SteemSports Presenter: @writingamigo
SteemSports Editor: @theprophet0
Tennis is one of the most sophisticated and dramatic sports, and no one could deny it. It is all about the winning in many sports, but in tennis, it is also about how you win. Just look at the likes of Federer, Nadal, Aggasi, or any other great champion, and you will see that those people are true gentlemen who focus on winning but never forget true sportsmanship as well. However, tennis is a cruel sport, and there can be only one winner out of 128 people who start the tournament (I'm talking about Grand Slams here). And I can only imagine how hard it must be to lose on a final day when in your mind, the title is already somewhere on your trophy shelf. And yet again, only one person can win. And for me, there is no better example of how dramatic tennis is than the Wimbledon final in 1980 between Björn Borg and John McEnroe.
In 1980 Borg already established his name as the great champion. He had won 4 previous Wimbledon titles, and fans wanted the fifth in a row. And Borg did not like the pressure at all. He was emotionally drained and had problems coping with his feelings before the tournament, especially when the American media indicated that John McEnroe could defeat Borg.
McEnroe was still a little boy at that time, but his talent was undeniable. Even though he was hated by tennis fans because of his outbursts, cursing, and emotional instability, no one dared to deny that McEnroe was a real deal and the only person who could defeat Brog in Wimbledon. But for starters, both players had to get to the finals first. And of course, they did. There wouldn't be a movie if they didn't, right?
The match between Borg and McEnroe remains one of the most controversial and highly anticipated finals in any sport ever. Tennis fans supported Borg with all their hearts and even booed McEnroe on the court, which was an unusual thing to do. But once again, McEnroe was not your usual kid as well. Anyway, the final started with McEnroe taking the first set in a blink of an eye, shutting all his haters up. Later, Borg found his rhythm and won the next two sets. That is when the real show began.
The fourth set, especially the tiebreaker, of 1980 Wimbledon final might be the greatest set ever playing in tennis history. Borg threw everything at McEnroe and had an uncountable number of Championship points, but McEnroe, a fragile kid who tried to hide his nerves behind cursing and shouting, stood strong. If there are still people who don't know how that match ended, I will not spoil it, but the ones who know should watch this original recording of the best moments of the final. Oh boy, that was something.
So, if you want to understand a little more about tennis, especially what's happening behind the closed curtains, you must watch Borg McEnroe. It might not be a cinematic masterpiece, but if you have a soft spot for tennis, you will love this movie. As for me, I understood even better how much pressure do those players take before the huge tournaments. I can totally understand why Borg retired early in his career. I mean, he won so much, and he decided that spending time with family and enjoying life was more important than chasing after another trophy which would cost him emotional freedom.
Today, Borg and McEnroe are good friends, and they have said numerous times that they don't care about playing each other in that legendary final. They are more focused on living their lives in the present and not dwelling on something that happened almost 40 years ago. And even though the media showed those two players as complete opposites, they both agree that they are and were extremely similar as human-beings.
Every tennis fan must be familiar with the rivalry of those two and Borg Mcenroe is a great way to start. Also, it is an entertaining movie even for those who don't appreciate sports as it is also about the drama that people go through to achieve their goals.
Both of them was write a great history. My father told a good story about them too.
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Interesting write-up. I just have a different recollection of it - though I was very young at the time. I know all-but-one of my older siblings thought Borg to be boring. And they certainly didn't hate McEnroe who added so much colour to a sometimes-dull sport by wearing his heart on his sleeve, so to speak.
It sounds like a film to watch. Cheers for posting.
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