US Open 1985

1985 US Open: John McEnroe was the defending champion at the US Open that year. After his disappointing performance at Wimbledon, he had regrouped himself and was back in form. He had won two hard court tournaments in August. He had defeated his nemesis Lendl in the final of both tournaments. McEnroe was clearly the favorite to win the US Open that year. Other strong contenders were Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Mats Wilander and the latest teenage sensation Boris Becker. The first week of the Grand Slam tournament that year was quite eventful. In the first round McEnroe met the unheralded Glickstein of Israel. The unseeded Glickstein was supposed to be a pushover for the choleric champion from Queens in New York City. As it turned out, Glickstein was far away from easily falling prey to a vulpine McEnroe. First Round: McEnroe swiftly won the first set 6-1. In the second set, Glickstein showed a lot of grit to take the set to a tiebreak. In the tiebreak, Glickstein swept the rug under McEnroe’s feet. Glickstein won the second set and leveled the match. Glickstein played the tennis of his life to capture the third set 6-2. At this point, Glickstein was ahead of the reigning champion by two sets to one. Glickstein was only a set away from tossing away the peerless McEnroe out of the US Open in the Big Apple, the latter’s backyard. It would indeed be humiliating for a wizard like McEnroe to beaten in his own backyard. Nonetheless, a spectacular upset was looking inevitable. Even the crowd was egging on Glickstein. The rambunctious crowd wanted Glickstein to vanquish McEnroe. The Center Court resembled the Gladiatorial arena of Rome. At this moment, the incomparable John McEnroe clawed his way back into the match to win the fourth set 6-3. The match was back on an even keel. As the match headed into the fifth set, the southpaw from Queens was the unequivocal favorite to win the match with his potent mix of incredible talent and tremendous experience. Glickstein served first in the fifth set. It was 1-1 when McEnroe broke Glickstein to go up 2-1. McEnroe held his serve to make it 3-1. It finally looked like Glickstein would unravel in the deciding set. Nevertheless, the Israeli refused to cave in. Glickstein held on to his serve and denied the defending champion a double break advantage in the final set. It was 3-2 with McEnroe to serve. The doughty Glickstein broke McEnroe for the first time in the fifth set and equalized the score to 3-3 in the fifth set. In the seventh game of the fifth and final set, Glickstein moved easily to 30-0. This is when McEnroe hit back to win four consecutive points in a row. McEnroe had broken back the Israeli athlete. The defending champion was now poised comfortably to win this titanic struggle. Everybody expected the unseeded guy from Israel to finally fold. This is when the impossible happened. Glickstein broke McEnroe’s serve nonchalantly again. In fact, McEnroe lost his service game at love to Glickstein. It was 4-4. Glickstein won his service game at love. It was now Glickstein who led 5-4. At 4-5, McEnroe would serve to stay in the match. McEnroe started the game badly. At 15-30 on serve, McEnroe was on the verge of being knocked out in the first round. The writing was on the wall. McEnroe was going to be eliminated by a pedestrian player. The media would have a field day. This is when McEnroe’s vaunted serve came to his rescue. McEnroe won his service game by a whisker. It was 5-5. Both players held their serves again to make the score 6-6. The fifth set would be decided in a tiebreaker. The match would go down to the wire. The tiebreaker was a seesaw contest. McEnroe jumped ahead to 3-1. He then lost the next two points to Glickstein as the latter took rearguard action. It was 3-3. McEnroe seized the initiative and won three successive points to ease to a 6-3 lead. At triple match point, McEnroe would serve out the match. McEnroe made a couple of unforced errors. It was now 6-5 in favor of McEnroe. But this time Glickstein would serve the next two points. Glickstein saved the third match point to make it 6-6 as McEnroe netted the ball. McEnroe won the next point on Glickstein’s serve courtesy of a good smash. McEnroe now had his fourth match point at 7-6. A great return of serve by Glickstein and an erroneous shot by McEnroe cost the champion his fourth match point. It was 7-7. McEnroe hits a service winner and climbs to a 8-7 lead. McEnroe gets his fifth matchpoint. Finally, on his fifth match point, a dogged McEnroe closes out the match. McEnroe wins the tiebreak 9-7. It is through sheer mental resolve that McEnroe won this grueling first round encounter. Nevertheless, a lionhearted performance by Glickstein endeared him to the New York crowd. Even in defeat, Glickstein emerged figuratively as the winner as he won the hearts and minds of the residents of the world’s greatest city. Boris Becker, in his first round match, demolished Peter Doohan of Australia. Meanwhile, the Wimbledon runner-up namely Kevin Curren could make no impact on New York. He let the loud New York spectators get under his skin. Curren lost his equanimity and match. It was a disappointing performance by Curren as he tamely lost to the Frenchman Guy Forget. Forget won 7-6 6-1 6-2. In other matches, Connors toiled hard to oust Gary Muller in four sets while Lendl crushed Jay Lapidus 6-2 6-1 6-3. The legendary Ilie Nastase had no fairytale ending to his Grand Slam career as the garden-variety Mike Bauer knocked him out in the opening round. Among the distinguished Swedish tennis players, Mats Wilander, the undisputed leader of the pack among the extant players, routed the veteran tennis player Vijay Amritraj of India in straight sets. Wilander beat Amritraj 6-2 6-4 6-4. Martin Jaite of Argentina upset Henrik Sundstrom, Sweden’s Davis Cup hero, in four sets. Stefan Edberg, who is the best serve and volleyer after McEnroe, added a feather in his cap by knocking out the seasoned Argentine player Jose Luis Clerc with considerable ease. The scoreline read 6-4 6-3 6-3 in favor of Edberg. Second Round: In the second round, Jimmy Connors ousted Hank Pfister in straight sets while Stefan Edberg knocked out Ken Flach from the US Open. Brian Teacher beat Scott Davis to advance to the third round. In the battle of the Frenchmen, the talented Henri Leconte dispatched Guy Forget in straight sets. The German wunderkind namely Boris Becker pummeled his obscure opponent and reached the third round. McEnroe got absolutely no resistance from his hapless opponent and strutted onto the third round. Lendl, Wilander and Jimmy Arias also reached the third round while Greg Holmes toppled the two-time Grand Slam champion Johan Kriek of South Africa. Third Round: Mats Wilander had a tough match against Paul Annacone. The Swede won in four sets namely 6-3 6-7 7-6 6-1. Wilander battled hard to overcome Annacone. Anders Jarryd defeated Tim Wilkinson. Joakim Nystrom bullied Dan Goldie into capitulation. Another Swede who advanced to the fourth round was Stefan Edberg. Edberg, a copybook serve and volley artist, won a hard fought encounter against the tough cookie Brad Gilbert. Edberg lost the first set to Gilbert but doggedly fought on to win in four sets. Edberg would meet the legendary veteran Jimmy Connors in the fourth round. Connors, in turn, had taken out Thierry Tulasne of France from the tournament with utter disdain. Ivan Lendl had waltzed into the fourth round with style as the Argentine Horacio de la Pena proved to be a no-contest for him. Ivan’s next opponent would be Jaime Yzaga of Peru. Tim Mayotte ousted Nduka Odizor of Nigeria in three sets. Mayotte’s opponent in the fourth round would be the Swede Anders Jarryd. McEnroe had an easy match against Bud Schultz. McEnroe would meet the Czech Tomas Smid in the fourth round. Smid had a marathon match against Jimmy Arias of USA. Smid staged a heroic comeback to beat the gifted Arias. Smid fought back from a two set down deficit to win the last three sets in a titanic struggle. The McEnroe-Smid fourth round match looked set to be a thrilling contest. Nevertheless, McEnroe was the heavy favorite to win. The Wimbledon champion Boris Becker won in three tough sets against Kelly Evernden. Becker won 7-6 6-3 7-6. The first and third sets were a bit too close for Becker’s comfort level. Becker was probably slightly fortuitous against the New Zealander Evernden. Becker’s next opponent in the fourth round would be Joakim Nystrom, the Swede with the deadpan expression on his face. Becker had vanquished Nystrom at Wimbledon and looked certain to repeat his deed against the robotic Swede at Flushing Meadows. If Becker and McEnroe knocked out their respective opponents, they were bound to meet in the quarterfinals. Everybody was waiting in baited breath to watch this much-hyped, classic encounter between these two crowd pullers. The promising Jay Berger outclassed the veteran Brian Teacher in a competitive match. Berger sets up a fourth round clash with the 1983 French Open champ Yannick Noah. Noah, the Frenchman, defenestrated the handsome Vitas Gerulaitis. The aging veteran Gerulaitis could not hold a candle to the charismatic Noah. Finally, the big-serving Swiss Heinz Gunthardt outlasted Martin Jaite of Argentina in a five setter. Gunthardt’s opponent in the fourth round would be Henri Leconte of France. Fourth Round: Yannick Noah set up a quarterfinal clash with Ivan Lendl. Noah banished Berger from the US Open. Noah won in four sets. Ivan Lendl, too, won his match in four sets against Jaime Yzaga. The Lendl-Noah collision in the quarters will probably garner a big crowd. In another match of big servers, Heinz Gunthardt showed Henri Leconte the door. Gunthardt cemented his reputation as a five set specialist by winning another five setter this year. This victory is in addition to his five set victories at Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year. Gunthardt knocked out the incredibly gifted Leconte in a five-set encounter. Gunthardt’s quarterfinal opponent would be Jimmy Connors. Connors ended Edberg’s hopes by defeating him in four sets. Connors simply repeated the dogged performance he had shown earlier this year against Edberg at the French Open. In majors so far, Connors is two zero up against Edberg. The results of other fourth round matches will soon be narrated. Mats Wilander ended Greg Holmes’s hopes of further advancement in the US Open by winning in straight sets. Another Swede called Anders Jarryd threw the American serve and volleyer Tim Mayotte out of the US Open. In a tough match, Jarryd was victorious over Mayotte. Jarryd’s quarterfinal opponent would be his compatriot and current Swedish tennis legend Mats Wilander. John McEnroe’s fourth round match against Tomas Smid was a breeze. It was a damp squib as a lackluster Smid proved no match against a magical McEnroe. McEnroe knocked out Smid in straight sets. In the biggest surprise of the fourth round, Wimbledon champion Boris Becker was upset in four sets by Sweden’s Joakim Nystrom. Becker’s ouster from the Open left the world shell-shocked. It also left the McEnroe-Becker rivalry in limbo, as the world would have to wait for another day to see the much longed for contest between these two superstars. Nystrom was a killjoy by ruining an anticipated and much hyped encounter between McEnroe and Becker. The Swede Joakim Nystrom also avenged his loss against Becker at Wimbledon by bursting the boisterous whizkid’s bubble at Flushing Meadows. Nystrom’s opponent in the quarters would be McEnroe. McEnroe took Nystrom as a serious opponent and complimented the Swede profusely. The quarterfinals were lined up as: 1. Connors v Gunthardt 2. Lendl v Noah 3. Wilander v Jarryd 4. McEnroe v Nystrom Nevertheless, before going on to the quarterfinals it would be pertinent to give a brief account of the fourth round match between Becker and Nystrom where the latter dropped a bombshell on the former and consequently dashed the hopes of New Yorkers. Nystrom outplays Becker in fourth round combat: Nystrom served first in the first set. He held his service easily. He broke Boris in the second game of the match and stormed his way to win the first set. Nystrom won the first set 6-3. Becker looked out of sorts in the first set while Nystrom’s returns were top class. In the second set too, Becker’s vapid performance continued as Nystrom broke Becker again. Becker’s insipid volleys and groundstrokes were apparent in the second set, just like the first. Nystrom won the second set 6-4. Nystrom cruised to a crucial two sets to love lead and was consolidating his hold over the match. When Nystrom won the second set here at Flushing Meadows, he put incredible pressure on Becker. It would be a daunting task for Becker to pull himself from the hole he had dug. It was a deep hole that the German had dug himself into too. Unlike Wimbledon, where Becker had won the crucial second set after losing the first one to Nystrom, two sets to love down against Nystrom was an entirely different ball game. In addition, Wimbledon’s grass court surface was much more suited to Becker’s style of play than the courts at Flushing Meadows. Here, at the US Open, Becker had problems with the steep bounce. Becker’s problems with the high bouncing ball were amplified when the ball was hit towards his backhand side. On the other hand, Nystrom’s double-handed backhand was powerful and precise. In the first two sets, Becker was slipshod. In contrast, Nystrom was firing on all cylinders with his powerful service returns and immaculate passing shots. In the third set, Becker’s groundstrokes and volleys improved considerably. Becker’s improved stroke play helped him break Nystrom’s service and win the third set. By winning the third set, Becker had helped to salvage some of his lost pride and honor. Becker’s serve was in trouble from the beginning of the fourth set. Nystrom’s heavy groundstrokes were just too good for Becker. Nystrom’s barrage of superb strokes subsequently led to Becker being broken early in the fourth set. The rest of the set went with serve. Becker’s returns lacked sting and the German could not break the Swede’s service. Nystrom won the fourth set 6-4. It was sweet revenge for Nystrom against Becker after the former’s close loss to the latter at Wimbledon two months ago. US Open 1985 Quarterfinals: The quarterfinals were very boring and lopsided. Anders Jarryd succumbed to the heat and humidity of New York. Jarryd won the first set against Wilander. Wilander took the second set to level the match. In the third set, Wilander marched to an impregnable 5-0 lead with two breaks up. At this moment, Jarryd threw in the towel. Jarryd was in visible physical discomfort due to cramps and retired hurt. Wilander walked into the semis where he would meet John McEnroe. McEnroe, in his quarterfinal encounter had bulldozed Nystrom 6-1 6-0 7-5 in straight sets. Meanwhile, Yannick Noah had proved to be a no contest for a rampaging Ivan Lendl. Lendl simply demolished Noah 6-2 6-2 6-4. Lendl swept into the semifinals, where he would meet the legendary Jimmy Connors. Connors had pancaked Heinz Gunthardt 6-2 6-2 6-4 with an array of service returns, passing shots and volleys. Semi-Finals at 1985 US Open: On a scorching Super Saturday, Mats Wilander took on John McEnroe in the first semifinal. Wilander played superbly against McEnroe. McEnroe was looking extremely uncomfortable with the searing heat. Flushing Meadows was a furnace that day. McEnroe was not only getting burnt on the tennis court but also by his phlegmatic Swedish opponent who would not concede an inch that day. Wilander was ready to incinerate McEnroe on that day. The Swede Mats Wilander was 3-0 up against John McEnroe in Grand Slam matches till date. Earlier in the year at the French Open, Wilander had snuffed out a challenge from McEnroe. It seemed like history would repeat itself at the US Open that day. Wilander, a baseliner through and through, was volleying remarkably well that day. He was serving well and followed his smooth serves with well-placed volleys. Wilander’s service returns, passing shots and lobs were simply over the top that day. Wilander easily won the first set. He dominated in the early stages of the second set but could not close it out. McEnroe clawed his way back into the match by winning the second set. Wilander bounced back to win the third set. He led the match by two sets to one. Wilander broke McEnroe when the fourth set began and was cruising towards a well-deserved victory when the defending champion put up a gargantuan fight. Like he had done in the second set, McEnroe displayed his iron will to break back Wilander a few times and win the fourth set. The match was now evenly balanced at two sets apiece. Finally, in the fifth set, McEnroe’s experience, endurance, grit and willpower helped him win against the Swedish icon Mats Wilander. Perhaps, McEnroe’s tough victory against Glickstein helped him prevail in his battle against Wilander. Besides, three years before at the Davis Cup, McEnroe had outlasted Wilander in a marathon match that spanned over six hours. The 1982 match at the Davis Cup was also a five setter like the one played at Flushing Meadows. In five setters, McEnroe was 2-0 up against Wilander. McEnroe was through to the final where he would play either Jimmy Connors or Ivan Lendl. In the second semifinal, an injured Jimmy Connors took on Ivan Lendl. The match was a one-sided contest as Connors’s injury clearly curtailed his mobility and hampered his game. Lendl was in no mood to relent as he mauled Connors in straight sets. Connors was just a shadow of himself that day. The match was frankly speaking very boring. It was a total anticlimax to what had taken place earlier in the day when McEnroe outfought Wilander in a thriller. The final would thus take place between the world number one John McEnroe and the world number two Ivan Lendl. It would be a repeat of the previous year’s final at the US Open. 1985 US Open Final: The 1985 US Open men’s final was a rematch of the previous year’s final. It featured the defending champion John McEnroe and the powerful Czech Ivan Lendl. Lendl got off to a terrible start. He could not get a point of McEnroe’s serve in the defending champion’s first four service games. The Czech’s first service game was disastrous as McEnroe broke him easily with great returns. The 1985 final looked to be a repeat of the previous year’s final where McEnroe decimated Lendl in straight sets. McEnroe cruised to a 5-2 lead and had a set point against Lendl’s serve. Nonetheless, Lendl saved the set point and doggedly held on to his serve. Lendl survived his service game by serving first and second serves harder and deeper and foiled McEnroe’s effortless volleys by some formidable forehand strokes. The score was now 5-3 in favor of McEnroe, who would get the chance to serve out the first set. In the next game, Lendl turned the tables in his favor by breaking McEnroe’s stylish serve at love with some splendid service returns and impeccable passing shots. Lendl’s signature forehand, his forte, was on display this time. McEnroe was dumbfounded at Lendl’s newfound strength and confidence. A factor that had upset McEnroe’s rhythm was that Lendl was standing behind the baseline to receive McEnroe’s magical serve. It was now 4-5 back on serve and the next three games went with serve to set up a decisive tiebreaker. Lendl put more pace and power in his serves in the tiebreak and regularly served to McEnroe’s erratic and dubious forehand. On McEnroe’s serves, Lendl stood well behind the baseline to nullify the former’s uniquely unpredictable and swinging serves. In the tiebreaker too, McEnroe had no answer to Lendl’s devastating forehand passing shots. Lendl won the tiebreaker 7 – 1 to gain a one set lead. After losing the first set 6 – 7 by a whisker, McEnroe was visibly shaken. It was like a bombshell had knocked the stuffing out of him and left him clueless and confused. In the second set Lendl served first and stormed his way to a menacing 3 – 0 lead. He went on to win the second set 6-3. He was walking with swagger and nonchalance. On his own serve in the second set, Lendl seemed infallible. McEnroe’s service returns were looking flat and frail. In McEnroe’s first service game in the second set, Lendl broke him again. Lendl blasted some ballistic strokes off his trademark forehand. Lendl’s running forehand passing shots made McEnroe look like a hapless zombie. Lendl’s backhand had improved immensely over the years and on that day was working with pinpoint accuracy. Lendl’s stationary and running crosscourt and down the line backhand passing shots were so sharp that even a serve and volley giant like McEnroe looked like a dwarf that day. Lendl was using the volleys as a surprise tactic that day. Lendl’s volleys that day were as sharp as Swiss Army Knifes. Probably, the fact that Lendl had hired Tony Roche as his new coach that year had played no small part in sharpening his volleying skills. At two sets down, McEnroe was staring down the barrel of the gun. He was in a state of shock at Lendl’s sudden transformation from someone who was barely able to survive to someone who was supremely ruling the court with pomp and show. McEnroe waited for the storm to subside. Nevertheless, his wait was in vain. With the efflux of time, the storm increased in intensity instead of abating. McEnroe was harried in the third set on his own serve in his first four service games but tenaciously hung on. Lendl was on fire and there was nothing McEnroe could do to stop the blaze. On his own serve, Lendl was impregnable. The Czech’s stationary and running forehand strokes were too hot for an effete McEnroe to handle. Lendl broke McEnroe finally in the ninth game of the third set with some spectacular strokes, which were simply a feast for the eyes of the spectators and commentators. In the next game, Lendl held on to his own serve to close out the set 6-4. Lendl had defeated McEnroe in straight sets to win his first US Open and his second Grand Slam trophy.