Wimbledon Classics - Borg vs McEnroe 1981 / 1982 DVD

1980: As The Wimbledon Championships moved into the eighties they were greeted by a most memorable Gentleman's Singles Final. 1980 saw Sweden's Bjorn Borg face promising 21-year-old American John McEnroe. Borg had four Wimbledon titles under his belt so was the firm favourite. McEnroe however had shown his potential two years earlier reaching the semi-final from the qualifying stages. Vastly contrasting in character Borg remained calm and composed whilst McEnroe was openly emotional and determined. McEnroe made a swift start to take the opening set 6-1 but Borg... fought back against the left-hander's net attack and won the next two sets. In the fourth at 5-4 40-15 it seemed that Borg had secured his fifth Wimbledon title but McEnroe hadn't finished. He produced two fearless shots to escape defeat and then went to play one of the greatest tie-breaks in tennis history. Borg failed to convert five more Championship points and McEnroe levelled the match in two sets all by winning the tie-break 18-16. The battle continued but eventually it was the Swede who triumphed after three hours and 53 minutes taking the final set 8-6. Borg had won his fifth consecutive Wimbledon title. He hurled his racket into the air and sank to his knees in sheer relief. This is the whole match. 1981: There has been numerous classic encounters during The Wimbledon Championships none more so than the 1981 men's Final between John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. There could not have been two more contrasting characters McEnroe renowned for his temper tantrums and Borg the ice-cool and reserved Swede. Despite losing to McEnroe in the 1980 US Open Borg was seeded number 1 and most people expected him to extend his awesome record of five successive Wimbledon titles to six by winning the 1981 Final. With a semi-final win over Jimmy Connors Borg had not been defeated at Wimbledon in 41 matches and McEnroe seeded number 2 had not been taken beyond four sets in any one match. The stage was set for a classic encounter between two legendary players and the crowd and television audiences around the world were not to be disappointed. During 202 minutes of gripping action and glorious tennis Borg and McEnroe battled it out for the most coveted title in the world tennis pushing their levels of physical and mental endurance to the uttermost limits. Borg took the first set 6-4 the next two sets went to nail-biting tie breaks in McEnroe's favour and the American then went to win the fourth 6-4. McEnroe captured the crown signalling the end of Borg's Wimbledon rule and by the time of the next championships Borg had retired. However this classic match remains in the memory as one of the most unforgettable of Wimbledon Finals. This is the whole match. [show more]

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