Connors US Open 1974 v Rosewall 1/2

[theriokid]

From the start Connors has more energy than Rosewall. More bounce in his step. 39 or 19, you've gotta be real good to make it to a US open final. Unfortunately, "Muscles" just wasn't there.

[atele6]

He was deeply frustrated and embarrassed by Connors on that day. No rest before the match, 39 years old, an opponent who hit heavy and flat, like he did (Rosewall). No way to win, unless to other guy came in on a real bad day. one of those nightmare matches one never forgets. Too bad there never was a second chance for Kenny to get even. Any way age was all to strong a factor to keep on trying.

[manco82]

My god this is so boring!

[atele6]

Ken tryed to volley to JC`s backhand to no avail.He only made one winning volley to the JC backhand seen in thhis clip, the rest were all errors. Very disappointing to Rosewall to see his signature shot, the backhand, fall apart with unforced errors. He never got into the match at all, JC would not let him.

[Ariamaluum]

@atele6. He didn't have a wide serve to that backhand as well.

[atele6]

Age before all else was a big factor here, and the lack of a day`s rest for Kenny also i agree. kenny would have had to be more rested and R.W.A. to make up in consistency and accuracy , not to mention footwork, for his weak serve to Connors punishings returns. I think he went into that final knowing he`d be beaten badly, thus, he has no reason to exert pass his limits and injure himself. Would have liked to see them both play with a rest day in Kenny`s favor, and age beeing equal.

[altyair]

This is the real tennis.

[highburyhills]

Poor Rosewall, totally outclassed. Yes, his age (39) didn't help. But Connors was of the agressive new breed that started in the 70s. Two-handed backhand, big serve. A new era. Night night Ken.

[lobextomy]

Jimmy Connors? Big serve? Just shows you know nothing

[pablotjob]

ken rosewall was 39 in 1974, and jimmy was only 22; that year (1974) connors beat rosewall at wimbledon final; rosewall was of the greatest ever: he won his first autralin open when he was 18 (1953) and he still reached slam final being very older....he retired in 1979. GENIOUS!

[tenniscollector]

this is great stuff to watch!!! Pity the uploader couldn't upload the entire match! Great to see Connors in '74 who actually had a big serve then.

What went wrong?!

Anyway Jimmy absolutely dominated tennis in '74 and lost 5-6 matches.

Also nice to see U.S. Open in Forest Hills and vintage grass-court tennis. Hey howcome the U.S. Open changed surfaces. Anyone know?

[blaharns]

1975-77 it was played on clay in Forest Hills because the grass courts were getting uneven. In 1978 it moved to Flushing Meadow (larger audience capacity).

[mephatboi]

i know what hap?? that serve was awesome (and no grunt)! maybe it was a one off?

my guesses r that espn classics never show entire matches anyways & they finally changed surfaces to be diff from wimbledon

[stealthpakfa]

nadal would slaughter these mugs!

[subban]

Rosewall's toss would'nt cut these days. Rarely do you see pros tipping of slice serves by throwing it to the right and low. Pros just toss it one place and hit all serves. Funny how you could survive on the pro tour just slicing all your serves in.

[chapaev36]

Graphites favour the returner more than ever. With woodies the serve was not as predominant - it was important, but you couldn't make a living on serve alone as you can now (Karlovic). Rosewall did a lot of things better than pros do todays - his half volleys are jaw-droppingly great, his footwork exceptional, his lobs superb and the angles he created out there is a sight to behold considering how much harder that was to do with wooden racquets.

[Cervicconstruction]

Rosewall was one of the greatest players of all time,Rose wall won the US open as a Jr Vet.This match was when rosewall was 39.Latter that year some where in the far east at an Indoor event Rosewall still lost but the scores were 7-5 7-5 not bad for a guy pushing 40.How would Sampras at 40 do against Rafa or Federer.Just saying that if you mean to say that Ken Rosewall couldn't compete in his prime whith anyone you are sadly mistaken.

[MauryDann73]

Always thought the Nat'l Tennis Center at Flushing Meadow was a bit sterile compared to Forest Hills...thx for posting.

[blaharns]

Rosewall really had a bad service action. Tossed the ball up low and far to the right (just like the commentators say).

[chapaev36]

I think Rosewall was an underrated server on his best day. It's important to keep in mind that Ken played with no days rest here and at 39 years of age. His game was affected. Now if you can get your hands on Rosewall's four-set triumph over big server Newcombe in the semi watch that. That was Rosewall at his finest, just simply outlasting a power player with a game precision and angles.

[Ariamaluum]

One of the problems was the Ken is a natural lefty that turned righty. It was this conversion that created that "legendary slice" but created weak serves and no top-spins on his shots. Jimmy likes people who hit flat and hard because he can just sit back and nail it. Spins/wobblers gave Connors more problems. You saw what Jimmy did to Ivan Lendl who I think had a better slice backhand than Rosewall not to mention that lethal forehand but no spins on his shots until a year later.

[pydpydper]

Yes. Most of the people writing here know little of anything. How well will Federer hit the ball at 39: not at all being long retired. Sampras beat Federer long retired in exhibition. This shows a lot.

[Ariamaluum]

I say this Connors played well at 39 but that weak of his serve cost him the title in 1989 and 1990.

[NilsRandau]

Actually, it doesn't...still impressive to compete at 39 though.

[Ariamaluum]

You can see how the return game of Connors can put pressure on a weak server like Rosewall or even a good server like Tanner. In this match, his serve was awesome as well.

[ZebZachary]

classic tennis.

love it.