@ robertedwardn. For anyone to write that McEnroe was not ''a real athlete'' proves conclusively that you don't know what you are talking about! Athleticism is not about having big muscles! it is about having excellent foot speed and superb hand-eye coordination in whatever sport an athlete is participating in. You obviously suffer from the human affliction that George Orwell described so eloquently and that most people, including the news media, suffer from in that you see what you expect to see and not what is actually there in front of your eyes in terms of events and trends in society. McEnroe had an excellent topspin backhand which he used during his prime to open up the court which allowed him to get to the net to hit a winning backhand volley down the line or a winning forehand volley crosscourt, McEnroe also had an excellent underspin backhand from the baseline with which he would take the pace off the ball and a very good underspin backhand approach shot and flat backhand approach shot. His one weakness on his underspin backhand approach shot was that it tended to float rather than skidding low to the court. The weakness in McEnroe's base line forehand drive in his singles matches was that he tended to swing at the ball a split-second too late when attempting a down-the- line forehand which often resulted in the ball landing in the doubles alley. McEnroe's offensive underspin lob and topspin forehand lob were two of the best lobs in tennis history! McEnroe also had a superb backhand drop shot from the baseline and an excellent half-volley on both his forehand and backhand. So your comment that McEnroe had ''no real weapon except the serve'' is certifiably wrong and your comment that McEnroe's volleys only were good when he was serving well is also flat out wrong because there were many instances in matches in which McEnroe was not serving well in terms of his first serve, but would hit an excellent second serve and then rush to the net and hit a winning volley! Your power of observation is exceedingly poor!
On the 8th point of the 3rd set tiebreaker between McEnroe and Lendl in the semifinals of the 1982 US Open tournament, McEnroe had a wide open area down the line to hit his forehand volley and instead of doing that he made the colossally bad decision to hit his forehand volley crosscourt right to where Lendl was positioned at the net near Lendl's backhand sideline and Lendl backhand volleyed a winner down the line to turn the tiebreaker around in his favor and won the match. McEnroe would of had a 6-2 lead in that tiebreaker and could have sent the match into a fourth set if not for that terrible decision to hit his volley crosscourt!
It is absolutely amazing that Lendl never slipped on all the sawdust that fell near the baseline when he constantly wiped his racket handle off with sawdust before the start of each point.
Hahah. A bit of sawdust is not going to make you slip over. You would have to drop a truckload from a carpenter's workshop onto the court to get that effect!
After seeing Lendl all these years as fit and hard working as he was, I could never imagine him letting himself go and Jonny MAC being as fit as he is in his 60’s! I think Ivan’s back into fitness now thank goodness.
Talent is talent, but you can't compare players from different times without putting them in the same conditions. Same type of racket, same type of footwear, same type of training. Many players today that many people call "best of history" wouldn't be as "best in history" in the same conditions as the players we see in the video. It is the same as comparing an F1 car of yesteryear with those of now. It would be ridiculous to do so.
This was the golden age of tennis, before the new equipment made it about sheer power. Is there a more gifted and natural volleyer than McEnroe ? I think not. The way he crushes Lendl's second serve at 2-1 in the tiebreak, off the backhand wing is sheer artistry. It would have been interesting to see how Roger would've played with a wooden racket. Another magician with a tennis racket.
Great drama. I recall the camera incident and huge ovation for McEnroe. The US Open has such atmosphere which is lacking at many tournaments. McEnroe got revenge in the 1984 final after he changed from a wood racket. After Lendl played so well in this match he had a hard slog with Connors and came out second best (and the following year), but ended the Connors/McEnroe era by dispatching both in 1987 (although still a battle with Mac)
That next point was crucial--Mac with his fist in the air, the crowd on their feet cheering in support, and the first serve sails 3 feet over the baseline. A chance to shift the momentum passed.
@ robertedwardn. I should also have written in my previous comment that in 1983-1984 after McEnroe switched to the Dunlop Max 200G Graphite racket in 1983 from his Dunlop Maxply McEnroe wood racket, McEnroe's block return of serve improved to a level where he was frequently able to block Lendl's best flat first serve back to within a foot to a foot and a half of the baseline and then rush to the net behind his service return to put Lendl under immediate pressure and hit a winning volley or overhead. McEnroe had one of the best overheads in the history of tennis.
1980 Lendl was one of the First profound players to use the Graphite Racquet, Reaching the 1981 French open finals! By 1982 the pace of the game has changed significantly, Sadly, It was the end of the era for the Wood Racquets.....
+Doctor Garbonzo Well Said, mate. I have conversed with you before re this era (Borg vs Connors, I think). McEnroe is using wood, Lendl is using some composite racket which has more power.
I'm a hopeless romantic & still believe in fairy tails & miss those days from yesteryears when wood was wood & guys were guys & gal's were gal's,It's Really going to be interesting unfolding the Match fixing probe that has hit Tennis?
Yes, I wonder what proof they have. They almost prosecuted Davydenko but he didn't do anything wrong (a few years ago). So it is hard to get proof unless it is documented proof.
Documented proof as in an email or taped conversation. Match fixing happens in cricket, I believe it could also happen in tennis. Davydenko's game went off during a match and all of a sudden they were accusing him of deliberately tanking or match-fixing. Terrible position for Davydenko to be in.
When people complain about Rafa Nadal taking his time before serving (coincidentally always Federer fans!), just take a look at the first match point (9:30): McEnroe takes a *full minute* before serving and doesn't event get a warning...
@ Craig Stephens. Edberg was not ''more all-around equipped'' than John McEnroe to play against the power hitting baseline players that arrived at or near the top of men's pro tennis after Borg retired from pro tennis. Edberg had a weak forehand in that he tended to ''push'' his forehand rather than hitting it with a firm, full, classic swing. In addition, Edberg, unlike Boris Becker, was not a power server, but relied upon his tremendous kick serve to get in tight to the net for his first volley. Edberg's topspin backhand, although more beautifully fluid than McEnroe's topspin backhand, was not a power backhand like Becker's topspin backhand. McEnroe at his absolute peak in 1984 would often block back Lendl's best first serve to within 1-1 and 1/2 feet of Lendl's baseline and rush into the net behind return-of-serve to win many points against Lendl with a first volley or with an overhead. At his absolute peak in 1984, McEnroe could handle the power of the hard-hitting baseline players like Lendl. It was only as McEnroe significantly declined after 1985 that he lost his great foot speed side-to-side and into the net (most noticeably in his loss against Lendl in the 1988 French Open in which McEnroe lacked the necessary foot speed to get into proper position to topspin his forehand in response to Lendl's hard crosscourt topspin backhand and had to underspin his forehand crosscourt to stay in many points in that match) which caused him to be no longer able to handle the power of the hard-hitting baseline players like Lendl and Becker.
+7Lukibi99Tore7 This isn't a fair match because McEnroe is playing with a wooden racket and Lendl is playing with a composite racket which has more power. So Ivan is using better racket technology. Would you agree?
Etrange que Mc Enroe ne se soit pas rendu compte qu'il aurait dû changer de raquette bien avant (Rolland-Garros 1981). C'était plus flagrant sur terre battue par temps très humide.
I believe Lendl's improvement combined with McEnroe's inconsistency lead to the change at the top of Men's tennis. Lendl got better. McEnroe did not and started to fall away. You have to keep pushing forward. You can't just presume you'll stay at the top. This is like the tale of the hare and the tortoise. John assumed he would continue to dominate. Meanwhile Lendl worked on improving his game, fitness and power!
This was 1982. McEnroe's greatest year in 1984 was yet to come where he blew Lendl away in the US Open final and was basically untouchable. After 1984 was where McEnroe starred to fade where he should have been entering his prime.
@@gregoryphillips3969 McEnroe should have been aware of the Lendl threat. Lendl was beating McEnroe as far back as the 1981 French Open quarter final. McEnroe beat Lendl convincingly at the 1984 US Open and perhaps got overconfident as a result.
Actually 1983 was the big year for the switch to midsize graphite. The Wilson ProStaff was introduced and used by Chris Evert, admittingly giving her an advantage over Martina Navratilova, once she adapted to the increased power. Also Jimmy Connors used the ProStaff a brief time, really not warming to it much. The Dunlop Max 200G came out, becoming McEnroe's weapon of choice, and according to him, increasing his power by 30%. Later on, Steffi Graf would also adopt the 200G, as Stefan Edberg would the ProStaff. Even though the Prince Original Graphite oversize was available since 1980, it was 1983 the year of change between the top pros. Also, Lendl's graphites, first the Kneissl Pro, and then the Adidas GTX, had small heads and were heavy, so it was only the graphite's stiffness that provided more power, not an increase in stringbed size, which was found in the other big 3 (ProStaff, Max 200G, and Prince Graphite). It was an interesting time for graphite technology, and for recreational players to decide which one to buy.
@ robertedwardn. For anyone to write that McEnroe was not ''a real athlete'' proves conclusively that you don't know what you are talking about! Athleticism is not about having big muscles! it is about having excellent foot speed and superb hand-eye coordination in whatever sport an athlete is participating in. You obviously suffer from the human affliction that George Orwell described so eloquently and that most people, including the news media, suffer from in that you see what you expect to see and not what is actually there in front of your eyes in terms of events and trends in society. McEnroe had an excellent topspin backhand which he used during his prime to open up the court which allowed him to get to the net to hit a winning backhand volley down the line or a winning forehand volley crosscourt, McEnroe also had an excellent underspin backhand from the baseline with which he would take the pace off the ball and a very good underspin backhand approach shot and flat backhand approach shot. His one weakness on his underspin backhand approach shot was that it tended to float rather than skidding low to the court. The weakness in McEnroe's base line forehand drive in his singles matches was that he tended to swing at the ball a split-second too late when attempting a down-the- line forehand which often resulted in the ball landing in the doubles alley. McEnroe's offensive underspin lob and topspin forehand lob were two of the best lobs in tennis history! McEnroe also had a superb backhand drop shot from the baseline and an excellent half-volley on both his forehand and backhand. So your comment that McEnroe had ''no real weapon except the serve'' is certifiably wrong and your comment that McEnroe's volleys only were good when he was serving well is also flat out wrong because there were many instances in matches in which McEnroe was not serving well in terms of his first serve, but would hit an excellent second serve and then rush to the net and hit a winning volley! Your power of observation is exceedingly poor!
7Lukibi99Tore7 ok mr know it all. U feel better now?
On the 8th point of the 3rd set tiebreaker between McEnroe and Lendl in the semifinals of the 1982 US Open tournament, McEnroe had a wide open area down the line to hit his forehand volley and instead of doing that he made the colossally bad decision to hit his forehand volley crosscourt right to where Lendl was positioned at the net near Lendl's backhand sideline and Lendl backhand volleyed a winner down the line to turn the tiebreaker around in his favor and won the match. McEnroe would of had a 6-2 lead in that tiebreaker and could have sent the match into a fourth set if not for that terrible decision to hit his volley crosscourt!
It is absolutely amazing that Lendl never slipped on all the sawdust that fell near the baseline when he constantly wiped his racket handle off with sawdust before the start of each point.
Hahah. A bit of sawdust is not going to make you slip over. You would have to drop a truckload from a carpenter's workshop onto the court to get that effect!
After seeing Lendl all these years as fit and hard working as he was, I could never imagine him letting himself go and Jonny MAC being as fit as he is in his 60’s!
I think Ivan’s back into fitness now thank goodness.
Boy isnt THAT the truth
McEnroe is Hamlet on the tennis court. Never looked to be having fun but had fire and tragedy for the opponent.
If every tennis player had to use a wooden racket, then we could determine who the greatest ever player is.
Talent is talent, but you can't compare players from different times without putting them in the same conditions. Same type of racket, same type of footwear, same type of training. Many players today that many people call "best of history" wouldn't be as "best in history" in the same conditions as the players we see in the video. It is the same as comparing an F1 car of yesteryear with those of now. It would be ridiculous to do so.
You're right !
This was the golden age of tennis, before the new equipment made it about sheer power. Is there a more gifted and natural volleyer than McEnroe ? I think not. The way he crushes Lendl's second serve at 2-1 in the tiebreak, off the backhand wing is sheer artistry. It would have been interesting to see how Roger would've played with a wooden racket. Another magician with a tennis racket.
Truth
Should be standard issue at the slams. Baseball cricket hockey have standard issue baseball bats,cricket bats, hockey sticks.
Great drama. I recall the camera incident and huge ovation for McEnroe. The US Open has such atmosphere which is lacking at many tournaments. McEnroe got revenge in the 1984 final after he changed from a wood racket. After Lendl played so well in this match he had a hard slog with Connors and came out second best (and the following year), but ended the Connors/McEnroe era by dispatching both in 1987 (although still a battle with Mac)
That next point was crucial--Mac with his fist in the air, the crowd on their feet cheering in support, and the first serve sails 3 feet over the baseline. A chance to shift the momentum passed.
HUGE mistake from McEnroe at 6:30 to go right back to Lendl with the volley when he easily could have taken it outward for a winner.
He said I set my own on my life. It’s cool when I was highschool
Lendl gave McEnroe some of his most painful defeats. Lendl was definitely a nemesis for John
Especially RG 1984!!!
@ robertedwardn. I should also have written in my previous comment that in 1983-1984 after McEnroe switched to the Dunlop Max 200G Graphite racket in 1983 from his Dunlop Maxply McEnroe wood racket, McEnroe's block return of serve improved to a level where he was frequently able to block Lendl's best flat first serve back to within a foot to a foot and a half of the baseline and then rush to the net behind his service return to put Lendl under immediate pressure and hit a winning volley or overhead. McEnroe had one of the best overheads in the history of tennis.
Mc enroe à longtemps attendu avant
de changer de raquette (il avait été
balayé aux masters).
1980 Lendl was one of the First profound players to use the Graphite Racquet, Reaching the 1981 French open finals! By 1982 the pace of the game has changed significantly, Sadly, It was the end of the era for the Wood Racquets.....
+Doctor Garbonzo Well Said, mate. I have conversed with you before re this era (Borg vs Connors, I think). McEnroe is using wood, Lendl is using some composite racket which has more power.
I'm a hopeless romantic & still believe in fairy tails & miss those days from yesteryears when wood was wood & guys were guys & gal's were gal's,It's Really going to be interesting unfolding the Match fixing probe that has hit Tennis?
Yes, I wonder what proof they have. They almost prosecuted Davydenko but he didn't do anything wrong (a few years ago). So it is hard to get proof unless it is documented proof.
Documented proof as in an email or taped conversation. Match fixing happens in cricket, I believe it could also happen in tennis. Davydenko's game went off during a match and all of a sudden they were accusing him of deliberately tanking or match-fixing. Terrible position for Davydenko to be in.
When McEnroe upgraded his racket, he started winning again and having a great year (1984).
What does hat say?
lendl won points because the pace of his return was better due to the graphite racquet.
When people complain about Rafa Nadal taking his time before serving (coincidentally always Federer fans!), just take a look at the first match point (9:30): McEnroe takes a *full minute* before serving and doesn't event get a warning...
@ Craig Stephens. Edberg was not ''more all-around equipped'' than John McEnroe to play against the power hitting baseline players that arrived at or near the top of men's pro tennis after Borg retired from pro tennis. Edberg had a weak forehand in that he tended to ''push'' his forehand rather than hitting it with a firm, full, classic swing. In addition, Edberg, unlike Boris Becker, was not a power server, but relied upon his tremendous kick serve to get in tight to the net for his first volley. Edberg's topspin backhand, although more beautifully fluid than McEnroe's topspin backhand, was not a power backhand like Becker's topspin backhand. McEnroe at his absolute peak in 1984 would often block back
Lendl's best first serve to within 1-1 and 1/2 feet of Lendl's baseline and rush into the net behind return-of-serve to win many points against Lendl with a first volley or with an overhead. At his absolute peak in 1984, McEnroe could handle the power of the hard-hitting baseline players like Lendl. It was only as McEnroe significantly declined after 1985 that he lost his great foot speed side-to-side and into the net (most noticeably in his loss against Lendl in the 1988 French Open in which McEnroe lacked the necessary foot speed to get into proper position to topspin his forehand in response to Lendl's hard crosscourt topspin backhand and had to underspin his forehand crosscourt to stay in many points in that match) which caused him to be no longer able to handle the power of the hard-hitting baseline players like Lendl and Becker.
+7Lukibi99Tore7 This isn't a fair match because McEnroe is playing with a wooden racket and Lendl is playing with a composite racket which has more power. So Ivan is using better racket technology. Would you agree?
Etrange que Mc Enroe ne se soit pas rendu compte qu'il aurait dû changer de raquette bien avant
(Rolland-Garros 1981).
C'était plus flagrant sur terre battue par temps très humide.
I believe Lendl's improvement combined with McEnroe's inconsistency lead to the change at the top of Men's tennis. Lendl got better. McEnroe did not and started to fall away. You have to keep pushing forward. You can't just presume you'll stay at the top. This is like the tale of the hare and the tortoise. John assumed he would continue to dominate. Meanwhile Lendl worked on improving his game, fitness and power!
well, he did have a great 1984. after that, not so much.
This was 1982. McEnroe's greatest year in 1984 was yet to come where he blew Lendl away in the US Open final and was basically untouchable. After 1984 was where McEnroe starred to fade where he should have been entering his prime.
@@gregoryphillips3969 McEnroe should have been aware of the Lendl threat. Lendl was beating McEnroe as far back as the 1981 French Open quarter final. McEnroe beat Lendl convincingly at the 1984 US Open and perhaps got overconfident as a result.
Congratulations, Ivan !
Lendl was playing with a more enhanced graphite racket, if john had his Dunlop Max 200G then a totally diffrent game.
too bad Mac totally pissed away that tiebreak...
Why didn’t he switch to graphite sooner?
Actually 1983 was the big year for the switch to midsize graphite. The Wilson ProStaff was introduced and used by Chris Evert, admittingly giving her an advantage over Martina Navratilova, once she adapted to the increased power. Also Jimmy Connors used the ProStaff a brief time, really not warming to it much. The Dunlop Max 200G came out, becoming McEnroe's weapon of choice, and according to him, increasing his power by 30%. Later on, Steffi Graf would also adopt the 200G, as Stefan Edberg would the ProStaff.
Even though the Prince Original Graphite oversize was available since 1980, it was 1983 the year of change between the top pros.
Also, Lendl's graphites, first the Kneissl Pro, and then the Adidas GTX, had small heads and were heavy, so it was only the graphite's stiffness that provided more power, not an increase in stringbed size, which was found in the other big 3 (ProStaff, Max 200G, and Prince Graphite).
It was an interesting time for graphite technology, and for recreational players to decide which one to buy.
These players are using different racket technology so it's not a fair match.
You must've been born after this match was played to make such a ridiculous comment.
Alan Chong what! You CANT be serious!!!
The next year, using an old wooden racket, Scanlon beat McEnroe in the 4th round, and McEnroe was using the new graphite racket by then.
@@theoriginalthinker9199 Why is it ridiculous? It's a fact. Are you saying it's not a factor?
@@rtghffdfdg The player using a better racket is going to win, more often than not. This was just an exception.
Lendl is the GOAT
This fellow...now a days not fit to play a single grandslam...poor attitude