My father told me about this match...He said, "I remember getting impatient with McEnroe because he won the first two sets without any trouble...but every time he got close, Lendl came storiming back." I even remember my Dad wearing the very same shirt Lendl had on in this video.
heartbreaking loss for Mac and the real beginning of Lendl's era... Lendl proved to everyone that he belongs to the very elite but still Mac knew he blew it totally and lost already won match, he had everything under control and then in the 3rd set he somehow turned the French crowd aganst him, got distracted, started swearing and got outplayed from the baseline... his sublime s&v required maximum concentration, once he lost his focus he was vulnerable to best clay-court suited Lendl's powerplay
Lendl during active years would have fared well against Rafa even with crappy rackets. Last time I checked, even 30+ ages with a dated racket on his hand, he was handling Courier and Agassi pretty well. Given wooden racket, old Lendl would destroy anyone today.
Rafa is a clay court specialist. Sure he won Wimby but that today's WImby is so slow compared to Lendl's days. Lendl was very versatile - he was good everywhere.
One of the greatest matches I have ever watched:Mac had a 2:0 set lead and 2:0 in the third but Ivan came back....
I was always a Lendl Fan which was quite unusual in Germany in the 80ies with all that Becker-Hype.
In my opinion this was the best era of the sport with Legends like Mc, Lendl, Connors, Sampras and Agassi.
Of course McEnroe and Lendl of these days would have no chance against Federer but You can never compare players of different generations as the sport is always developping.
Actually have you watched it in person? I have, at courtside many times. There is a lot of work on his ball, and it's unpredictable what he is going to do.
And he was a very fast player on his feet. Love watching the guy.
19 Grand slam finals shows just how good he was... He dominated the sport from 85-89 and lasted through the McEnroe/Borg era, the Becker/ Edberg era and beat Samprass when he was 33. He is a legend !
He was the one who transformed tennis into a real athletic pro sport. He even transformed himself. Just compare the final against Borg with his matches after 1986. Vintage tennis vs modern tennis and I almost thought watching two different players.
Cheers to you, too. I was talking about Lendl, who never won Wimby.
I never liked Mac & Connors, coz they played without spin which I love to watch.
Anyway, if I was a trainer, I would order special training lessons in which it is forbidden to play topspin, so that the youngsters learn the secrets of blocking and slicing, just like Mac did so greatly.
Sorry my man !! Doh ! I was talking about Lendl too, totally loved him and even boughta pair of his Adidas trainers ! I was a bt rough yesterday and misead your comm about Mac.... You kmow your stuff, good to have a crack about tennis.. i dont often visit the tennis sites but i like your opinions, you make alot of sense and you are worth listening to... How to you rate Andy Murray and can he make the next step ? He needs to show opponents in the later stages too much respect. Go for the throat ?
Sorry mate, Doh !!! I meant that Andy shows them TOO much respect ! If he went for it like he normally does, i think he would scre them to death.... He has got the game and all the shots...
Lendl is in my top 10 best, but not in the top 5. The 8-11 Grand Slam Final Record is a major blemish. He had a winning record against Becker, but lost 3 GS Final's to him; had a winning record against Connors, but lost 2 GS Final's to him; had a winning record against Wilanderbut lost 2 GS Final's to him; and had a winning record against Pat Cash but lost 1 GS final to him. He could have had
He got to 10 grand slam semis in a row, only Federer has a better record.... He also won the French, Aussie and US opens. He has to be in the alltime top 5. You are going on about his loses. What about all he won ?
he won every major more than once, reached an unsurpassed 19 major semis in a row and has the longest unbeaten record of matches ever. 3 wimbledon finals and he won the lot multiple times.... He is in the top 5 surely. Feder the best, Borg, Nadal, Conners, Edberg and Wilander not even close.... Federer, Borg, Samprass and who else has one more mate..... he won multiple majors, just couldnt win at wimbledon...John Mcenroe my favourite is not even close, He was the best for years....
Alain Teulère était vraiment une des plus belles crèmes d'and... qu'on ait ouïe dans le poste, qui pourtant en matière de journalisme sportif, n'en manquait pas !
Who would have thought mcenroe would lose this match from 2 sets up 6 points from winning in 3rd set also serving at 4-3 in the 4th set and a point for 5-3.
yea, he was the first one to say that Lendl wasnt really human....more like a robot. And he even made fun of him a lot. But when he retired, I recall him saying that Ivan was the one that forced him to get in better shape. And he credits Lendl for lifiting the sport in that regard. This match was just something special to see, even tho Mac lst. I have NEVER seen him play this well on dirt. I didnt think he had it in him to play this well on red clay and kudos to Ivan for shaking the choke label.
shut the fuck up if you prefer robots your the jerk.maybe you want robots because think you would finaly score on female robots but ithink even robots wont let you
When McEnroe partnered Steffi Graf at the Wimbledon Mixed Doubles - about 7 yrs ago - he said he how wished other retired players of his era could team up with a younger partner and try to enter Mxd Dbls too. And he especially mentioned Lendl -with Kournikova as partner!- but I guess he knew Lendl's health was totally shot from playing already.
right.....bulleyes.....cos he could rifle his backhand anywwhere all over the court plus his ability to run down the ball....repeatedly ..a superb athlete....where you can see this kind of player today ???? Probably Djokovic is coming closed to resemble 75% of lendl...
it was a shame mac dint win the french this year coz he was great in this year. this was 1 of his 3 matches he lost in 84 and it wuda bn gd cz he wuda won a grand slam on all surfaces.
This is the one where Mac was up 2 sets to 0 and a break in the 3rd, and then he blew it and Lendl came back and won it in 5 sets....... Mac was so pissed he walked off the court after the match and 20,000 fans whistled (booed) him...... Mac didnt stay for the trophy presentation... Mac's worst moment.
Yes today's tennis is more powerful but less accurate. Just go out an play with Samprass's old wilson and you will see the skill level needed back then.
When I look at Mac's physique, it amazes me how he could ever be so great. At his prime, he was the most talented player to ever live - that includes Laver, Borg, Sampras and Federer.
Face it, Lendl is not in the same company of Sampras and Federer. Great as he was, he did not have the full array of weapons that they have. Mac is my all time favorite.
I see your point but Lendl is the godfather of powerful tennis. Im not saying that he was better than roger or sampras, im just imagining how tough he'd be if he played with new tech raquets that could give him more speed and power.
lendl would be very good but he would be in serious trouble against roger or rafa. i am just picturing rafa pummeling away at lendl's backhand w/ hus lefty forehand as he does to roger. it would be ugly.
NO use trying to compare Lendl with Rafa - they are like 25 years apart! :) And anyway, Lendl, hit way more flat and did it consistently which wouldn't be very good for Rafa's style
rafa was/is quicker on clay, my thoughts! yet the len man woulda picked on rafas dislike handling the power game to his groundstrokes.. similar to what soderling did to rafa @fo 09'. would of been gr8. a dream match on clay would be borg in his prime playing rafa in his prime' To me borg always seemed quicker on clay but rafa has the crazy topspin!
i would disagree with your statement. Lendl would be tough to be and he´d be competitive against both Nadal and Federer. Lend hit the ball really flat and hard and was able to generate amazing power with wooden raquets, can you imagine with today´s hight tech raquets?
Thats asinine, the new rackets arent the tennis equivalent of steroids. Even the rackets of old were an example of that eras new technology. What about shoes, arent they an example of technology, just another hindering artifice destroying the majesty and purity of sport? How about we return to athletes competing in the nude and forget about using balls and equipment manufactured by corporations, whats wrong with rocks and sticks?
That's good - I like that. But I rememebr when Pam Shriver was asked about in right around that time, and she said the mid 80's racquest, (Prince being the first oversized ones allowing "little" girls to hit the ball hard) made about a 25% improvement.
Impossible to compare eras, but these oversized racquets do make a tremendous difference. Volleying is a lost art on hardcourts.
You are all right. Mac was the best ever in 1984, still not even Federer has matched those records in thay year. He has mentioned that he disliked Lendl but he admirer his dedication to trainning which led him to take over the #1 spot from Mac. Lendl has said that Mac was a big mouth but neither has said they hated each other.
Awesome match and great clip. After leading 2:0 sets this was arguably the worst defeat Mac suffered in his entire career. I think he himself told once the he felt like he never really recovered from it, and he did not feel like the same player after.
i have never heard either gentleman say that they hate each other. though they were great rivals, no doubt.
i have actually heard McEnroe state that he always admired the way that Lendl started really focusing on his fitness & training & was subsequently rewarded for his efforts.
Johnny Mac played so great in this tournament to get to the finals and then took the first two sets and all of sudden he tightened up. Instead of focusing on closing the deal, he started letting little things get to him and I think he burned his energy up quicker.
Its a shame Mac lost this match because if he had won he would've went to Australia at the end of the year to win a Grand slam. The way he played in 84, no one could have beat him Down Under on grass
Oh, please. McEnroe has been playing that card for years because he hates giving Lendl credit for anything. Lendl took this match with superior conditioning and a change of strategy (topspin lobs). Mac was gassed at the end.
I agree, regarding Wilander. Also, Lendl is amazing because going into the 1985 US Open where he beat McEnroe, his win-loss record was 1-6 in Grand Slam finals. I've never seen anyone have that kind of record but not be discouraged, still persist and persist and become a champion. I admire Lendl's strength forever.
No American man had won the French title since Tony Trabert in 1955, and it was another five years (1989) before Michael Chang was able to so. Seven American men have won it in all since it became open to foreign players in 1925, three of them twice.
Lendl in previous finals: always seemed to fold in tough situations where things didn't go his way. He did it once against Borg, twice against Connors. McEnroe thought he would do the same after leading 4-2 in the 4th set but Lendl refused to fold and got stronger. McEnroe played well despite some errors but it was Ivan's day. I think credit needs to be given where its due. The better player won.
In fact Lendl also lost to Wilander in the 1983 Australian Open final. He lost his first 4 Grand Slam finals, and lost 6 of his first 7 grand slam finals. After that, he won 7 out of his next 12.
I stand corrected. Being a Lendl fan. I remember that final. Of all the finals that he lost, he was dominated in that match by Wilander. Mats beat McEnroe in the semi's and had incredible confidence stemming from his win in 1982 at the French.
As I remember it -- Mac lost is cool when Lendl managed to change and raise his game -- putting more pressure on Mac who fell into the temper tantrums that disturbed his focus. In 1984 Mac was mostly like a silent, coiled jungle-cat which brought out the finest elements of his genius... Mac should've won it... I'm sad he didn't...
Lendl not too happy talk to media after the big win:-)Its was the same year ,i believe ,he was pressured by Czechoslovak communist assotiation to defect to West .
I think that Mac never really overcame this loss. he was so dominating in 1984, almost invinicible, and on from 1985 he couldn't win any Grand Slams any more.
Gosh, I remember this match as if it were yesterday. This was Lendl's coming of age moment. He was willing to do something that many pros refuse to do now doing the course of a match. That is, change a losing strategy.
Of course it had to do with Lendl! He's been able to resist and make John tired while other players (including Connors - though that was like a non match)haven't been... Wether you hated lendl or not, just admit it please.
je me souviens de cette volée facile que mac enroe met dehors !!!!! il aurait du gagner ce match en 3 sets !!!! resultat, jamais il n aura pu gagner roland-garros,domage, car quel grand champion,c etait !!! mais avouons que lendl est devenu par la suite un immense champion egalement
Johnny Mac came so close to a Grand Slam in 1984. If he hadn't choked the French away, he would've surely went to Australia at the end of the year to go for the Grand Slam. Judging on how dominant he was in 84, he would've rolled through that tournament
He didn't choke it away. Watch the whole match, Lendl changed his tactics and started hitting topspin lobs. Ivan got stronger and Mac ran out of gas. Lendl took this match from John.
i have to disagree. despite lsoing this match mac went on to totally dominate the rest of the year. the only serious challeng ebeing the awesome match w/ connnors at the us open.
that was just one point, he made some terrific volleys , but lendl changed and started to use lobs . this match was all about strategy , i hope someone posts the entire match .
who says..more like it was a sad day for you maybe. this was the birth of lendl and his dominance for the next 6 years. the power tennis you enjoy today is thanx to lendl. he was named the tennis player of the decade by the atp.
I love the handshake at the end -- no love lost between Lendl and McEnroe. This was a real rivalry, with real hatred.
jbarbri 1 year ago
My father told me about this match...He said, "I remember getting impatient with McEnroe because he won the first two sets without any trouble...but every time he got close, Lendl came storiming back." I even remember my Dad wearing the very same shirt Lendl had on in this video.
krogdog 1 year ago
heartbreaking loss for Mac and the real beginning of Lendl's era... Lendl proved to everyone that he belongs to the very elite but still Mac knew he blew it totally and lost already won match, he had everything under control and then in the 3rd set he somehow turned the French crowd aganst him, got distracted, started swearing and got outplayed from the baseline... his sublime s&v required maximum concentration, once he lost his focus he was vulnerable to best clay-court suited Lendl's powerplay
andrewblastoff 1 year ago
ya kno, rly, i bet their racquets r better than 2day's racquets, wat wit all that weight, massive power on those sticks XD
StopPokinMeh 1 year ago
Lendl during active years would have fared well against Rafa even with crappy rackets. Last time I checked, even 30+ ages with a dated racket on his hand, he was handling Courier and Agassi pretty well. Given wooden racket, old Lendl would destroy anyone today.
Rafa is a clay court specialist. Sure he won Wimby but that today's WImby is so slow compared to Lendl's days. Lendl was very versatile - he was good everywhere.
SVolleyGame 1 year ago
did you hear the girl say "shit, I fucked up" @ 3:54?
sidd0008 1 year ago
Actually there's a lot of work on his ball but more important it's unpredictable what he is going to do.
And he was fast on the court. Awesome to watch.
-The KingCaster
KingCast65 2 years ago
One of the greatest matches I have ever watched:Mac had a 2:0 set lead and 2:0 in the third but Ivan came back....
I was always a Lendl Fan which was quite unusual in Germany in the 80ies with all that Becker-Hype.
In my opinion this was the best era of the sport with Legends like Mc, Lendl, Connors, Sampras and Agassi.
Of course McEnroe and Lendl of these days would have no chance against Federer but You can never compare players of different generations as the sport is always developping.
mrzebara 2 years ago
wow, what a match!
I wonder whether those two players had a chance in today´s tennis. Mac is such a unnormal player, almost no spin in his strokes.
ulizinho 2 years ago
Actually have you watched it in person? I have, at courtside many times. There is a lot of work on his ball, and it's unpredictable what he is going to do.
And he was a very fast player on his feet. Love watching the guy.
-The KingCaster.
KingCast65 2 years ago
Actually there's a lot of work on his ball but more important it's unpredictable what he is going to do.
And he was fast on the court. Awesome to watch.
-The KingCaster
KingCast65 2 years ago
19 Grand slam finals shows just how good he was... He dominated the sport from 85-89 and lasted through the McEnroe/Borg era, the Becker/ Edberg era and beat Samprass when he was 33. He is a legend !
ItsGrimUpNorth7 2 years ago 2
He was the one who transformed tennis into a real athletic pro sport. He even transformed himself. Just compare the final against Borg with his matches after 1986. Vintage tennis vs modern tennis and I almost thought watching two different players.
ulizinho 2 years ago 2
Cheers bro.. He made Wimbledon the best tourney to watch in the 80s.... Monster respect for the guy ! Good comm buddy...
ItsGrimUpNorth7 2 years ago
Cheers to you, too. I was talking about Lendl, who never won Wimby.
I never liked Mac & Connors, coz they played without spin which I love to watch.
Anyway, if I was a trainer, I would order special training lessons in which it is forbidden to play topspin, so that the youngsters learn the secrets of blocking and slicing, just like Mac did so greatly.
ulizinho 2 years ago 2
Sorry my man !! Doh ! I was talking about Lendl too, totally loved him and even boughta pair of his Adidas trainers ! I was a bt rough yesterday and misead your comm about Mac.... You kmow your stuff, good to have a crack about tennis.. i dont often visit the tennis sites but i like your opinions, you make alot of sense and you are worth listening to... How to you rate Andy Murray and can he make the next step ? He needs to show opponents in the later stages too much respect. Go for the throat ?
ItsGrimUpNorth7 2 years ago
Sorry mate, Doh !!! I meant that Andy shows them TOO much respect ! If he went for it like he normally does, i think he would scre them to death.... He has got the game and all the shots...
ItsGrimUpNorth7 2 years ago
Lendl deserves the top 3 of all time.
bigdivision24 2 years ago 3
Lendl is in my top 10 best, but not in the top 5. The 8-11 Grand Slam Final Record is a major blemish. He had a winning record against Becker, but lost 3 GS Final's to him; had a winning record against Connors, but lost 2 GS Final's to him; had a winning record against Wilanderbut lost 2 GS Final's to him; and had a winning record against Pat Cash but lost 1 GS final to him. He could have had
mrbobevans 2 years ago
He got to 10 grand slam semis in a row, only Federer has a better record.... He also won the French, Aussie and US opens. He has to be in the alltime top 5. You are going on about his loses. What about all he won ?
ItsGrimUpNorth7 2 years ago
Top 5 of the Open Era, maybe. All time, of course not.
fabiogaucho77 2 years ago
he won every major more than once, reached an unsurpassed 19 major semis in a row and has the longest unbeaten record of matches ever. 3 wimbledon finals and he won the lot multiple times.... He is in the top 5 surely. Feder the best, Borg, Nadal, Conners, Edberg and Wilander not even close.... Federer, Borg, Samprass and who else has one more mate..... he won multiple majors, just couldnt win at wimbledon...John Mcenroe my favourite is not even close, He was the best for years....
ItsGrimUpNorth7 2 years ago
Wow. This was one of only 3 matches Mcenroe lost that year out of 85 matches.
AnimeIntroStyles4 2 years ago
Alain Teulère était vraiment une des plus belles crèmes d'and... qu'on ait ouïe dans le poste, qui pourtant en matière de journalisme sportif, n'en manquait pas !
AXOU2203 2 years ago
Who would have thought mcenroe would lose this match from 2 sets up 6 points from winning in 3rd set also serving at 4-3 in the 4th set and a point for 5-3.
tennis905 2 years ago
that's tennis folks....the match won't end until the last ball....keep on telling to yourself and others...
zb9775 2 years ago
Yes Mac did say this haunts him and for good reason. He let Lendl into the Big Leagues, and did it in a way that it's fair to say HE chocked.
Still dig Mac more than Lendl though.
KingCast65 2 years ago
Did Mac ever come close again????
S? R?
leverwork1 2 years ago
In Mac's book he talks about this being the one to haunt him ...
maddymud 2 years ago 2
You are afraid of him xD!
trueandika 2 years ago
During the first two sets Mc Enroe played the best tennis I've ever seen on clay. He was running to the net even on Lendl 1st service.
Then at the middle of 3rd he lost his nerve for a suspicious referee decision and never went back in the game. A classic
zoltar56 2 years ago
If you asked Mac who he hated playing the most it would be Lendl.
gitfidil76 2 years ago 3
yea, he was the first one to say that Lendl wasnt really human....more like a robot. And he even made fun of him a lot. But when he retired, I recall him saying that Ivan was the one that forced him to get in better shape. And he credits Lendl for lifiting the sport in that regard. This match was just something special to see, even tho Mac lst. I have NEVER seen him play this well on dirt. I didnt think he had it in him to play this well on red clay and kudos to Ivan for shaking the choke label.
MisterCrazyLegs 2 years ago 2
I prefer robots over humans anytime. Lendl ahd superior control and McEnroe was just another over-emotional jerk
sondano 2 years ago
shut the fuck up if you prefer robots your the jerk.maybe you want robots because think you would finaly score on female robots but ithink even robots wont let you
rexkommher 2 years ago
oh another over-emotional jerk on the block this primitive reaction perfectly explains why I prefer robots over humans
sondano 2 years ago
Its very sad that Youtube allow comments from people like REXKOMMHER, as it makes the web site look bad.
Thanks
leverwork1 2 years ago
When McEnroe partnered Steffi Graf at the Wimbledon Mixed Doubles - about 7 yrs ago - he said he how wished other retired players of his era could team up with a younger partner and try to enter Mxd Dbls too. And he especially mentioned Lendl -with Kournikova as partner!- but I guess he knew Lendl's health was totally shot from playing already.
custardaghost 2 years ago
Probably a lot of players thought the same thing.
nabeshabu 2 years ago
right.....bulleyes.....cos he could rifle his backhand anywwhere all over the court plus his ability to run down the ball....repeatedly ..a superb athlete....where you can see this kind of player today ???? Probably Djokovic is coming closed to resemble 75% of lendl...
any players ?????
zb9775 2 years ago
Hvkjjiih
vlada6748 2 years ago
big mac was very disappointed, he led by 2 set, 3/2 and he had the break in the third and he lost the match
melende1966 2 years ago
mac enroe was getting on his nerves and that's the reason why he lost the match
melende1966 2 years ago
every time Mac can't reach the ball he has to go into an "oh I fell over" act afterwards
custardaghost 2 years ago
Yeah! Like trying to make people feel "sorry" for him... HAHA Great player though..
WillKenzo 2 years ago
yeah and it's fun to watch Lendl not giving a shit on Mac's "suffering LOL
sondano 2 years ago
it was a shame mac dint win the french this year coz he was great in this year. this was 1 of his 3 matches he lost in 84 and it wuda bn gd cz he wuda won a grand slam on all surfaces.
slayyyyn 2 years ago
ya,'pummelling'away with their oversized rackets.lendl was a hero to these new wave of players!remember that karmash....erm...watevever!!
fatsmut 2 years ago
This is the one where Mac was up 2 sets to 0 and a break in the 3rd, and then he blew it and Lendl came back and won it in 5 sets....... Mac was so pissed he walked off the court after the match and 20,000 fans whistled (booed) him...... Mac didnt stay for the trophy presentation... Mac's worst moment.
rmrooster01 2 years ago 2
wow....the lady really F@CKED it up....3:54
atonized 2 years ago
lendl sort looks like ernest gulbis
twheiden101 2 years ago
With today raquets Lendl would be unbeatable. In his prime he was better than Federer and Sampras.
Pitonto 2 years ago
muahahahahahahahahahaa
NEXT!
stealthpakfa 2 years ago
how did he miss that volley?????
ampiciline 2 years ago
Yes today's tennis is more powerful but less accurate. Just go out an play with Samprass's old wilson and you will see the skill level needed back then.
plutoisacomet 2 years ago
When I look at Mac's physique, it amazes me how he could ever be so great. At his prime, he was the most talented player to ever live - that includes Laver, Borg, Sampras and Federer.
walliegirl2 2 years ago 3
Can you guys imagine the power that Lendl would be able to generate if he had today's raquets? He would unbeatable.
juandi2570 2 years ago
Face it, Lendl is not in the same company of Sampras and Federer. Great as he was, he did not have the full array of weapons that they have. Mac is my all time favorite.
walliegirl2 2 years ago 2
I see your point but Lendl is the godfather of powerful tennis. Im not saying that he was better than roger or sampras, im just imagining how tough he'd be if he played with new tech raquets that could give him more speed and power.
juandi2570 2 years ago 5
lendl would be very good but he would be in serious trouble against roger or rafa. i am just picturing rafa pummeling away at lendl's backhand w/ hus lefty forehand as he does to roger. it would be ugly.
karmasherabwangchuk 2 years ago
NO use trying to compare Lendl with Rafa - they are like 25 years apart! :) And anyway, Lendl, hit way more flat and did it consistently which wouldn't be very good for Rafa's style
Man4Justice2 2 years ago 5
rafa was/is quicker on clay, my thoughts! yet the len man woulda picked on rafas dislike handling the power game to his groundstrokes.. similar to what soderling did to rafa @fo 09'. would of been gr8. a dream match on clay would be borg in his prime playing rafa in his prime' To me borg always seemed quicker on clay but rafa has the crazy topspin!
exitingforward 2 years ago 2
i would disagree with your statement. Lendl would be tough to be and he´d be competitive against both Nadal and Federer. Lend hit the ball really flat and hard and was able to generate amazing power with wooden raquets, can you imagine with today´s hight tech raquets?
juandi2570 2 years ago 2
Can you iamgine that it was totally UNFAIR to chsnge the size of the racqutes.
It made a joke out of what useed to be an art.
Imagine in boxing now leaded gloves would ne allowed...
I stiol think that theese new raquets r unfair and MUST be banned and all that won with it be erased from the lists.
schusterlehrling 2 years ago
Thats asinine, the new rackets arent the tennis equivalent of steroids. Even the rackets of old were an example of that eras new technology. What about shoes, arent they an example of technology, just another hindering artifice destroying the majesty and purity of sport? How about we return to athletes competing in the nude and forget about using balls and equipment manufactured by corporations, whats wrong with rocks and sticks?
jtatsiue 2 years ago 5
That's good - I like that. But I rememebr when Pam Shriver was asked about in right around that time, and she said the mid 80's racquest, (Prince being the first oversized ones allowing "little" girls to hit the ball hard) made about a 25% improvement.
Impossible to compare eras, but these oversized racquets do make a tremendous difference. Volleying is a lost art on hardcourts.
atowersshaw 2 years ago
@jtatsiue Very lyrical post I love it
DanimalLawlz 1 year ago
who won this
kusta345 2 years ago
Lendl, afetr being two sets down.
He made less points and less games, but still won...
It lasted 6-7 hours.
schusterlehrling 2 years ago
the point of no return of mac career...
Orazioflacco78 2 years ago
It was incredible how Mac played the last volley. It was just a present.
AlStAmPlEr 2 years ago
You are all right. Mac was the best ever in 1984, still not even Federer has matched those records in thay year. He has mentioned that he disliked Lendl but he admirer his dedication to trainning which led him to take over the #1 spot from Mac. Lendl has said that Mac was a big mouth but neither has said they hated each other.
flircat 2 years ago
complete choke by J mac. He was up 6-3, 6-2, and 4-2.
Also, had a handful of break points against Lendl in 5th set which he could not convert.
ohh well itleast he would destroy Lendl in the U.S. Open final.
Synaisthisi 3 years ago
je me souvient de ce match pendant les deux premiers sets mc'eneroe était injouable!un grand match
lucasmontana 3 years ago
McEnroe was also up 4-2 in the fourth set, and had Lendl 0-40 at 3-3 in the fifth. This brutal loss cost Mac The Grand Slam in '84.
johnp1727 3 years ago
Mac was up 15 - 40 in the fifth at 3 - 3.
sidh05 3 years ago
Mcenroe lost, only 3 losses in all of 1984.
John McEnroe and Hana Mandlikova were great players in terms of racquet control.
Harnolb 3 years ago
She fuckted up????????? jajajajojjojojjjijejeje
raulramonramiro 3 years ago
Awesome match and great clip. After leading 2:0 sets this was arguably the worst defeat Mac suffered in his entire career. I think he himself told once the he felt like he never really recovered from it, and he did not feel like the same player after.
ChristianPaul75 3 years ago
I heard about this match, some say it was a the worst collapse of any tennis player in a major.
Macenroe was up 2-0 in sets. Was he up in the 3rd set? 4th set or 5th set?
organizedactivist 3 years ago
John won the first two sets 6-3 6-2 and was up 4-2 in the third and lost the match. hope that answers your question.
WikipediaRules 3 years ago
McEnroe became the best player of 1984, in spite of losing such a big match to Ivan Lendl in this one.
I admire McEnroe's tenacity.
QuieroGuerra 3 years ago
Ivan's style is more like Bjorn Borg's: heavy topspin from both sides, except that Ivan's backhand was one-handed.
QuieroGuerra 3 years ago
@stealthpakfa: Do u know ur history? It was the battle between west and east blocks! USA against The URSS!... It was the cold war yet!...
NoumaiosDeLaCampa 3 years ago
why does mcenroe and lendl hate eachother? was it a particular incident or many incidents?
stealthpakfa 3 years ago
i have never heard either gentleman say that they hate each other. though they were great rivals, no doubt.
i have actually heard McEnroe state that he always admired the way that Lendl started really focusing on his fitness & training & was subsequently rewarded for his efforts.
ZebZachary 3 years ago
i mean the 2 first sets of Mcenroe.
THEKINKS08 3 years ago
in this final, best tennis on the clay by far..
THEKINKS08 3 years ago
Johnny Mac played so great in this tournament to get to the finals and then took the first two sets and all of sudden he tightened up. Instead of focusing on closing the deal, he started letting little things get to him and I think he burned his energy up quicker.
Its a shame Mac lost this match because if he had won he would've went to Australia at the end of the year to win a Grand slam. The way he played in 84, no one could have beat him Down Under on grass
stell29 3 years ago 2
Lendl is so witty. I love the man.
chapaev36 3 years ago
NO serve and volley at the French now is there?...
elguapostino 3 years ago
mcenroe still has nightmares about this match. he had the match in his grasp and choked it
tennis905 3 years ago
Oh, please. McEnroe has been playing that card for years because he hates giving Lendl credit for anything. Lendl took this match with superior conditioning and a change of strategy (topspin lobs). Mac was gassed at the end.
pmerk36 3 years ago
this match hadnt ended
thomasbrolin2 3 years ago
go mcenroe
thomasbrolin2 3 years ago
gosh if only McEnroe would have won this match;if only.
timafi 3 years ago
I agree, regarding Wilander. Also, Lendl is amazing because going into the 1985 US Open where he beat McEnroe, his win-loss record was 1-6 in Grand Slam finals. I've never seen anyone have that kind of record but not be discouraged, still persist and persist and become a champion. I admire Lendl's strength forever.
WorldHeavyMetal 3 years ago 3
No American man had won the French title since Tony Trabert in 1955, and it was another five years (1989) before Michael Chang was able to so. Seven American men have won it in all since it became open to foreign players in 1925, three of them twice.
newmark401 3 years ago
Re: Your message. I know Agassi won it (in 1999). He's the most recent of the seven American men to have done so.
newmark401 3 years ago
Jim Courier also
BrazilskiFarmer 2 years ago
Lendl in previous finals: always seemed to fold in tough situations where things didn't go his way. He did it once against Borg, twice against Connors. McEnroe thought he would do the same after leading 4-2 in the 4th set but Lendl refused to fold and got stronger. McEnroe played well despite some errors but it was Ivan's day. I think credit needs to be given where its due. The better player won.
Ariamaluum 3 years ago 2
In fact Lendl also lost to Wilander in the 1983 Australian Open final. He lost his first 4 Grand Slam finals, and lost 6 of his first 7 grand slam finals. After that, he won 7 out of his next 12.
WorldHeavyMetal 3 years ago
I stand corrected. Being a Lendl fan. I remember that final. Of all the finals that he lost, he was dominated in that match by Wilander. Mats beat McEnroe in the semi's and had incredible confidence stemming from his win in 1982 at the French.
Ariamaluum 3 years ago
quel dommage.. quelle tristesse cette défaite de john.. amertume éternelle qu'un tel joueur n'ait jamais soulevé la coupe des mousquetaires.
titkiller 3 years ago
As I remember it -- Mac lost is cool when Lendl managed to change and raise his game -- putting more pressure on Mac who fell into the temper tantrums that disturbed his focus. In 1984 Mac was mostly like a silent, coiled jungle-cat which brought out the finest elements of his genius... Mac should've won it... I'm sad he didn't...
Borgforever 3 years ago
Lendl and Borg kick ASS!
thewaterman122 3 years ago
i was for lendl, i was young, and a borg's fan
but now, i regret this end
mc should win this match
he was the strongest
and a real genius
jembozzo 3 years ago 3
Lendl was not in his prime, then, and did' play good in first two sets. But he won.
Pitonto 3 years ago
The kind of magic of those years...thank you!
romanpleasure 3 years ago 2
She fucked it up...priceless. I wish we had that kind of sillyness today.
IricForset 3 years ago
Best Match ever!
perroencoche 3 years ago
The most bitter Grand Slam final loss ever?
asadnoy 3 years ago
Lendl not too happy talk to media after the big win:-)Its was the same year ,i believe ,he was pressured by Czechoslovak communist assotiation to defect to West .
napajedla 3 years ago
I think that Mac never really overcame this loss. he was so dominating in 1984, almost invinicible, and on from 1985 he couldn't win any Grand Slams any more.
clarriona 3 years ago
One more thing. I always hated Lendl. Great player, but such a jerk.
Stan1208 3 years ago
Nah. Mac Choked it. No doubt, Mac was the better player.
Stan1208 3 years ago
Gosh, I remember this match as if it were yesterday. This was Lendl's coming of age moment. He was willing to do something that many pros refuse to do now doing the course of a match. That is, change a losing strategy.
snrbaires 3 years ago 3
what did he change? I've seen the match and all that happened was Mac got tired, and choked it away in the third. Didn't have much to do with Lendl.
tommie66tx 3 years ago
Of course it had to do with Lendl! He's been able to resist and make John tired while other players (including Connors - though that was like a non match)haven't been... Wether you hated lendl or not, just admit it please.
wreckmaster666 3 years ago 3
Hi, can someone please post this entire match? I would love to see it.
Thanks.
jkygogo 3 years ago 3
je me souviens de cette volée facile que mac enroe met dehors !!!!! il aurait du gagner ce match en 3 sets !!!! resultat, jamais il n aura pu gagner roland-garros,domage, car quel grand champion,c etait !!! mais avouons que lendl est devenu par la suite un immense champion egalement
totaleob 3 years ago
Johnny Mac came so close to a Grand Slam in 1984. If he hadn't choked the French away, he would've surely went to Australia at the end of the year to go for the Grand Slam. Judging on how dominant he was in 84, he would've rolled through that tournament
stell29 3 years ago
He didn't choke it away. Watch the whole match, Lendl changed his tactics and started hitting topspin lobs. Ivan got stronger and Mac ran out of gas. Lendl took this match from John.
pmerk 3 years ago 3
lost 7-5 in the fifth. that's not exactly runing out of gas. THat's more of just getting beat
tommie66tx 3 years ago
Maybe this is the reason he went down so quickly the year after. I never really liked him but there's not doubt that he is amazingly talented.
clarriona 3 years ago
i have to disagree. despite lsoing this match mac went on to totally dominate the rest of the year. the only serious challeng ebeing the awesome match w/ connnors at the us open.
karmasherabwangchuk 2 years ago
I hate to see the master lose , that was a textbook volley for the mac too that he blew way wide .
straywolfe 3 years ago
that was just one point, he made some terrific volleys , but lendl changed and started to use lobs . this match was all about strategy , i hope someone posts the entire match .
ricappon 3 years ago
This match still haunts McEnroe...he NEVER won the French Open.
krogdog 3 years ago
That was a HAPPY DAY for everyone except for McEnroe.
joseacuna 4 years ago
Did the interviewer say "I fucked it up"????
sleepyjl 4 years ago
No, the interviewer's translator said that. She messed up the translation of the interviewer's question.
subban 3 years ago
that was a sad day for everyone except lendl, lol
mephatboi 4 years ago
who says..more like it was a sad day for you maybe. this was the birth of lendl and his dominance for the next 6 years. the power tennis you enjoy today is thanx to lendl. he was named the tennis player of the decade by the atp.
bjornsiborgsi 3 years ago 2
thank you.
angryniggah 4 years ago