Bjorn Borg (SWE) vs John McEnroe (USA)
Men's Singles Final - 1980
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In any assessment of great sporting moments of the 20th Century, the fourth set tie break of the 1980 Wimbledon Gentlemen's Singles final between the defending champion Bjorn Borg of Sweden and John McEnroe of the USA has earned an unchallenged place.
Borg was then 24 and was playing in his fifth consecutive Wimbledon final having won the previous four. For McEnroe, who had uniquely reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 1977 from the distant starting point of the qualifying tournament, this was his first appearance in the final at the age of 21 and he had justified his second seeding, especially after defeating the former champion Jimmy Connors in the semi-finals. Borg dropped two sets on the way to the final while McEnroe had lost three.
McEnroe's semi-final victory over Connors had included an official warning against him by the umpire, and when he entered the Centre Court to start the final he was not accorded the best of receptions by the crowd. But within minutes Borg and McEnroe had the spectators enthralled as the rich tapestry of the final began to unfold before them.
The tie break had been in operation at Wimbledon since 1971. Initially it was brought into play at eight games all but in 1979 this was changed to six games all.
The Borg-McEnroe tie break was to make history. It was to range over 22 minutes, produce 34 contested points, which is a record for a Wimbledon final, and from start to finish produced moment after moment of changing fortunes.
Inevitably match points and set points followed in a tantalising sequence with Borg first reaching match points at 6-5 and 7-6. McEnroe, next, held and lost two set points before Borg, even more agonisingly, missed three match points as McEnroe dealt with them firmly with a sequence of a great serve, a net cord, and a volley.
McEnroe now stayed out in front, holding and losing four set points before capturing the set on his fifth chance. Against Borg's serve, McEnroe's viciously top spun return produced a volley error from the Swede - and the match was all square after just over three hours on court.
Borg went for broke in the deciding set, hitting eighty per
cent of his first serves and losing only three points on serve
in the entire set. McEnroe contributed fully to this astonishing
final and twice served to save the match. But Borg, cold-eyed
in sight of a title which would make him the first to win
five in a row since the abolition of the Challenge Round,
finally reached his eighth match point when McEnroe missed
a low volley. A backhand passing shot ended it and Borg was
Champion by 1-6 7-4 6-3 6-7 8-6.
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