This was actually a superb match. The winner to error ratio may have been the highest of any of their meetings. I felt Evert's grass game kept getting better in her later years, even as her clay and hard court games began to decline. She was strong enough that she could really dominate rallies with her topspin forehand by now. In 1986 she met Hana at the very top of her unbeatable magical powers in the semis, and then this herculean effort here of Chris' that went deep into the third came for naught. It was that damned hook lefty serve into the ad court pulling Evert wide and low on her backhand, that allowed Martina to eventually win the day.
Interestingly at the time, nobody thought it was one of their best matches, largely because it was evident who was going to win from the start (apart from Martina playing a couple of sloppy games in the second set). It was described in the official Wimbledon annual as an "interesting but not a classic affair".
Have to disagree on that one - it definitely wasn't viewed as one of their better matches at the time. While it was much better than their French Open match, the result was never in doubt and it only went to three sets because of some very slack play from Martina. Chris was on the recovery trail after a nasty injury and had played some very poor tennis through 1987. She was also going through her divorce with John Lloyd and both players were aware of that. Chris certainly nowhere near her best, and Martina losing her concentration at times.
Yes, I think Martina's focus was patchy in 87 and she was vulnerable to Chris's steadiness. I was at this match and there was a real sense in the third that Chris could squeeze this out.
Any way you could upload the entire match? Thank you in advance.
This was actually a superb match. The winner to error ratio may have been the highest of any of their meetings. I felt Evert's grass game kept getting better in her later years, even as her clay and hard court games began to decline. She was strong enough that she could really dominate rallies with her topspin forehand by now. In 1986 she met Hana at the very top of her unbeatable magical powers in the semis, and then this herculean effort here of Chris' that went deep into the third came for naught. It was that damned hook lefty serve into the ad court pulling Evert wide and low on her backhand, that allowed Martina to eventually win the day.
Interestingly at the time, nobody thought it was one of their best matches, largely because it was evident who was going to win from the start (apart from Martina playing a couple of sloppy games in the second set). It was described in the official Wimbledon annual as an "interesting but not a classic affair".
Lesbienne raisonnable, martina ?
This was a very high quality match. Their French Open semi-final was a dud as Evert simply seemed disinterested that day in Paris.
Have to disagree on that one - it definitely wasn't viewed as one of their better matches at the time. While it was much better than their French Open match, the result was never in doubt and it only went to three sets because of some very slack play from Martina. Chris was on the recovery trail after a nasty injury and had played some very poor tennis through 1987. She was also going through her divorce with John Lloyd and both players were aware of that. Chris certainly nowhere near her best, and Martina losing her concentration at times.
Yes, I think Martina's focus was patchy in 87 and she was vulnerable to Chris's steadiness. I was at this match and there was a real sense in the third that Chris could squeeze this out.