McEnroe vs Lendl - 1982 U.S. Open SF Highlights

[Vince Evert]

Great to see this on YT -

McEnroe's 26 match winning streak at the USO came to a decisive end. As brilliant as Lendl was in this SF match, he was average in the final the next day losing to Connors in 4.[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo08fbEdCiE[/video]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LRwHMhgsyE[/video]

 

[Kieran]

I remember watching this match, live on telly. It was the first close-hand view of the new power tennis that Lendl was to instigate, and which has never really gone away. The sport was never the same, after Lendl came along bashing everything in sight. From memory, Mac even fell over trying to control a Lendl forehand. He was murdered that day.

The next day, Ivan dropped a calf in a match I expected him to win, even easier than the semi. It goes to show, majors aren't won by talent - it's what's between the ears that counts most of all...

 

[Vince Evert]

Yes Ivan was a shadow of himself in the final vs Jimmy. Hey I have done a two part highlights of the match because the previous video by LendlTennis left out most of the third set. Mine is more of an overview in 20 sparkling minutes-

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ1zHEsjmhE[/video]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pROj54_bDPE[/video]

 

[Kieran]

Just watched the first one, will watch the second one later. Two things are clear from the first vid: just how great a player Lendl was, in all areas of the game, and how difficult to beat he could be when he was in this form, and also, how Mac's arguing with everyone around him had little or nothing to do with the line calls, and all to do with trying to disrupt his opponent and influence the chair, and lines people. He knew he was in trouble, and so it was also a form of excuse-making. At two points away from losing the first set, he approaches the ump and bellows, "the ball was clearly out, that's the only reason I'm questioning it."

Actually, the ball was clearly inside the line, and the only reason he's questioning it is the scoreboard... :nono

 

[Vince Evert]

well he hadn't beaten Lendl in two years (1980 US Open Quarterfinal in 4 sets) so he was getting desperate. I just think him using a wood racquet had a lot to do with his defeat. Back in the day, Lendl was able to exploit that John groundies was not anywhere near as hard and so often his serve volley was ruthlessly dealt with by Ivan in this, and other matches. Mcenroe changed to a graphite in 1983 and that halted Lendl's winning run.