Edberg wins a thriller against Becker

The 1990 Wimbledon Final saw the third edition of a masterly rivalry between Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg. In 1988, Edberg had proved to be a superior player to Becker in the final and lifted the trophy. In 1989, Becker demolished Edberg in straight sets in the final to reclaim the trophy he had won twice in his teens. Becker won his third Wimbledon in 1989 while Edberg won his first in 1988. Becker had won four grand slams so far while Edberg had won three. Edberg led Becker 2-1 in Grand Slam matches. In a semifinal at the French Open in 1989, an energized Edberg had triumphed over an enervated Becker in five grueling sets. Becker, though, was victorious in their last Grand Slam encounter namely the previous year’s final at Wimbledon. Becker was world number two while Edberg was world number three. Becker was the defending champion and was favored to win the trophy in 1990 as well. Edberg was the challenger who would try to thwart Becker’s hopes of a fourth Wimbledon. Three weeks before the Wimbledon 1990 final, Becker had defeated Edberg in straight sets on grass at the Queen’s Club Championship semifinals. As far as their journey to the final of Wimbledon was concerned, both had conceded three sets on their way. Both had encountered and overcome tough opponents on their way to the final. Edberg’s path had been slightly thornier. Becker had vanquished the former Wimbledon champ Pat Cash, the 1987 Australian Open semifinalist Wally Masur, and future Wimbledon champ Goran Ivanisevic in a scary semifinal. Edberg had overcome a tenacious Amos Mansdorf in five sets after being two sets to one down in the third round. He had also convincingly defeated the 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist Miloslav Mecir, the 1989 French Open champion Michael Chang, and world number one and eight time Grand Slam winner Ivan Lendl in the semifinal. Edberg was in scintillating form as he had defeated Mecir, Chang and Lendl with consummate ease in straight sets. The Wimbledon final seemed quite appetizing. Everybody hoped for a grand trilogy. Some thought that the rivalry would continue ceaselessly. Becker opens the match with his serve. He holds his serve with little fuss. He serves well but his volleys look suspect in the first game of the match. Edberg hits a couple of terrific backhand returns but is unable to break Becker’s serve in the first game of the match. Becker leads 1-0. In the next game, Edberg too serves well and manages to hold on in spite of some terrific service returns from Becker including his trademark inside out backhand. Edberg has been effectively kicking his serve high. It is 1-1. In the third game of the match, Edberg breaks Becker’s serve. Edberg displays an array of bullet backhand service returns to draw first blood. Becker botches some low volleys. Becker’s volleying seems to be very vulnerable early in the match. In the next game, Edberg serves robustly but Becker returns equally well. Becker’s service returns and passing shots are excellent but the German is still unable to break the Swede’s serve. Edberg has supreme command over the net. Edberg displays a clinic of copybook volleys to hold on to his serve and move up to a 3-1 lead. In the fifth game, Edberg breaks Becker again to march up to a 4-1 lead. Edberg unfurls a quartet of superb service returns to make another dent in Becker’s serve. Ironically, three out of those four service returns have been crushing crosscourt forehand returns. Becker looks dazed. Edberg holds his serve with consummate ease to go up 5-1 with his string of impeccable volleys and smashes. Becker appears to move slowly so far in the match. Finally, in the seventh game, Becker manages to hold serve. A good service game helps him cling onto the first set. However, Edberg will get the chance to wrap up the set on his own serve. On top of that, the Swede also has the luxury of an insurance break. Edberg easily holds his serve at love and wins the first set 6-2 in style. Becker had trouble returning Edberg’s high kicking serves. Edberg’s immaculate volleys have been a sumptuous feast for the eyes. In the first set, Edberg romps through with a heady cocktail of serves, smashes, volleys, half volleys, service returns and passing shots. Becker moved at a comatose pace in the opening set and his reflexes were way below average. Becker begins the second set like the first. Powerful serves help him maintain a tenuous lead in the face of terrific service returns from Edberg. Becker’s volleys especially the low ones in the match so far still leave much to be desired. In the next game, Edberg reciprocates by holding serve again at love. He is growing stronger every minute. It is 1-1. In the third game of the second set, Becker serves horrendously for the first time. He makes the cardinal mistake of committing two double faults in a single service game. Nonetheless, even in this game, Edberg deserves full credit. It is partially due to Edberg’s supersonic service returns that Becker strove for extra pace on his second serves. Besides, Edberg outwitted Becker with a canny forehand volley on one point while on another one, he hit a flawless high topspin lob that landed just on the baseline. Again, early in the second set, Edberg breaks Becker. Becker is clearly frustrated and bamboozled with Edberg’s agility and uber dexterity. The German just doesn’t know what to do. Edberg is now 2-1 up with a break and will now serve. Edberg has the Midas touch and everything that he touches turns into gold. It is an encore from Edberg as once again the crowd bears witness to a staggering spectacle of serve and volley tennis by the stoic Swede. It is 3-1 in favor of Edberg. In the next game on Boris’s serve, Edberg breaks Becker at love. The Swede struck four spectacular strokes to go up 4-1. The quartet of strokes comprised an inside out down the line forehand service return, two down the line forehand passing shots and an offensive backhand lob. Again, like the first set, Edberg hits forehand winners to Becker’s chagrin. The lob stunned Becker. It is 4-1 in favor of Edberg. Edberg will serve with two breaks up in the second set and the first one safely ensconced in his packing bag. Becker is simply unable to fathom Edberg’s surreal service returns, pinpointed passing shots and languidly elegant lobs that always fell in. The lobs simply stopped Becker in his tracks. The defending champion’s woes were lamentable: to add insult to injury, even Edberg’s forehand that day was weaving its magic much to the champion’s dismay. Edberg wins the next game on his serve to go up 5-1. Nonetheless, the German hits two marvelous crosscourt backhand returns. Becker also missed two service returns by a hair’s breadth. For the first time in this set, Becker seems to have a modicum of control over Edberg’s serve. Becker would now serve at 1-5 to save the second set. The second set was simply a mirror of the first. Becker holds his serve with the loss of a solitary point. He serves very well but most importantly for the first time in the match he volleys well. He is also moving better now but the question remains whether he can salvage the second set from Edberg’s juggernaut. The question will soon be answered, as Edberg will get the opportunity to serve out the second set at a commanding 5-2 lead. Stupendous serving, punchy volleys and sizzling smashes seal the second set 6-2 for Edberg. Becker’s mobility on the court improved and despite a last ditch effort, the defending champion lost the second set as well. Becker’s efforts were too little and too late. Boris had dug himself into a deep hole and it would require oodles of luck and enormous effort to get himself out of this hole. In the second set, Edberg also caressed a few velvety half volleys a la McEnroe. Edberg won the first two sets in an identical fashion. It is almost as if the first two sets followed a planned pattern. Edberg was looking unassailable now with two sets in his belt. He was looking forward to a straight set victory in the Wimbledon final. Edberg was on his way towards reclaiming the crown that he had lost the previous year to Becker. Becker was bemused and waiting for a miracle to happen. The crowd was shocked to see the three-time Wimbledon champion clueless and unable to put up a fight against his lithe and crafty challenger. At two sets down, Becker was left with plenty to ponder and a massive mountain to climb. It seemed like a Sisyphean task. Becker would open the third set like the other two. Edberg had pocketed the first two sets in less than an hour. It would be an ignominious loss for Becker if he tamely capitulated to Edberg in straight sets. The German would have to pluck up courage and remain resilient to avert a complete loss of face. As usual, Becker served solidly to begin the third set. Nevertheless, Edberg’s service returns were equally strong. Edberg even had a breakpoint but could not break due to the virility of Becker’s volleys. Becker’s volleys had come to the fore for only the second game in the match. The question was whether it was too little and too late from the defending champion. In the first two sets, Becker had hit a few high volleys well but was making mistakes on the low volleys with impunity. This is the first time in the match where Becker made good low volleys. Becker had started moving better a few games earlier. He was also stretching more and bending his knees lower and with more flexibility to hit the low volley. Everybody was wondering what was wrong with Becker in the first two sets and if it was fruitless to put up resistance now after losing the first two sets in a jiffy. Becker’s doggedness in the first game of the third set had helped him survive an onslaught from Edberg’s rapacious returns. But it was still on serve in the third set and the Swede would try to wrap up the final in straight sets. Edberg would now serve at 0-1 in the third set. For the first time in the match, Becker broke Edberg’s serve with some superlative backhand returns. Becker hit sizzling service returns off the backhand on Edberg’s serve and followed it with beautiful backhand passing shots. Becker was now 2-0 up in the third set. As in the beginning of the third set where Edberg’s service was broken, Becker’s backhand was exceptionally good even in the first two sets that the defending champion lost. In the first two sets, Becker’s forehand returns were off the mark. His erroneous forehands had proved costly in the first two sets. The German’s lobs were also ineffective in the first two sets. In the next game, Becker cruised to a 3-0 lead with a combination of superb serving and wicked volleying. Becker was still a break up in the third set and it was now Edberg’s time to serve. At 0-3, Edberg held on to his serve. His potent kick serves, high volleys and an overhead were instrumental in him holding his serve. Even now in this game that Edberg won, Becker’s backhand was in full flow. It was 3-1 in favor of Becker. Becker’s big serves, scorcher of a smash and vicious volleying helped him to hold serve and advance to a 4-1 lead. Becker was growing in confidence. In the next game, Edberg struck magnificent serves and followed it with punchy and graceful volleys to survive Becker’s bombastic service returns. Becker’s forehand was powerless that day. It was inevitably a liability on that day. At 4-2 Becker would again get the chance to serve. Becker served stupendously, volleyed with pinpoint precision and smashed with brimstone to go up 5-2 against Edberg. At 2-5, Edberg served to save the third set. Edberg held on to his slick slice serves and killer kick serves. Again, his volleys were spot-on. Throughout the match, Edberg’s volleys were simply astounding. Again, Becker’s forehand was a chink in the armor on that day. The defending champion’s fallible forehand was a leitmotif in the match on that day. His forehand foibles were much worse on passing shots than service returns. Edberg was simply capitalizing on Becker’s fault prone forehand. Nonetheless, Becker would now have a chance to try to close out the third set while serving at 5-3. Becker hurled amazing serves to get to a 40-0 lead and earn three set points against the crafty challenger. Edberg eliminated all three of Becker’s set points with a trio of terrific return of serves. Edberg’s spellbinding service returns helped him wipe out Becker’s set points in a huff. At deuce, Edberg struck super service returns only to be rebuffed by classy volleys. Becker hit stunning volleys to give Edberg a fine riposte. Becker closed out the third set 6-3 with a palpable display of his legendary fighting spirit. Finally, Becker had won a set and averted the ignominy of losing his crown in straight sets. Becker’s legions of fans including my Dad and me had something to cheer about at last. Notwithstanding this momentary euphoria, everyone all over the world knew that Edberg was still firmly in the driver’s seat. Becker was indeed a long away from successfully defending his crown. However, Becker was feeling very confident. Edberg opened the fourth set. Becker’s confidence was now at a premium and he hit three glorious service returns to secure three quick breakpoints. Two of those service returns were fired like tracer bullets from Becker’s Brobdingnagian backhand. Nonetheless, Edberg hastily avoided being broken quickly in the fourth set with sizzling serves and unbelievable volleying prowess. Edberg’s unmatched volleying skills enabled him to win five points in a row on his serve and hold on to a 1-0 lead. This was the first game since the advent of the match that Becker’s forehand woes halted. No one knew whether it was a temporary halt to Becker’s forehand misery or a brief respite, but Becker hit a few ferocious forehands that were on the mark. In the next game, Becker’s serve is under siege from a reinvigorated Edberg. The Swede unfurls masterly forehand service returns, a bullet backhand service return, a marquee lob and an extraordinary inside-out backhand volley to secure a breakpoint. Notwithstanding the imminent threat to his serve, Becker saves the breakpoint and manages to hold on with solid serves backed up by preternatural volleying skills. It is 1-1 in the fourth set. A point noteworthy throughout the match is that Edberg’s perpetually indomitable backhand has been excellent but a notch lower than Becker’s. Edberg’s putatively weak forehand has been awesome in the final as it was against Lendl in the semis. Becker’s vaunted forehand on the other hand in the final has been a source of folly rather than fortitude. Edberg’s service returns, lobs, overhead shots and passing shots have been better than those of Becker. In terms of volleys and half volleys, Edberg clearly stands out. Becker’s serves have been slightly better. None of the players have hit terrific aces. The intensity and frequency of the aces has been rather low so far. At 1-1 in the fourth set, Edberg will now serve. Becker hits fierce forehand service returns and passing shots to break Edberg’s serve for the first time in the fourth set. Becker leads 2-1 with a service break in the fourth set. Becker’s forehand is finally making an impression in the match. Becker will now serve at 2-1. In the next game, Becker holds serve at love with some spectacular serving and volleying. He smacks thunderous serves, punches powerful volleys and pulverizes the overhead smashes. Becker has suddenly jumped to a 3-1 lead in the fourth set. Edberg will now serve. Edberg wins his game with splendid serves to make it 2-3. Becker is still up a break though. In the next game, Becker marches to a 4-2 lead with smashing serves and outstanding volleys. Edberg manages to hold serve but Becker is still a break up in the fourth set. At 4-3, Becker serves like lightning. Becker’s dizzying serves and well-placed volleys help him get to a commanding 5-3 lead in the fourth set. At 3-5, Edberg would serve to make a last ditch attempt to save the fourth set, which was slipping away from his grasp. In the next game, Becker struck scorching forehand service returns and penetrating passing shots off his backhand to break the Edberg serve for the second time in the set. Subsequently, the German wins the fourth set to make it two sets all. Becker has won the fourth set 6-3 and will begin proceedings in the fifth and final set. Becker’s ace count is up to five while Edberg’s is up to three. Notwithstanding the fact that Becker begins the fifth set, the match is probably tilted slightly in favor of Edberg’s way as it will be an arduous task for Becker to win the last three sets in a row after losing the first two haplessly to his opponent. In the fifth set, Becker serves huge including his inaugural ace of the last set to hold easily at love. In the next game, Edberg in turn returns the favor to Becker by displaying a service clinic himself. It is 1-1 in the fifth set. Becker’s serve is under duress in the third game as Edberg responds with scorching service returns and a perfect passing shot off his backhand wing. On top of that, Becker serves a double fault to hand over a double break point to Edberg. It is at this point that Becker’s trademark fighting spirit comes to the forefront as the German musters his Pantagruelian reserves of willpower to save breakpoints and ultimately hold on to his serve. Becker salvages his service game with screaming serves and buttressed them with punishing volleys. He prevents Edberg from making an early inroad in the fifth set. It is 2-1 in favor of Becker. In the next game, Edberg serves sweetly and volleys with verve and vigor but Becker’s stinging service returns off both wings knock the stuffing out of Edberg. In addition, Edberg worsens matters by serving a couple of grotesque double faults. It seems like Edberg had dug his own grave. Becker now leads 3-1 and looks to be in ominous form. The tables have turned and it seems highly probable that Becker will now lift his fourth Wimbledon crown. Becker makes terrible volleying errors on his forehand side and a double fault to enable Edberg to break back and make it once again on serve. Edberg hits gorgeous backhand service returns and passing shots to break back and regain the initiative slightly. In the next game, Edberg serves stealthily and volleys with power and panache to make it 3-3. Becker, in the seventh game, makes it 4-3 with gargantuan serves and stylish volleys. The set is back on serve. Edberg serves repeatedly to the Becker forehand, which has again lost its fangs. Edberg easily holds serve and makes it 4-4. The match is reaching a critical point as it comes near. Edberg seems to have a minor edge. In the ninth game, Becker serves to Edberg’s backhand as he has done throughout the match. Edberg blitzkriegs return of serves off his backhand side to break Becker for the second time in the fifth set. Becker volleys sloppily. Edberg won the last point off Becker’s serve with a perfect defensive high topspin backhand lob. Becker was simply a spectator. Edberg, up a break at 5-4, would now serve out the championship. Becker hit some blistering backhand return winners but his endeavor to break back was fruitless. His efforts bore no fruit as Edberg won the game, set, match and championship. Edberg won the last game with a mixture of titanic serves and virulent volleys that Becker to return in vain. After a grueling battle, Edberg emerged victorious and successfully lifted his second Wimbledon trophy. It was a seesaw contest where the superior player prevailed. It was a lamentable loss for Becker in the final. A resurgent Edberg pipped him at the post. Edberg savored his victory. The victory in five sets over his nemesis Becker was sweeter than a hypothetical straight sets win as Edberg showed enormous character and resolve to outlast a bullish Becker. P.S. After the match, Becker said that he was sleepy in the first two sets and it showed in his slow movement on court. He said that he had taken a deadly combination of alcohol and double dosage of sleeping pills the night before. It was now abundantly clear why Becker moved at a slow pace and performed sub-optimally in the first two sets. This was lucidly the reason behind his abysmal performance in the first hour where Edberg, who was on fire, drubbed him in the first two sets. It is unfortunate that Becker shot himself in the foot the night before the final. Nevertheless, it does not take away the sheen and glory behind Edberg’s victory. The match would have been closer if Becker was wide awake in the first two sets but still impossible to say who the winner of the coveted trophy would have been as Edberg was like a hurricane in the first two sets.