Lendl Agassi New Haven 1993

Some points from the 1993 New Haven Lendl Agassi quarterfinals, Agassi won 63 64
Lendl was 34 years old at that time.

Thanks to www.espantalagata.com.ar

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Lendl
• Agassi
• tennis
• tenis

[ARTZY64]

@ARTZY64 That's Wally Masur

[ARTZY64]

@DexterHaven49 Re Lendl I remember him being introduced a few years ago at a US Open ceremony honouring former champions, and there was just a smattering of applause for poor Ivan. He was definitely under-appreciated in the USA.

[DexterHaven49]

@ARTZY64 Good points. In Sampras's autobiography, he spoke of being invited to train with Lendl at his home in Conn. He learned about getting up early, bike riding, diet, fitness and practicing as if he had a ten-hour day job at a law office. A few months later, Sampras applied his new strengths at the U.S Open. He defeated Lendl with it and broke Lendl's record of 8 straight finals! It was a bitter defeat for Lendl. They faced each other soon after the Open, and Lendl pasted Sampras, though.

[ARTZY64]

@Metalforever0083 I recall Lendl changed to the larger frame (Mizuno) one year, specifically for Wimbledon. I thought that was the only reason... I might be wrong. But I DO remember earlier in his career Lendl avoided Wimbledon, using the excuse that he was 'allergic to grass'... yet showing up on the golf courses back in the US, during Wimbledon haha.

[ARTZY64]

@DexterHaven49 Yeah, according to Boris Becker, Lendl wanted to destroy every opponent 6-0, 6-0. An article back in the day compared Lendl and Yannick Noah... saying Lendl was ruthless, a killing machine; while Noah, although arguably more talented than Lendl, was nowhere near that level of intensity. And a trainer who had worked with dozens of pro athletes called Lendl the greatest athlete he ever worked with. Lendl was really the father of the modern power tennis game.

[ARTZY64]

@DexterHaven49 Lendl was my favorite player, but he was seen as cold and methodical by the press and fans alike. In post-match interviews he was sarcastic with reporters apparently... he couldn't stand the same old dumb questions evidently. I remember in 1979 when he first showed up in Toronto, the press referred to him as 'Darth Vadar', what with his black tennis outfits and stoic, unemotional appearance. But I took to him immediately, since he played a power baseline game.

[ARTZY64]

@BuddhaShiva1 I was at that Canadian Open final. If memory serves. Lendl won the first set, but Agassi took the third 6-0. Lendl was already experiencing the back problems that would cause his retirement in 1994 (I think)... in fact in an earlier match in the 1992 Toronto tournament, I recall Lendl stretching his back before beating Wall Masur 6-0, 6-0

[joeman5493]

lendl was the perfect tennis villian....physical, powerful, machine-like consistency coupled with cold on-court personality....he consistent success and deep runs at majors made him almost like a "final boss" for his contemporarys...no wonder the 80s were the best time in tennis

[Nick410s]

@DexterHaven49 Didn't know this story about Lendl, but I know he was not a fan favorite despite having won 8 grand slam titles during his career. We will probably not see the 8 consecutive US Open finals matched anytime soon, if ever, but Federer did come close. He made 6 US Open finals, and won 5 of them, which is probably more impressive than Lendl's accomplishment. Sampras also made 8 US Open finals, but won 5 of them. Lenedl won 3/8.

[DexterHaven49]

@Nick410s Lendl was seen as a poor sportsman after and article ran in a magazine that said that after his victories, he'd watch the match on tape with his friends, drink, and laugh at his opponent's mistakes. That was seen as cruel and egotistical and stuck in the mind's of fans. But I heard Lendl made the finals of the US Open for eight years in a row. When's that going to happen again, by anyone?