Roland Garros 1985 + Wimbledon 1982

The best Americans born in the 50s (John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors) wasted their last reasonable chances to win in Paris. It was a tournament that seemed to be fully controlled by Ivan Lendl – the Czechoslovak had been winning during the fortnight set after set easily but it was finally snapped in the final and he lost three straight sets to Mats Wilander. The 20-year-old Swede entered the event not having won a tournament in 1985. He captured his second Roland Garros title in a different style than he did it in 1982 when he’d based his whole game on regular ground-strokes. In 1985 it was a mix of solid baseline strokes and finesse at the net. Read more…

The first Wimbledon in nine years without Bjorn Borg, who played finals in six previous editions grabbing five titles. It created a unique opportunity for Jimmy Connors’ resurgence because he had lost four matches to Borg at Wimbledon in five past years… ‘Jimbo’ claimed his 6th major – the first one since 1978, beating fellow American John McEnroe in a tight, but rather ugly 5-set battle, despite committing 13 double faults not having served an ace. The only Wimbledon in which all fourth round matches were concluded in straight sets. Read more…