Borg / Laver at Hilton Head

1976 SF action between Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver at the World Invitational Tennis Classic at Hilton Head. Borg would go on to defeat Laver to move on to the final where he disposed of Arthur Ashe.

Held between 1973 and 1977, The World Invitational Tennis Classic (WITC) was a unique event where both men and women competed in the same competition. The matches were played in the standard singles and doubles disciplines whereby, apart from mixed doubles, men only played men and women only played women in a round-robin format. (source: imgmediaarchive.com)

Details...

Semi-finals:
Borg d. Laver 6-3, 7-5
Ashe d. Nastase 4-6, 6-4, 7-6

Final:
Borg d. Ashe 6-1, 6-2

More information: http://www.imgmediaarchive.com/home/browse/event/store127/item1575/

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• bjorn
• borg
• rod
• laver
• witc
• hilton
• head
• tennis
• 1976

[vindo112]

that's the greatest player of all time?? laver???

looks amateurish compared to now

[chapaev36]

Based on what? I've never seen an amateur hit a drop volley like that.

[brassbend]

good lord! Laver is 38!

[kiki82018]

@walliegirl2

Laver is TENNIS at his most.Federer is as good but Laver gives much more spectacle to the viewer.This point makes him GOAT, shoulders and elbows above Rgoer and, of course, than Sampras and Borg.

End of discussion

[AllGenreMusic]

@kiki82018 Gives much more spectacle? What? Lol. Impossible to place either one above the other, clearly the best of their times, and they are both great shotmakers of the sport. While Federer nearly has all the great records, Laver has the one record that has eluded Federer. Unfair to try to place either one above the other.

[TheTopspin77]

@absolutebore You are so correct! Everyone plays the same except Federer and a couple of others. Nothing but two-hand bachand baseline bashers!

[kiki82018]

@Pitonto

Just right¡¡ they do not even play te same sport¡¡¡ I´d pay like 50 times more to see Laver at 38 than Nadal at 24

[y11971alex]

@wilx218x

Perhaps a majority of them. But Borg hits a lot of topspin too.

The shots at 1:17 and 1:27 would be impossible to retrieve even for Nadal.

With all due respect Nadal is a great player too.

[wilx218x]

@y11971alex I just feel that Nadal is too physical and strong. He consistenly handles opponents that are taller & perhaps faster. Too all respect to Laver, but he is only 5.9" & probably weight no more than 165lbs. Nadal's topspin would kick so high, that Laver would be forced to hit his groundstrokes probably at eye level. Not a good thing. I'm blessed to have seen Nadal play in person, & OMG the pace & spin that this guy hits is mindblowing!  Nadal would get all of Laver's shots.

[y11971alex]

@wilx218x Maybe not against Federer. But Nadal? Laver could beat him in 3 sets.

Laver is one of the most famous topspin players of all times. Maybe Laver could generate more topspin than Nadal!

[wilx218x]

@notthelastword Do you really think so? Laver was a great player, but Federer in my opinion as well as Rafa would dismantle Laver simply because of much superiour physical conditioning. Bring Laver to this hera at 25, or 26 & even with the modern racquets he would not stand a chance against Fed, or Rafa. How do you think Rod would handle Nadal's mind blowing topspin? Guys like Murray and Soderling have a hard time dealing with it & they are much stronger & faster, & taller than Laver.

[notthelastword]

Laver I think if we factor out modern advantages in racquet technology is better than Federer. More touch and instinct.

[pablotjob]

green clay????