with a press. No power, but nice placement!
6littlegeek
I still think it's more fun to watch finesse, but then again I am a pitching slut. (Home runs are boring.) Interesting that Agassi also invoked Greg Maddux, or was that MacEnroe. (MacEnroe would make more sense). No right, it was Agassi, explaining his "kick slice" serve.
The two Macs in the booth was rather fun, no?
The two Macs in the booth was rather fun, no?
7stellarexplorer
yes yes!, no? ;-D
I like finesse too; loved Hingis' ability to use it to slay giants--
I like finesse too; loved Hingis' ability to use it to slay giants--
8karenmarie
I liked listening to PatMac and JohnnyMac last night. There's just nothing like a conversation between two people who know and love each other.
