Chris Evert d. Pam Shriver - 1978 US Open final

[craigferris1]

This was the highlight of Pam's career in singles She had greater success in doubles but she never had the game to consistently challenge Chris or Martina (or oddly enough even Hana, whom I think she only beat one or two times).

[reparata11]

Wow! She almost looked like the next Margaret Court without the forhand drive!

[mbblover]

pam looked tough in this match... movement good and even her so called "weak groundstrokes" looked tough with all that slice and how she angled them short in the corners to move the player around.... hard to believe that she at this time HAD NOT once beaten tracy austin? if she could compete with chrissie in this match who at the time of this match in 1978 was a notch or two above austin still... perhaps more a mental block than a physical/talent one with shriver vs austin during this time?

[kljMN2]

Pam played very well considering it was her first major final. Just a damn shame she couldn't get back to another singles final.

[kljMN2]

Around 4:20 - what a point!!

[circuitdesign]

I never saw Shriver play before, just saw her commenting on TV. And did I hear correctly that she was just 16 in this match? Wow! Well, it was clear her strategy was to get into net at all costs. In the first set, her approach shots were way too weak, especially against someone who had world class groundies like Evert. Shriver had a good serve and great volley. She tried to maximize her strengths here, but Evert was too mentally tough and was so effective from the back of the court.

[gandolph7poet]

Chris Evert had the best lob in the history of the game. And I felt it was the stroke that won her this match. There are many great victories that Evert had , but this one must be one she treasures because this was Shriver at her very best.

[twilliger123]

@gandolph7poet Shriver was at her very best at 16?? No, she later was ranked as high as number 3 in the world and was number one in doubles. She was just starting at 16...

[kimskis]

LMAO...Shriver was slicing both her BH and FH all the time. Ancient tennis

[circuitdesign]

@kimskis I noticed that too! Slices from both sides. Man, you really don't see the forehand slice used too much anymore, do you? LOL!

[twilliger123]

@kimskis and it got her to a grand slam final at 16......have you?

[maestrodimente]

Thank you so much for posting this match! I've never before seen it, and have always wished to do so. The level of skill evidenced is nothing short of a revelation, and I thank the Lord that I was born in and able to enjoy an era of women's tennis that puts today's on-court protagonists very much in the shade. A real treat! ;-)

[bsnguy12k]

Wood racket, singular.  Shriver was one of the first top players to use an over-sized metal, non-wood racket. Shriver certainly made the most out of her skills, and her brain was as big a weapon as her serve. She lacked agility and finesse but fought for every point.

[Zaf67]

I think Chris just has the natural skills and co-ordination for the game. When you watch her play it is as though the shots come so naturally. One can train to improve one's game, that's for sure but Chris just has the inborn ability that you just cannot learn. She was never particularly powerful nor fast yet she was able to dominate for so long, in essence Chris was a great champion and always a pleasure to watch.

[matjesworld]

That was the first Final for Pam, but also her last one at a major tournament. (except the Master´s in 1988). Some Quarter - or Semifinals, but during following years there were always players wich were stronger. In 1987 she has beaten Chris for the first time. She has also beaten Martina, Steffi and Gabi -but she never won a Grand Slam Tournament. It´s unbelievable!

[twilliger123]

What a treat this was as a kid: The first year that the US Open was played at Flushing Meadow and Pam comes out of nowhere to make the final without a loss of a set. Chris had too many answers for her game but Pam held her own. The very next year Pam had her shoulder injury which plauged her the rest of her career unfortunately. Thanks so much for posting!

[randoir]

Thanks for posting.

Awesome match, and so many spectacular shots. Pam was quite impressive here; and had she developed her ground game to go with the big serve, biting slice and net coverage, she could have possibly been a powerhouse.

Chris is always a treat to watch. Why current players aren't lining up at her door is beyond me. Fabulous movement, great anticipation, a general's instincts (truly a cerebral player) and nimble hands. She can play from anywhere.

[MagRich100]

Yes Shriver more or less kept that style all through her career whereas Chrissie was the epitome of baseline perfection from the word go with passing shots that were to the majority 100% accurate. However as the 80's dawned she realised she had to come to the net more which probably made her feel vulnerable but in true Evert style she mastered it and added to her already superb game!

[BTURNER1961]

Many folks feel that the s/v game usually develops later because more shots are needed and it takes time to learn when to use which of all those choices. I am very impressed with Pam's court sense and tactical acumen at 16. Her game did not change all that much in the next decade.

[Nicklas4500]

Great match - I've never seen Shriver play better but Evert was just too good. Chris may have got trimmer and fitter in the 80s but you could hardly say she was ever less than a superb athlete.

[johnblacklovesmar]

Good point about the Williams sisters vs Evert

[MagRich100]

Absolutely and it was quite apparent from 1980 onwards, although I remember her at the 1983 Wimbledon and how the commentators remarked how 'thin' she looked.

[johnblacklovesmar]

That is undoubtedly true yet as Tony Trabert commented in the 80 Open Evert had gotten quicker around the court because she had lost weight. 

[MagRich100]

Of course this was also to sustain her momentum and keep Martina at a distance.

Chris's father always thought she wasn't strong enough (of all his children) physically to become the athlete she did.

The Williams sisters are very fit but they are the other end of the spectrum - powerhouses vrs tactical agility of the lighter-framed.

[MagRich100]

Yes but it was all 'relative' as Chrissie was still #1 and far ahead of her peers in the late 70's - so much so that the gap was a little tedious for the non Evert fans. Then as the 80's dawned Chrissie got fitter (circa 81 onwards) and slimmed down her already light frame to become quite slight and quicker. Her 1st husband John Lloyd commented to this effect before her last Wimbledon victory (1981) and then she went from strength to strength.

[kljMN2]

I've been wanting to see highlights of this match for a long time!! Thanks.... It's a shame that this was Shriver's only singles Grand Slam final....

[MagRich100]

Evert was never 'chubby' but yes she did slim down quite alot from the early 80's, she had a beautiful womanly physique here and when she did lose more she just looked even better and the quintessential feminine tennis machine. Chrissie rocks forever!

[spacecolt]

...wearing that 'Babe' necklace that Burt Reynolds gave her. ;)

[johnblacklovesmar]

Thanks for posting. I have long wanted to see highlights of this match. Shriver played some great serve and volley tennis, but as King said in the commentary, Evert lifted her game at the opportune moments. This is the last year that she is quite "chubby" for an athlete. She started going to the net when the match got tight. She usually hit such a great approach shot that the volley was academic.

[spacecolt]

@johnblacklovesmar How can you say she looks chubby? ...she looks hot. She's less than half the size of Serena here.. There was a program on yesterday with this anorexic who was all bones and said she looked fat. That's how I feel about someone seeing this woman & thinking 'chubby'...especially when she's mad at 4:48!!!!! :-) The hottest champion in history.

[cityhulltiger]

Thanks for posting - never seen Shriver play so well, but all credit ( as always) to the the great Chris Evert for toughing it out.