Slams that got away

[Kieran]

When was lendl close to winning wimbledon. He never stood a chance in either of his finals ?

Well, that's in hindsight. Becker was much greater on grass, but still, I think Lendl took him to five sets one year, from memory. And who could tell that he'd lose in straights to Pat Cash before that match? It was a great performance by Cash, but Lendl was favourite going into the match.

But Fiero is right, it wasn't a natural surface for Lendl. He did well most years at Wimbledon, though...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

It was widely known at that time itself (not just in hindsight) that Wimbledon
is Lendl's holy grail. Lendl's style of play was just not suited for grass of that time.
Actually, in the modern slowed down grass Lendl might stand a chance against
the players whom he opposed at that time.

As an aside the slogan after the victory by Pat Cash was

CASH IS BETTER THAN CZECH.

 

[Kieran]

Cash bounces Czech is how I recall it, but yeah, it was a headline waiting to happen.

I didn't say that we know in hindsight that grass was Lendl's least favorite surface. I said we know in hindsight now that he "never stood a chance" against Cash. Before the final, a lot of people fancied his chances very much, but eventually he was outplayed...

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

that 1987 wimbledon final was really tense and tight for a long time until deep into set 2..i think the first set took over 1 hr..

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I think Nadal might look at this year's AO as one that got away for various reasons.

 

[Fiero425]

I think Nadal might look at this year's AO as one that got away for various reasons.

The AO is Nadal's worst major, just in front of the WTF in nov. each season's end! He'll be back on track if he takes another FO; calm down people! :snigger uzzled :angel:

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I think Nadal might look at this year's AO as one that got away for various reasons.

The AO is Nadal's worst major, just in front of the WTF in nov. each season's end! He'll be back on track if he takes another FO; calm down people! :snigger uzzled :angel:

That's exactly what I mean. AO is his worst slam, and he had someone across the net that has never won against him before. He has reasons to see it as one that got away.

 

[Fiero425]

I think Nadal might look at this year's AO as one that got away for various reasons.

The AO is Nadal's worst major, just in front of the WTF in nov. each season's end! He'll be back on track if he takes another FO; calm down people! :snigger uzzled :angel:

That's exactly what I mean. AO is his worst slam, and he had someone across the net that has never won against him before. He has reasons to see it as one that got away.

I've been screaming for upsets like this to occur more frequently! I can't stand how the top players have skated by for years with nary an upset until now! In the old days, you could depend on Sampras going down to Ulrich or Krajicek! Dimitrov finally beat Murray last week in Mexico! Is it the beginning of the end for the top echelon? :clap :nono uzzled

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I am all for upsets brother, as long as they are not against Roger

 

[tented]

I think Nadal might look at this year's AO as one that got away for various reasons.

Some commentators on the Tennis Channel recently said that Rafa now claims this was his biggest loss ever, surpassing the '07 Wimbledon final.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

When was lendl close to winning wimbledon. He never stood a chance in either of his finals ?

i remember all the chatter about lendl back then..it was all comments like "well lendl IS much better now although not a natural serve n volley merchant, he's got the skills and temperament, but can he really beat the likes of McEnroe/Edberg/becker"

I always thought he would win Wimbledon but also he was a bit unlucky..one of the becker sf when he was in control before rain made them stop (if I remember right ?)..but that's part of the deal.

 

[Fiero425]

When was lendl close to winning wimbledon. He never stood a chance in either of his finals ?

I remember all the chatter about Lendl back then. It was all comments like "well Lendl IS much better now although not a natural serve n volley merchant, he's got the skills and temperament, but can he really beat the likes of McEnroe/Edberg/becker?"

I always thought he would win Wimbledon ...but also he was a bit unlucky. One of the Becker sf's when he was in control before rain made them stop (if I remember right?) ...but that's part of the deal.

For someone with no real grasscourt skills, he did very well not to be upended early from more specialist like Mayotte! Lendl often had to go 5 sets, but he got to the semi and final more than most who even have a title! It's of little consolation, but if I were him, I'd be proud of that accomplisment! As good as Sampras was at Wimbledon, he had quite a few horrid lapses going down to nobodies and never-weres! Borg was a lot like that; had tough times making all those finals, but was more than lucky enough to take 5 titles! Lendl truly was the most "unlucky" of great champions!

 

[Ricardo]

Agreed with Lendl, it seemed so many times he was in the big finals his opponents just up their games by notches to beat him while his own performance was quite ordinary, which is reasonable since he was known to tense up in Slam finals (lost 4 straight finals before he finally got one). Not sure one can call it bad luck, just the way it always turned out!!

I also still think Lendl's legacy has been under-rated just like him as a person.