In the history of tennis, few players remained as an indelible mark like John McEnroe.
At the end of the 1970s and 80s of the 20th century, it dominated the tennis scene, which was known for its fiery temperament, unique skill and independent presence of the court. Like many of his contemporaries, his way to size was interrupted by hard and entertaining rivals, each contributing to the rich tapestry of his career.
Bjorn Borg – Removing ice versus fire:
McEnroe rivalry with a cool, composed Bjorn Borg of electrified tennis courts around the world. Their collision in the Wimbledon finals in 1980 is engraved into a tennis tradition. In a match that was considered one of the largest, when he had ever played, McEnroe’s fire intensity again collided with Borg’s ice behavior. Although McEnroe would lose in five epics, McEnroe will be known forever by winning an incredible 34-point tie who will take the fourth set.
Jimmy Connors – Battle of Willpower:
The rivalry between Mcenroe and Jimmy Connors was powered by their contrasting personalities and styles of playing. Unlike Borg, there was no love between the two. They don’t like them. That was for better tennis! Connors, The Gritty Baseliner and McEliner, the artistic and Volleyer, have been dealing with numerous unforgettable duels. Their clash in the US Open semi -final in 1984 stands out, while McEnroe won the hard -watered five -member battle. Their rivalry embodied Clash of Wills on the tennis court, so fans remained charming their toughness.
Ivan Lendl – Mental War:
McEnroe rivalry with Ivan Lendl was characterized by their contrasting temperaments and gaming styles. Lendl relied on hard work and fitness, while McEnroein talent was effortless. The Stoic Behavior of Lendl and the relentless basic game was a terrible challenge for McEnroe’s Serve and the volley -style. Their rivalry achieved their Zenit in the French Open finals from 1984, where Lendl secured his first Grand Slam over McEnroe victory in an exhausting five hours. Their matches embodied the mental wars associated with elite tennis, because both players moved each other to the border.
Boris Becker – Clash of Generations:
The occurrence of Boris Becker in the mid -1980s added a new dimension to McEnroe rivalry. Becker’s explosive administration and fearless game of the net was a new challenge for McEnroe’s dominance. Although they only pass 10 times during their career, they should have one of the most memorable matches in the history of Davis Cup. In a match that would last six and a half hours, Becker would win with a score of 4-6, 15 13, 8-10, 6-2, 6-2. It was also back in the rules of no-spiebreak Davis Cup!
In view, John McEnroe’s journey to tennis size was defined not only by his remarkable talent, but also by the hard rivalry that shaped his career. Every opponent brought the best in it and left a lasting heritage that still inspires tennis fans.
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