THROWBACK VIDEO: Borg survives McEnroe in thrilling 1980 Wimbledon final
ATPWednesday, 06 May 2020 at 09:45
Barring some exceptions, tennis has been known to be viewed as a gentleman's sport, with competitors shelving their true emotions until they leave the court. John McEnroe however, did not abide by those standards.
The American legend was known to be rather volatile during his time, unleashing his temperament on not just officials but fellow players as well. Nonetheless, he was still an extremely talented player, and outplayed his competition to reach the Wimbledon final for the first time in 1980.
Facing McEnroe would be Swedish rival Bjorn Borg, who was looking to win his fifth consecutive Wimbledon title. Borg was known for his stoic demeanor on court, whereas McEnroe was famous for his on-court tantrums. Their rivalry was aptly titled "Fire and Ice" and this edition lived up to expectations.
Regarded as one of the greatest matches ever played, the final saw both men compete at the highest level. The fourth-set tiebreaker lasted 20 minutes, and saw McEnroe prevail 18-16 after saving five championship points. However, Borg would eventually triumph 1-6 7-5 6-3 6-7(16) 8-6 in just under four hours.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf0yfEfvMHE[/embed]
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