Connors US Open 1974 v Rosewall 1/2

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.

Jimmy Connors? Big serve? Just shows you know nothing

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!

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.

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

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?

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).

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.

nadal would slaughter these mugs!

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.