Borg McEnroe Match Points 1980

[smokeywoodlands]

Dan Maskell & I think it was John Barrett??

[mowgli94230]

Watching Borg's wife watching Borg is so refreshing ! Borg used to start Wimbledon shaved and didn't shave until he'd lost or won the tournament... At last an expression on Borg's face after his victory... On his chair !

[kaibamaddness]

who were the commentators for this match?

[TheAxellle]

76..

86

96



[ItsNoelDur]

@01sean I probably should of "stated" In My Opinion.

:)

[Ian71UK]

Tennis these days is all down to the equipment, a lot of skill has been lost due to power.

Give all players these rackets for this years wimbledon and anybody could win it lol.

[Idontfcare]

@Ian71UK I'd say tennis now is more about being fit due to increased number of tournaments and also how you approach matches from a mental standpoint. There is still skill in groundstrokes and how players generate depth and power and what not but I think at least with singles volleying skill has dropped a ton and players of today can't volley like old players could.

[chapaev36]

@Idontfcare I would say you have it backwards - and I say that without intending to cause offense. In today's tennis there is a decreased number of tournaments comparing to Borg's days and, I would say that, fitness is somewhat of a lesser priority. Physical strength and power is definitely in greater focus, but not fitness in the 'long distance runner'-sense. For example, take clay court tennis in Borg's era - long, plodding rallies - like running a marathon. Today matches are shorter.

[Idontfcare]

@chapaev36 I'm not exactly sure how many tournaments were played than compared to now but you're right for the most part about tennis being more of a power game over fitness and endurance. I think there are still some players of today though like Rafa for instance who prove some players do still have good fitness.

[chapaev36]

@Idontfcare Oh, absolutely. No doubting the fitness of Nadal, Federer, Roddick and others.

[ItsNoelDur]

This tennis looks awkward.

[turky4G]

شكرن

[aznking01010]

i just realized that bjorns reaction to winning this match is just like when federer won his against sampras...

[ffallenaangel]

i think tenis now itsss so much better than this

and this was really good of course

[hypercarbon]

I hate McEnroe's commentating, but he is a legend.

[StopPokinMeh]

lol 2 the long hair XD man, its like it was still 1979 wit that hair XD

[hypertom95]

is this the one where AC/DC were playing next door???

[accadoza]

2 of the all time greats(in any sport) ,dont make em like that anymore

[wha65]

I wish tennis would go back to wood rackets. Finesse and touch would return, smaller and lighter players would also be able to compete against bigger players. I'm over big servers just winning games on a monster serve only.

Here we have the Borg baseline game against the brilliant hands of the serve and volley Mcenroe. That's entertainment.

[ulizinho]

Some slight correction: Sampras dominated in Wimby as Federer dominates. The answer for the question, who is going to win in Wimby was in the nineties as boring as it has been in the last years: Sampras again, yawn.

And in the late seventies: Borg again, yawn.

[ulizinho]

The introduction of carbon rackets resulted in the upcoming of bighitters in the eighties like Becker. And also Lendl adopted his play, just compare his older videos with his late years.

In the Becker/Edberg/Sampras era we had almost no baseline duels. Everyone could afford to play serve n volley, except Agassi. In the 90s we had in Wimby only SV and Ace hitting. If you prefer that, it is ok, but I myself love those super speed rallies with extreme angles that we can see now.

[DestroyerAlexandros]

3:27 I think McEnroe's heart stopped!

[shirgen6]

This final and the Wimbledon 08 final were the two greatest finals of all time. I'm not stupid enough to try and compare the two finals, but certainly one or the other, they're both just AWESOME.

[8451606]

i cant understand how they cud play with this heavy raquets back in the day

[wha65]

Borg is the best player i've seen.

A natural clay court player who stays on the baseline. Yet wins 6 French Opens on clay and unbelieveably, 5 Wimbledon's in a row on grass. No player in the last 40 years comes close to matching his record on clay and grass. Samprass won 7 Wimbledon's, but never won the French Open. Federer has won 6 Wimbledon's and only 1 French Open. Unlike Federer and Sampras who had monster serves and a good volley game, Borg had neither.

He punched from the baseline.

[ulizinho]

Well, at those time noone really "punshed" from the baseline, as you wrote. Borg did not win on hard court unlike Federer and Sampras who both have 5 titles in NY.

it is a pity, that Borg had quit so early and never really took Melbourne seriously. he could have won some more big titles.

[wunderbar1001]

It is profound futile rubbish to compare players of eras between each other.

[bluemagic212121]

why maria sharapova is at the box?

[eidothea]

Borg was so hot.

[yooo711]

They all look gay in this clip

[ZAOUWV]

Federer way better

[ricimuoo]

Borg was a real champion.

Federer is a gay!!!

[Empir37]

I don't know why people still claim that nowadays tennis is crap. Look Federer; it's tecnique is pure awesomeness and perfection. Look instead at this players: they were good, but their tecnique and style was raw, movements were imperfect and so on.

[DestroyerAlexandros]

you are out of your mind.... the style of the 80s and 90s was much superior to the baseline defensive game of the 90% of the pros now. Yes, Federer is good but don't forget that Federer looks up to Sampras and McEnroe!

[ulizinho]

Hu ? I guess you dont really understand tennis, sorry. Pro Tennis is now indeed played from baseline, but it is NOT defensive. Tennis totally changed with carbon rackets and the adopted Bollitieri style. If you had a time machine, both of these two champs here would lose against all top 50 players, either from baseline or playing SV. I dont say, that they are worse then modern players, but their style would not cope with those hard hitting today. One short shot and Fed, Rafa, Rod kill you.

[DestroyerAlexandros]

lol tennis technology hasn't progressed that much since the 1980s. Of course the racquet companies are trying to push "technologies" on us but for the pros technology has remained at Pro Staff 6.0/Prestige Classic 600, Luxilon and Tourna grip. If Sampras picked up a racquet and went to Wimbledon now, he would do much better than all the baseline grinders who are still competing! Of course the 80s players can't compete, but the big servers of the 90s really dominated wimb

[ulizinho]

Today, the real pro rackets are indeed not that much different from pro rackets of the nineties, as you said. They are still heavy and have usually a constant beam, which pros like. THey dont play light widebodies.

[ulizinho]

However, the players´ technology has improved, possibly because of more flexible strings and better shoes. The rallies today are more aggressive and faster and still the points are longer because the pros now are so damm well trained and talented that they can return hits which players in the eigthies could not.

[ulizinho]

the style of the nineties was often boring, at least in Wimby. Very short points, ace hitting shoot outs. Now, you can see rallies AND aces and sometimes still SV in a Wimby final.

So, I guess for the TV audience, modern tennis is better the the nineties.

The 80ties, however, were the classic age, very stylish, many different player types thus very entertaining.

[DestroyerAlexandros]

naaah the 90s were the best. Sampras, Ivanisevic, Agassi... amazing players! Both physically strong, athletic and great tacticians. The level of Wimbledon has really dropped the last few years, because we see more baseline grinders and defensive players who can't keep the pace up on wimby. the level of roland garros has risen though

[ulizinho]

the 90s were maybe more exciting concerning the question who is going to win the majors. Pete was the Federer of his time, but never really dominated the circus as Fed has done so far, with the single exception of his nemesis Nadal.

I am not sure whether we can say that today the level is worse. From 2007 to 2009 we had 3 epic five setters, possibly the best ever. In 09 we saw the best acehitting shootout . Fed hit 50 aces and Roddick allowed only 1 break in a match that had games for 7 sets.

[brownanizer]

McEnroe has the gayest style ever.

[Nrthewave]

borg was the king back then now its federer

[ace942]

I still consider this one of the greatest if not the greatest tennis match ever played. Today's tennis is too boring because it is too much of a power game and the game back then was about finesse and placement.

[KRodfadesaway427]

I have to disagree federer's game is now including finesse since he has employed the drop shot and he uses angles as well I this del potro is boring with all the power though for as big as he is he is a great mover but not to the standards murray rafa or roger hold.

[acquafredda75]

Today is everything about power, roids and money. Everything in the world, no space for art.

[StopFramEmotion]

This match was GOOD vs EVIL with GOOD regning supreme, and the evil brat left choking and blubbing in the dust!!

PRICELESS!!!

Super Swede Ice King Bjorn! -- THE BEST EVER!!! Utter LEGEND!!!

[Grendelmonster8u]

Borg - Five consecutive Wimbledons! One of the best.

McEnroe - cranky or not he was fun to watch and a fine player. You gotta feel for him here.

I remember how nerve-wracking this was watching on TV. Great match!

[freeqwerqwer]

There was electricity in the air when Bjorn and McEnroe played, even when Jimmy Connors played, but these modern day of Pete Sampras and Federer is boring and glum.

[ottackon]

Federer is the greatest ever, at age 26, he has 12 GS titles

[arsoys]

It's not about the titles only. The old game had an elegance long since lost.

[marinetti900]

mcenroe the best of all times....

[TNO73]

I like Federer, but Bjorn Borg is the MAN. retired to young, but I think he could have gone on to be the best ever. HE retired at 26!!! At the time of this match I couldn't stand McEnroe, but Gawd how I miss someone with his passion. Tennis today is kind of boring. I miss Big Mac for his technique & his temper.

[andrewblastoff]

Borg just couldn't go on, he said once he was exhausted, he had no energy and completely lost motivation, he didn't want to be number 2 as well behind Mac and John was clearly better in 1981, defeated Borg in two close finals

[jna180]

the tennis was soo awkward back then lol...

[KingCast65]

awkward, that shit is graceful. tennis today is so blah, yes Federer is graceful though.

[hattrickster33]

@KingCast65 True, if it wasn't for Federer and Nadal I wouldn't even like tennis anymore.

[Ronaldo123571]

I watched this on TV. One of the greatest moment in my life.

Seing Borg defeats the fucking mcenroe was priceless.

[woodskier]

who youd rather face?

[Ronaldo123571]

I was always for Borg. McEnroe was, like great part of americans, an arrogant player.

[kuriabraham]

I agree with you about Americans, Ronaldo but McEnroe was too brilliant to be considered American. He belongs to the World!

[shirgen6]

Man, I feel so sorry for McEnroe. Look what he went through, just to lose! Having to stare down match points 8 times, and serve on 6 of them...

[bandlea]

This trully the best wimbledon final i have ever seen, so nerve racking,exciting to watch from two legends of the game.

[72chucky]

Court surfaces and equipment have differed through each era and its irrelevant to compare to current day, or through each era.... What is a fact is, great players are simply great players whatever the era.

[rijfrf]

the net ballboy reaction at 3:24 resembles the crowd support for borg!!

[dfp2101]

Tennis is a very mental game. I think mentally Federer and Nadal are right up there with the best, regardless of the type of racket they play with

[vladtepes97]

the oversized metal and graphite racquets really watered down the talent pool. now anybody can hit the ball powerfully and with accuracy, even someone like me who doesn't even play the sport. it took real skill to play with wooden racquets back then. i bet even the mid-ranked players from the 70s and 80s could give the top modern players a run if they were both playing with the same equipment.

[daraemkar]

I thought your post was good until the end. The game was different. You can't compare.

[Schrittwieser]

No one fought like John and Jimmy

[mydog8u2]

Wow... I never knew John Mackey was a lefty (lol sorry, i never bothered to check him out on youtube until now). And his backhand looks...funny, but heaps fun too watch.

[ckaplan81]

Thelooksoutlookout:

Its obvious from your comment that you know NOTHING about tennis.

Players like Borg, Connors, Nastase, and even McEnroe.......were far better athletes than anyone playing today.

Borg as an example Practiced for six hours hours a day....STRAIGHT.

[PabasamDee]

Im sorry, I dont know shit about tennis, but Federers play looks a million times better than either of these two.

[herodot2]

Maybe this is because his racket compares to theirs like a Porsche to a Volkswagen Bettle.

[bestywins]

I agree and the equipment makes it to hard to compare the dif generations these days

[OliG312]

who can say who would win, old or modern players? unless we had a time machine we can only wonder

[slimane825]

With the modern racquets players can put so much power and spin on the ball that it is very hard to serve and volley successfully.

[Zutko]

the way they played with them woden rackets is amaizing....

[PBSmithy]

you can tell the extent to which the game has undergone a transformation of style simply by looking at the wear pattern on the grass, as compared to the modern-day wear pattern.

[ricadelide]

yeah that's true, there seemed to have been a lot more net play then compared to the baseline rallies we have now.

[Thelookoutslookout]

There was a grace about the style of play in those days that is lacking in the modern game. It is so evident in this clip. Great stuff.

[prippropro]

i totally agree with you..even though i like modern tennis i can't believe players like Nadal, Roddick or Blake are the best in the world

[pugilistofpower]

It's more about whacking the ball hard now. With the old rackets, heavy with small heads there was more skill involved in hitting the ball. The game was more skilled and graceful back then, nowadays it's harder on the body.

[semieden]

wistful nostalgia, methinks. all athletes are better today than they used to be.

[Thelookoutslookout]

I'm not so sure about that. The players in this video and all the greats before them were limited by their equipment. Wooden rackets with small heads versus graphite rackets with oversized heads......think about it. Todays players may be better athletes.....but in terms of pure tennis skill, guile, and style, players like Borg and McEnroe were and are the greatest, in my opinion.

[anitamcgahern]

Absolutely.....I get bored after half a set these days....the matches lack the character they used to have.....most points seem to be won an either power or the opponent's mistakes as apposed to these guy's using craft.

[anitamcgahern]

Too add to that....has anyone else noticed how much more the crowd used to be involved.....there was a reason for that and not just because they were more easily amused....the tennis had more excitement.

[kuhne]

No no come on, didnt you see the roddick/federer match? that shit was epic.. and by epic I mean michael bay epic.. its just that for the past years its usualy been federer winning everything so yeah it took it out of the crowd a bit but what aboug Goran Ivanisevich winning? the place went insane!

[juandi2570]

Listen man, im a fed´s fan but his match with A-rod was just a brute force match, lacking quality. I bought this match on amazon and saw last nigh, this is a really epic match between Borg and Mac, it had it all..................and the most exquisite technique. It´s difficult to compare eras but mac-borg 80 is the best match i´ve ever seen along with roger-nadal 2008.

[davebeast123]

so... Thers a better boxer now than muhammad ali.

Thers a better footballer now than maradonna/pele.

Thers a better tennis player now than Borg/mcenroe.

How many other sports u want me to name?

[semieden]

Mike Tyson was better than Ali in his prime. Federer is the greatest tennis player that ever was. Pele is still the greatest, i'll give you that.

[kuhne]

I wouldnt go around saying Tyson was better than Ali in his prime when the guy lost to pretty much every legend he faced. He owned everyone, thats true but when he fought Holyfield and Lewis he crumbled badly. I am not saying Mike couldnt knock Ali out.. if that left hook lands Mike Tyson can knock out a fucking elephant. all I am saying is I wouldnt be too sure thats all, plus it is boxing..its not like tennis. Statistics can go to hell when all it takes is one heavyweigh punch to change it all

[jayko94]

yes, but moments back then are better than today.

[deedee51687]

Yes I agree with you. Back in those days the skill, grace and precision players like Borg, Mcenroe, Evert and all the others played with is undeniable. It's always so amazing to see how time has changed the sport of tennis.

[davebeast123]

Federer plays with that skill

[dcasey77]

Is this the match where an important call when against McEnroe and he stood there for a while trying to maintain his composure and in the end, decided not to contest it?

I've only ever seen this moment once on a TV repeat, I'd like to see it again.

It's odd that he never lost his temper when he played Borg.

[thanksgivingman]

i think it was stupid by borg to go to net on his first matchpoints, sooner or later mcenore should have run into net , thank god he won in the fifth! i remember this game like yesterday! mvh vik sweden

[hikari890]

To be good at tennis you need a Bandana , Borg and McEnroe , and Federer and Nadal.

[acorntechnique]

To be good at tennis you need a good attitude, Borg, Federer and Nadal..

[hikari890]

I guess some people don't know when people are kidding xD

[Oreoclan]

Dude... Borg and McEnroe aren't wearing bandannas... -.- They're wearing headbands fool! Bandannas are easy to identify because they are tied in the back (and the cloth sticking out isn't excessively long).

[jdmars02]

One of the greatest Wimbledon finals ever! Only Federer and Nadal have come close to the excitement.

Of course I never saw Laver and Rosewall play either...