Yannick and Roland Garros

The 1983 French Open Final was a lopsided but nevertheless exciting final. The two players that sparred in the final match were the home favorite Yannick Noah and the defending champion Mats Wilander. Noah won in straight sets. Noah’s victory however wasn’t without a struggle as it was not Wilander’s wont to throw in the towel. Noah broke Wilander in the fifth and seventh games to win the first set without much resistance. Noah’s service returns and passing shots were just too good for Wilander in the initial set. Noah served beautifully and remained unbroken on his serves in the first set. Noah’s volleys were very good too. It was an inauspicious start to Wilander’s title defense. Noah won a tight second set after snuffing out a late challenge from Wilander. Noah broke Wilander in the fifth game of the second set just like the first. Nonetheless, the phlegmatic but dogged Wilander hit back. Wilander broke Noah’s serve as the Frenchman tried to serve out the second set. In the next game, Noah broke back Wilander to go up with a 6-5 lead. Noah won his service game to take the second set. Noah was up two sets to love. Wilander had dug himself into a deep hole. It would be difficult for him to get out of this. The difficulty was compounded as Noah broke the Wilander serve again in the opening game of the third set. Wilander broke back soon. Both Wilander and Noah were playing very well in the third set. It was 5-5. Again, the two stalwarts of tennis traded successive service breaks. The third set would be decided in a tiebreaker. Yannick won the tiebreaker and the match to become the new champion. It was an emotional moment for Yannick and the spectators. They were in seventh heaven. Hugs and tears of joy were shed. Wilander had decent serves, smashes, volleys and returns that day. It was only his high topspin lobs that stood out that day. Even that wasn’t enough to win a set that day against Noah. Besides, Wilander’s game looked ordinary in the first two sets. It was only in the third set that Wilander played superbly but it was too little and too late to make an impact on the match. In contrast to Wilander, Yannick hit spectacular groundstrokes. Yannick’s service returns, passing shots and approach shots were simply out of this world. His hard slices and drop shots were a feast for the eyes. Yannick served stupendously. Yannick’s volleys off both wings were simply awesome. He hit good overhead shots and lobs too. Yannick had the Midas touch that day. He was a worthy champion that day. Yannick Noah was the last Frenchman to win the French Open. After Noah’s glorious victory in 1983, no Frenchman has repeated the feat. To compound the dismal state of affairs in men’s tennis in France, no Frenchman has won any of the Grand Slams since that point of time. The uber-talented Noah never won a Grand Slam after his maiden victory in a major tournament. The flamboyant Frenchman’s brittle nerves and choleric temperament were vindicated to be chinks in his armor. To be fair to him, he also had his share of injuries. These injuries hampered his ability to win more Slams. The suffocating embrace of the adoring French public made him feel claustrophobic. The frenzied coverage of his private life and the immense and incredible pressure put on him by the media and the public took its toll on him. This mountain of pressure piled on him at home adversely affected his equanimity. He contemplated committing suicide. Fortunately, he did not and fled to the United States. He settled in New York to escape the vulpine media. At New York, he began a glorious new life.