Björn Borg vs Roscoe Tanner Wimby SF 1976

[martynhanson]

Masters is the reason why Aust Open was not played by most of biggest names

Problem today is Slams are be all and end all for top men. However, it wasn't always like this.

Questions

Why did Borg only play Aust Open once, never at his peak?

Why was Borg unable to play the French Open in 77?

[lujoanna]

@martynhanson

I believe back in the 70s (and before that) the Australian Open was actually the final slam of the year, played in December. Numerous defects include its rotational nature (held in rotation by Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, and another place,) sometimes poor grass, bad timing (co-inciding with Christmas,) remote location, and a relatively small purse. Players usually return home for the Christmas holiday, so most didn't show up at the Australian Open.

[lujoanna]

@martynhanson Usually the only players who would show up at the Australian open were Australians.

[spamthetube000]

old school tennis. you gotta love it.

[skyjuke2006]

i saw this match when I was young and this was an incredible battle with so much tension! For ever W BORG!

11 grand slams without playing australian open!

[greatmya]

@skyjuke2006

he play Austailian Open I beleive twice

[skyjuke2006]

@greatmya no only one time in 1974 at the beginning of his career, after never

[casheasy]

Thanks for this. Loved the 70s Wimbledon clips

[sledge999]

The longest, hottest summer. 1976. Our lawn died!

[JKwingsfan]

Tanner can't hit a volley to save his life...

[teflonmagnet]

roscoe was his generation's leconte.

[BigSleepyOx]

Nice video.

Borg is my 2nd favorite player of all time (behind Venus), but I do like watching Roscoe's big serve. Very cool to see that big serve struck as the toss is still on its way *up*. :)

[blaharns]

Are you reffering to Venus "fatass" Williams?

[swifts1968]

Merci : quelle nostalgieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

[palpatine274]

Great match! More Borg videos please!

[Borgforever]

Fully agree on "adjusted" majors argument. Masters at The Garden were considered the unofficial GS-number four at the end of 70's/start of 80's -- and WCT-finals in Dallas held that "unoffical" honor in the mid 70's...

[Borgforever]

Yeah! Gotta love Roscoe's atom-bomb first-serve at 0:51 -- compare to Borg's rifle-shot at 1:20...

[chapaev36]

Good to see Roscoe's heavy serve as well. Every bit as good a bomb as Roddick's, maybe better. Another big server around this time was Colin Dibley (whom Borg beat in R3) and I suppose Victor Amaya (who Borg would beat in R1 in 1978).

[chapaev36]

While Borg's majors tally is 11, I think it is reasonable to posit that he won 14 'adjusted' majors. What I mean by this is that due to the fact that the Australian was a relatively minor event in these years that was routinely skipped in these years it makes sense to credit Borg for winning other events in his career that could be termed as 'fourth most important'. I see Dallas WCT in 1976 and the Masters in 1979 and 1980 as perfectly valid for such an adjustment.

[krosero]

I think 14 "adjusted" majors is reasonable, though in that way McEnroe has 15 majors, with 5 Dallas WCT's and 3 Masters added to his 7 Slams.