Lendl was an arrogant bastard, but boy could he play. Even with the power and athleticism of the players today, Lendl in his day would give a lot of today's guys a run for their money. What an incredible player he was.
I read your description and remembered the comment from Mac about, "having more talent in my pinkie than Lendl has in his whole..." Good stuff. I remember watching this match, thinking that Mac was playing well enough to win, but Ivan was really really on that day. His return of serve was dead on and Mac didn't stand a chance.
@casheasy lendl broke mac in the 1st game, then mac had break pt on lendl's 2nd serve but hit a FH long... lendl then just got on a roll... mac lost any chance to make the match close w/ that one unforced error
lendl played even better in the Qtr finals in the Aussie Open '89 vs. mac
against other players, his other gr8 matches later in his career were against edberg in the hamlet cup finals & in '90 when he won queens, drilling both mac & becker (he peaked 2 early 4 wimbledon though)
When Lendl decided to get into superior shape, get the best BK he could hit, and controlled his emotions, it could be argued he was the best ever. He is the father of modern power tennis, the huge shots, inside-outside forehand, taking the ball and demolishing it with superb footwork and practice. He made himself to be as great as he was, when he turned pro he was a work in progress and he never kept trying to become better. His body gave out when he turned 31....
@ripperduck Arguably Becker, Agassi, and Sampras were the new age power players, making hard hitting tennis popular, not so much Lendl despite the fact that he overpowered his generation...
@AT32123 Maybe Lendl was not so popular, but he was better than Becker or Agassi for sure.
As regards to Sampras who was 11 years younger, it's sufficient to remember that Lendl defeated him even in 1993, when Sampras was no. 1 in the world and Lendl few months before his retirement.
@Pitonto nonono he was not really the best because when agassi had his best form he beat him when becker had his best form he beat him when sampras.....what iam trying to say is his(lendl) strength was that he was very constant on a high level(that keeps him on number 1) but edberg becker mcenroe(until 84) sampras agassi..... you name it they all beat him when both were in best form
Lendl was wonderful. He taught me the meaning of methodical commitment to your trade, to the point of being ruthless with yourself. An all-time great and arguably the father of modern tennis.
Most people disliked him? Yer talkink Bullshit, Europe loved Lendl - he was only disliked in America (and that's understandable: Lendl trashed Macenroe and Connors out into "retirement dustbin" lol
@Jerrriy He did not force Jimmy Connors into retirement. After 1983, if you are aware, Connors didn't win any more Grand Slam events although he was close at times. His last good year was 1983. He was not forced out by Ivan Lendl. Ivan Lendl and Jimmy Connors are just very good players
OK I just read where you stated, "making McEnroe's pinkie seem rather large." and I got it. Great line from you referencing Mac's "talent" comparison. LOL Great clip as well.
@starswillleadtheway.I saw this match live and still have it on vhs...Lendl was my idol too.I loved the way he played.Completely professional and always extremely prepared.
wath is the final score of this match? IN that (summer 89) period lendl played her best tennis, maybe for the last time he was the best player in the world (really edberg them keeped the leadership one year after, the 12 August 1990)..Only Becker stopped lendl in the us open final of 1989
"mac had to come in" against lendl is not a controversial statement
that's what don budge told him to do after mac lost to lendl 7 times in a row.. mac did it, then won the next 10 out of 12 (and that was when mac was younger & faster)
that link u gave shows their French Open '88 match - i have that on tape too & have watched it 1000 times... so mac won a few rallies from the back, the majority were from the net, as shown in the upload YOU referred to
you would think mcenroe would learn to stop coming up to the net...
Changfriedrice 5 months ago
@Changfriedrice
He can no more stop coming to the net when things are not going his way than Nadal can start serve and volleying when Djokovic is pounding his ass :D
alin1975 5 months ago
Lendl was an arrogant bastard, but boy could he play. Even with the power and athleticism of the players today, Lendl in his day would give a lot of today's guys a run for their money. What an incredible player he was.
Oanatinus 10 months ago
I read your description and remembered the comment from Mac about, "having more talent in my pinkie than Lendl has in his whole..." Good stuff. I remember watching this match, thinking that Mac was playing well enough to win, but Ivan was really really on that day. His return of serve was dead on and Mac didn't stand a chance.
casheasy 1 year ago
@casheasy lendl broke mac in the 1st game, then mac had break pt on lendl's 2nd serve but hit a FH long... lendl then just got on a roll... mac lost any chance to make the match close w/ that one unforced error
lendl played even better in the Qtr finals in the Aussie Open '89 vs. mac
against other players, his other gr8 matches later in his career were against edberg in the hamlet cup finals & in '90 when he won queens, drilling both mac & becker (he peaked 2 early 4 wimbledon though)
mephatboi 10 months ago
I love how controlled the crowd is.
gonecammin 1 year ago
When Lendl decided to get into superior shape, get the best BK he could hit, and controlled his emotions, it could be argued he was the best ever. He is the father of modern power tennis, the huge shots, inside-outside forehand, taking the ball and demolishing it with superb footwork and practice. He made himself to be as great as he was, when he turned pro he was a work in progress and he never kept trying to become better. His body gave out when he turned 31....
ripperduck 1 year ago
@ripperduck Arguably Becker, Agassi, and Sampras were the new age power players, making hard hitting tennis popular, not so much Lendl despite the fact that he overpowered his generation...
AT32123 1 year ago
@AT32123 Maybe Lendl was not so popular, but he was better than Becker or Agassi for sure.
As regards to Sampras who was 11 years younger, it's sufficient to remember that Lendl defeated him even in 1993, when Sampras was no. 1 in the world and Lendl few months before his retirement.
Pitonto 1 year ago 2
@Pitonto nonono he was not really the best because when agassi had his best form he beat him when becker had his best form he beat him when sampras.....what iam trying to say is his(lendl) strength was that he was very constant on a high level(that keeps him on number 1) but edberg becker mcenroe(until 84) sampras agassi..... you name it they all beat him when both were in best form
rexkommher1 11 months ago
Might be time to serve to that forehand, but that was no picnic either.
pitbull103 1 year ago
Lendl was wonderful. He taught me the meaning of methodical commitment to your trade, to the point of being ruthless with yourself. An all-time great and arguably the father of modern tennis.
luciusinfabula 1 year ago
Beautiful one hand backhand. Amazing how smoothly he strokes it when the balls are coming that fast.
acadmin100 1 year ago
A passing while he is going to the volley and the match is over...
vanir92160 1 year ago
Yay I fucking hate McEnroe.
scbaldwin13 1 year ago
Best one-handed backhand in tennis history? It's gotta be up there.
Camurgladius 1 year ago
Most people disliked him? Yer talkink Bullshit, Europe loved Lendl - he was only disliked in America (and that's understandable: Lendl trashed Macenroe and Connors out into "retirement dustbin" lol
Jerrriy 1 year ago
@Jerrriy He did not force Jimmy Connors into retirement. After 1983, if you are aware, Connors didn't win any more Grand Slam events although he was close at times. His last good year was 1983. He was not forced out by Ivan Lendl. Ivan Lendl and Jimmy Connors are just very good players
yasudab1 1 year ago
Wouldn't surprise me if the crowd is eating caviar!!
Elwink 1 year ago
Wow, I forgot about Kuerton. He had a great one. Especially his down the line backhand.
MrPernell27 1 year ago
How could be compared the backhand of a boy like Gaskuet with the shots of a Legend like Ivan Lendl?
Lendl would devour Gaskuet
Pitonto 2 years ago 2
@Pitonto its Gasquet. Learn how to spell.
FauxHawkAce 1 year ago
Lendl would devour Gaskuet
Pitonto 1 year ago
@Pitonto its Gasquet
FauxHawkAce 1 year ago
OK I just read where you stated, "making McEnroe's pinkie seem rather large." and I got it. Great line from you referencing Mac's "talent" comparison. LOL Great clip as well.
casheasy 2 years ago
Lendle- best 1 handed backhand ever??CAn think of a better one except maybe Federer or possibly Edberg.
MrPernell27 2 years ago
gasquet - best backhand miles away evarybody knows that
pitoloco 2 years ago
you couldn't be more wrong. Gasquet's backhand may be beautiful to look at, but it's not nearly as effective as Lendle's or Federers.
MrPernell27 2 years ago 2
@pitoloco its "everybody" learn how to spell.
FauxHawkAce 1 year ago
@FauxHawkAce It's "It's". Learn English.
relentlessfrost 1 year ago
@FauxHawkAce It's "It's". Learn to speak English.
Pitonto 1 year ago
To me, Gasquet's backhand has too much of a wind up. I think his backhand is somewhat similar to Kuerten's but no near as fluid and dangerous.
mrbobevans 1 year ago
Did you think of Gustavo Kuerten. He had a perfect one hander. Rod Laver also had a pretty good one as well.
mrbobevans 1 year ago
Lenl was my idol! I loved his style. Most people disliked him. But from my point of view he had something aristocratic in his way.
starswillleadtheway 2 years ago 9
@starswillleadtheway.I saw this match live and still have it on vhs...Lendl was my idol too.I loved the way he played.Completely professional and always extremely prepared.
vlovesrafa 1 year ago
Lendl = King of Tennis
renatoaz 2 years ago 7
@renatoaz He certainly was the father of modern power tennis. He changed the way the game was played.
ripperduck 1 year ago
OMG, total backhand ownage - WACK - WACK - WACKKK! LMAO
sam7666 2 years ago 3
You're an asshole
riceranger12345 2 years ago
i love how lendl just walks after hitting every shot
kinetik44 2 years ago
LMAO exactly hahaha :)
sam7666 2 years ago
wath is the final score of this match? IN that (summer 89) period lendl played her best tennis, maybe for the last time he was the best player in the world (really edberg them keeped the leadership one year after, the 12 August 1990)..Only Becker stopped lendl in the us open final of 1989
ferrari79100 2 years ago
6/1 6/3 for Ivan
sidh05 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
mac had to come in - he had no other play
fuck - i have this match on tape...
unbelieveable how mcenroe ended up #4 in the world w/ that post-84 shit serve
mephatboi 2 years ago
You dont believe it, because you have no clue about tennis
Mac had no other play... thats pure nonsense.
watch?v=oOpgib4a-ms&feature=player_profilepage#
Get rid of your ignorance and remember how good Mac was, even if you were only 13 years old.
pacodemic 2 years ago 3
"mac had to come in" against lendl is not a controversial statement
that's what don budge told him to do after mac lost to lendl 7 times in a row.. mac did it, then won the next 10 out of 12 (and that was when mac was younger & faster)
that link u gave shows their French Open '88 match - i have that on tape too & have watched it 1000 times... so mac won a few rallies from the back, the majority were from the net, as shown in the upload YOU referred to
my 1st comment was to jyy82993
mephatboi 2 years ago 3
i remember watching this. lendl was on fire that day
bjornsiborgsi 2 years ago
tasty!!!!!!!!!
angryniggah 2 years ago
This is from the 1989 Canadian Open, although they played in 1992 as well. Cheers
jamesthomasmusic 2 years ago
You would've thought that McEnroe would've figured it out after the third one haha.
jyy82993 2 years ago