Borg vs. Connors at Pepsi (1979)

[rikkou1509]

I thought the level would have been worse. Pleasantly surprised =)

[jesparza562]

this borg might have been top 5 in todays game. this connors maybe top 25. even with older rackets u can tell they definitely do not posses the same power as a rafa or roger. borgs speed is pretty much on par with todays top players. Djokovic would beat both of them in straights no doubt. the game has come a long ways. I will say though that this type of tennis is almost more entertaining. these players are forced to construct points where as todays game is all about hitting thru ur opponent

[tennisfanstefan]

Borg did approach the net at Wimbeldon, especially in the last three years of his victories, but grass is different than other hard courts. On grass, a short volley dies, on hard court it sits up and you can be passed. I believe that is why Borg had problems at the US Open. He also had bad luck, an injured shoulder one year, forced to play Roscoe Tanner, the fastest sever of his era, at night one year. Still my favourite player of all time.

[CRluvsJC]

Borg was the master at passing shots; incredible baseline player. The commentator said on one winnner he was about eight feet behind the baseline! But you need to aproach the net as well. If he approached the net more he would have won the US Open.

However, notice how the speed is not as intense as todays tennis players135 mile an hour servers. Borg is still one of my all time favorite tennis players.

[hhhelvete]

Hes like a CyBORG ;) 

[gardenvarietypenis]

What exactly was the pepsi invitational? No one seems to remember.

[MARKBPHARM]

Borg had an amazing amount of top-spin considering the small headed racquet.

[bengtmartin]

I think I saw a Nadal passing shot at 1:19. I love this sport, no matter the era! Thanks for uploading.

[BunnyWunnyPuke]

@bengtmartin I think you mean Nadal makes Borg passing shots, lol! xD

[millionairejh]

back in the day when people didnt hit so hard, its no wonder that someone as fast as borg would dominate. he would just get everything

[rasputin725]

lifting the ball so high with top spin is a piece of cake nowadays.

[andrekhor]

@rasputin725 and yet, there are gazillions of unforced errors these days compared to the old era.

[tlonsinkie]

Borg did have a Federer like forehand and he was faster then Nadal.

[jyy82993]

@tlonsinkie You mean Federer has a Borg-like forehand and you're right he is faster than Nadal. It's like putting the two together and it equals Borg, haha.

[mrbobevans]

@tlonsinkie I have heard several comments on Youtube that Borg had a Federer like forehad or vice versa. I don't see it. Borg's forehand is more circular in its motion. Federer takes the racket back more with his left hand.

[AXOU2203]

Jimmy's approaches were so short this day, against the finest passing shot maker of all times...

I remember he mentionned the same at those time (Fev march 79)

This year was Borg's climax, last year Jimmy shared the N1 place, next, John will do.

We miss those guys. Badly !

[saumonnn]

shit in this time tennis was better lol

[whattubeaccount]

4:07

[BORGCONNORS]

Borg won his 11 Majors at his 25birthday at roland garros only Nadal can matched that feet if he is going to win the Australian & French Open in 2011. Borg played the Australian only once in December 1973 when he was 17 years old.

[theatlantean1]

#1 Federer (23 Slam Semis in a row, 16 Grand-Slams,10 Consecutive Slam Finals. This is untouched (literally) by any of the greats). #2 Laver (Double Grand-Slam & Most complete game, maybe next to Federer? Close between those two as to who had a more complete arsenal). #3 Sampras (6 years in a row at #1. 14 Grand Slams. And he did this in the deepest era ever in tennis history). #4 BORG (11 Slams by his 26th birthday. Back-to-Back French & Wimbledon, 3 times!). #5 LENDL(See U.S Open results).

[mrbobevans]

Green Clay (tenneco) is the best surface in tennis. Rewards patience and aggression and isn't dirty like red clay. It is also the easiest surface on the body. It's a shame a major tennis tournament is not played on it. Today's green clay is slower than the surface shown in this match.

[k66shogun]

Exactly Federer vs Nadal in modern times.

[BORGCONNORS]

Borg 1979 too strong for everybody, he beat Connors 6 times that year & Connors finished at number 2.

[Scoclamor]

@BORGCONNORS I'm positive he beat Connors the last 10 times they played and 15-8 overall. Laver was 14-7 against Rosewell. This is why I put little stock in head - head matchups. It makes it look one-sided! Great tennis!

[jesolo1976]

borg e connors giocavano alla stessa maniera circa solo che borg correva di più, sbagliava di meno e soprattutto era più equilibrato nei colpi fra diritto e rovescio, connors invece nel diritto aveva molti problemi soprattutto quando doveva lui dare la velocità a una palla lenta.

[Priam231]

Borg was super quick getting to balls! Amazing.

[martynhanson]

Connors was amazing but Borg was better. The energy these guys had , it was balls to the wall and hammer and tongs!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The shots were full of variety and not just getting it over the net in a slug fest like today.

Wow!!!!!!!!

[superstition2]

@martynhanson ...on clay

[leverwork1]

Clay, that is not Clay its Sand

[moxur]

thanbks for those rare imanges . remember me at his best the player who changed this sport. actually every tennis player is a borg s son

[rmrooster01]

Dang Borg had wheels. The only guy I can remember that could run like that is Michael Chang.

[Raindogs111]

Borg was an absolutely incredibly fit athlete. I remember hearing that his resting heart rate was in the low 40s.

[fabiogaucho77]

Is that green clay? Wow, it really plays different from normal, red clay. Just look at videos from Roland Garros 79 and 80.

[mrbobevans]

This court plays really fast here as it is really dry. But at the club in Florida where my dad lives, the green clay courts are the slowest courts humanly possibly. Literally, it is like playing in a swamp. They irrigate the courts from the bottom up. I will venture to say there are no red courts slower than those courts.

[TheTopspin77]

Yes, this is a form of clay called Har-Tru. It plays differently than the red clay used at the French Open. This type of clay is grittier and the ball bounces slightly higher, whereas the clay at the French is more like dirt.

[caladvwlch10]

Borg: GOAT

[woodskier]

one with the borg

[heathey2]

look how much respect the crowd had for these two guys. It was complete silence in the stadium.

[BorlandRIP7]

At 3:49 , lucky Borg but incredible speed to catch the ball and win the point..unbeliviable

[BorlandRIP7]

Incredible Borg passing shots..I was 10 and hat the Donnay Allwood and the Fila shits..what an era..thanx for the images

Emmanuel -Paris (France)

[sarantakis]

Borg, Rosewell and Chang were probably the best retrievers in tennis history.

[siegeperilous]

sarantakis:

And now Nadal...

[mrbobevans]

I think this is the stage when Borg was in Connors' head. I think Jimmy wasn't sure he could beat Bjorn at this time.

I really like Connors' forehand topspin. He should have used it more often, especially to change the pace.

[pablotjob]

pepsi grand slam??? is this the same that master nowadays???

[krosero]

Well no, the Masters already existed then (though it was played in January). The Pepsi Grand Slam only ran for a few years. It has no equivalent today.

[kchuk1965]

@pablotjob the pepsi grand slam was a 4 player invitation big money exhibition. i don't remember who else played in all of them, vilas definitely. Connors and borg won their matches and played in the final in 77, 78 and 79. the 77 and 78 matches were tough 3 setters. in this one Borg took his game up a notch.

[kchuk1965]

@pablotjob pepsi grand slam was a 4 player big money inivitation exhibition

[kchuk1965]

@pablotjob pepsi grand slam was a 4 player big money inivitation exhibition.

[kchuk1965]

@pablotjob The Pepsi grand slam was a 4 player big money inivitation exhibition.

[89Pleasek]

Is it only me or Borg hits his all winners as forehand passing shots?

[TheTopspin77]

That's because Connors loves to hit his two-hand backhand cross-court to Borg's forehand and come in to net which allows Borg to hit the forehand pass on several occassions.

[cam230723]

Awesome upload! Thanks!

[tyoungos]

Jimmy Connors was the best "double backhand" all court player in tennis history... also had the greatest mental toughness in tennis history.

[asbte]

samprasisthebest: no for the first time i have to say borg makes it look easier. maybe not as graceful but borg has an appropriate name: he is like a tennis robot or pong man the damn ball keeps coming back with seeming no hope for him ever making an error. this is the first time i've ever seen him play. tks for posting!

[Samprasisthebest]

How much easier would these matches have been for Connors if he was a serve and volleyer, or at least an all court player that could mix in different spins.

[patzeram]

It's on clay and while Sampras, if he wasn't exhausted was good on clay, you can't serve and volley regularly on clay. Borg was almost unbeatable on clay, especially in 1978 when this match was played.

[koochyman]

What? Connors was a great serve and volleyer...underrated... he wasn´t a Sampras or a McEnroe, but you don´t win Wimbledon twice if you can´t serve and volley. Connors was an all-court player a bit stronger from the baseline, but he was no baseliner.

[TheTopspin77]

I agree with you 100%. Connors was great at the net and was truly an all-court player. He came to the net a great deal on the right opportunities.

[siegeperilous]

Koochyman:

About Connors being an all-court player who emphasized aggressive baseline play -- I agree with you.

About being able to win Wimbledon without being able to serve and volley, I offer this bit of evidence: Bjorn Borg. Five Wimbledons. In a row. :-)

[mrbobevans]

I always thought Borg and Connors were well suited to play each other.

[jeffnsee]

no ones ever gonna have a backhand like borg

[ampiciline]

of course , he is playing against six times french open champ .

[ampiciline]

How many times conners got passed??? More than 10 times .you know why ??? All his approach shots were cross court . Great Arthur Ash once said " Never make cross court approach shot " hossein from Iran

[denisdenjean43]

very fine images and playing thanks

[Priam231]

I see some similarities between Rafa and Borg - style of play, movement, etc.

[mrbobevans]

Borg has a much more fluid and natural game than Rafa. Also, Borg's serve is way better than Rafa.

[stell29]

Borg's movement and court coverage is ridiculous. He glides instead of runs. I've never seen a guy move side to side across the court so quickly and effortlessly

[Restockingtues]

Federer? ;)

[Samprasisthebest]

Federer makes it look even easier than Borg did.

[snoble2k]

Yeah because Federers opponents are awful.

[stell29]

The great rivalry of the 70's

[AXOU2203]

Borg ran like hell and is lucky as deserved to be according to his determination. Now, not the best of Jimmy, according to what we saw in the USOpen final, six months ago. I've this match and 'll post it soon.

[felinecopy]

Now I understand why Borg said Federer needs to be more patient againt Nadal. Borg's groundies epitomize perfect patience for a precision pass. Pardon my alliteration...

[robelans1]

Yes, Borg is great. But look at his strange and fluid backhand, it is not a pure two-handed backhand. It is some kind of mutation of one-handed and two-handed. He starts with two hands, but the follow through is with one hand.

[mrbobevans]

@robelans1 Yeah, I agree about Borg's backhand. Today he doesn't release his his left - holds it all the way thru the stroke.

[bandlea]

Bjorn Borg is an absolute joy to watch,this footage is superb,the Bruce Lee of Tennis,Federer and Nadal and all these new guys are not as exciting and athletic as Borg was.

[cedre93]

@bandlea

exactly!!!!!! remarque très judicieuse

[thadxxx]

great get by Borg at 4:00..Two legends.. they gave it their all and left everything out there. Thanks for posting.

[12345677814]

wow borg makes like no errors he is so CONSISTENT!!!!!!!!

[notthelastword]

What were the earlier results? This was a 4 man tournament I think.

[CesarMill498]

the best tennis video i've seen so far......Borg was awesome here

[BORGCONNORS]

At this stage Borg was only 22 (23 in june)and he was already all over Connors 26(27 in september).From 1979 to 1981 Borg always beat Connors with the lost of few games; that too bad he retired so early at the end of 1981 at 25.

[Harnolb]

Great tennis!

Thank you for posting.

[tenniscollector]

hey howabout's uploading the 1977 Borg-Connors Pepsi final highlights?! Make it quick!

[tenniscollector]

I might add I tried to but thus far have not got a reply. Don't expect to either.

[tenniscollector]

Hey that's bloody great stuff dude! Greetings from Australia. I know the yanks have a tennis channel.

Anyone got footage of the Borg-Connors 1977 final that was also aired? Could I suggest a number of Yanks shoot off an e-mail to the tennis channel in order to see if TTC can screen complete re-runs of the 1982 and 1983 Dallas (WCT) McEnroe vs Lendl finals? PA-LEE-EE-ZE!

[preciousjey]

i saw this on tennis channel too last giving day of thanks ha ha

[wilandl88]

MERCI !!! THANKS !!!

Le "mariage" des jeux entre Borg et Connors était fantastique...

[patzeram]

The amazing thing about this match is that I don't think Connors could play any better and he still only won five games.

[notthelastword]

But it was on clay and Borg loved clay Connors didnt

[patzeram]

True but Borg did that to Connors on many different surfaces. But you are right, clay was Borg's surface.  However I wouldn't say that Connors didn't love clay. Connors could win on any surface and he won the U.S. Open in 1976 over Borg on that same Har Tru surface.

[ZebZachary]

255 views????

this is one of the best tennis vidz that I have seen on youtube.

c'mon people!!!

[ZebZachary]

ya, thanx krosero for posting this. I don't get the tennis channel, so I never get to see great classic tennis like this.

[Gman6755]

Great video!! All televised tennis should be shown from that camera angle!!! It would make it so much better to watch! You feel like you are part of the action which makes TV tennis fascinating!

[xedvux]

Borg is one of the best passing shot players ever!

[ZebZachary]

the topspin he was putting on the ball back then...the placement...

this was like watching gladiatorial combat!

[chapaev36]

Thanks, Krosero.