1983 Australian Open Mens semi-final & Final

[Vince Evert]

Good to find this memorable SF in top-notch quality, too. 1983 was the year that some of the top men players started to play the australian open again, namely McEnroe, Lendl, Wiander and Noah - 4 of the top 5 ranked.

If you like (and miss) the way grass-court tennis used to be, then this relic is for you. Mats proved that he had a serve-volley game that year.

 

[Vince Evert]

Mats WILANDER - The road to Australian Open 1983 (November 29 - December 11, 1983)...

Bye... (First round)

(3) M. Wilander defeated (Unseeded) B. Testerman, 6-4,4-6,6-7,6-3,6-3

(3) M.Wilander d. R. Tanner (Unseeded), 6-4,6-7,6-3,6-1

(3) M. Wilander d. (16) P. McNamee, 6-4,6-2,7-6, R.16

(3) M. Wilander d. (5) J. Kriek, 6-3,6-4,7-6, Quarter-final

(3) M. Wilander d. (2) J. McEnroe, 4-6,6-3,6-4,6-4, Semi-final

(3) M. Wilander d. (1) I. Lendl, 6-1,6-4,6-4, Final

https://www.itftennis.com/en/tournament/australian-open/aus/1983/m-sl-aus-01a-1983/draws-and-results/

. Mats and doubles partner Joachim NYSTROM also beat McEnroe and Peter FLEMING in the doubles third round, 6-3,3-6,6-2 only to loose to the Gullikson brothers in the next round.

 

[Vince Evert]

UPDATE
the 1983 final Wilander versus Lendl is now officially available on the Australian Open youtube channel.

40 years ago !

Tennis broadcasting certainly has come a long way. Camera angles looked pedestrian bac then and just two commentators on Seven network, Allan Stone (ex player) and Peter Landy (who was more of a football announcer, bit like what you had with Pat Summerall and Tony Trabert partnership for the Open back in the day).