1982 Roland Garros 3rd Rd Hana Mandlikova vs Virginia Wade

[@mark1968]

Never seen Virginia play on clay before. This match is a gem and such good quality too.

[@JLZR1]

Both these players are such true”stylists”…enjoyed watching both of their all court talents….After Miss Wade’s retirement, she became,IMO, an outstanding tennis commentator 👌🏻

[@brucee6123]

Lob winner at 28.50; thing of beauty.

[@NOTHEOTHERGUY]

This is so fantastic!

[@nathanmiller6051]

Wow! Fun to watch thanks

[@BTURNER1961]

The most under-appreciated part of Hana's game was always her passing shots. You can't beat Martina 8 times, including 4 times in slams without having potent and deceptive passing shots. The only red clay title or final I can find for Wade in singles in her career was a lonely Italian Championship 12 years earlier beating Helga Mastoff in 1971. At this late stage in Virginia's career, she does not have the weapons to cause Hana much trouble. Her ground game is suspect, her movement slower, and on red clay, even that fluid impeccable serve of hers can't win many points.

[@romania4712]

@Tom Leander And you can still see some of the lovely elements of Virginia's game.

[@zeddeka]

Particularly in her early days, Virginia Wade was always very emotionally up and down on court, something which made her very unsuited to the longer rallies on clay. The tennis journalist Rex Bellamy wrote about how thrilled she was to win that Italian Open in his book "Thirty Love". He said she told the assembled journalists that she'd "finally learned how to play on clay" but it seemed that she was more thrilled because she'd subconsciously realised what a big step it was in her road to maturity as a player.

[@gvivo2120]

I missed those days when serve & volley could be played even on CLAY... ⭐ a most difficult feat especially with those hefty 380 gram rackets 🎾

[@dimeshgujadhur210]

Super rétro et agréable

[@romania4712]

Virginia is obviously past her prime here, but you can easily see why she is still on tour playing. She's taken the pressure off herself and enjoying the satisfaction of striking the ball and competing. Some greats look sad and desperate trying to hang on well after their best days, but not Wade. She's resigned, but taking in the moment knowing it won't last forever. Hana would also defeat Virginia in her last grand slam match at the 85 Australian Open.

[@mark1968]

Not so. Virginia's last grand slam singles match was a 3R loss to Pam Shriver at 85 Wimbledon.

[@romania4712]

@@mark1968 1985 was the last year the Australian Open was played in December. Virginia lost to Hana, 6-2, 7-6 (5) in 2R.

[@mark1968]

@@romania4712 You're absolutely right. My apologies.

[@romania4712]

@@mark1968 I just happen to remember the 85 Australian very well. Probably because it would decide if Martina or Chris would be #1 and we hadn't had that year end drama in a while. Plus there was McEnroe drama as well as Edberg's first major. It was a great way to end 1985.

[@95KIPPIE]

It doesn’t matter I’m sure there weren’t very many tears there. Those two are as bad as happy and cheerful as a rock!

[@richardmacken9410]

love it ! five years after Wade won Wimbledon.

[@Classclguy]

Great to see this match! Wade playing with Dunlop max 200g?

[@gvivo2120]

Yes 👍 That Dunlop Max 200G has gone a long, long way, even towards 1993 when Graf last used it. McEnroe loved it.

[@berndeigner8837]

I loved it too!@@gvivo2120

[@stef1074]

Match très agréable entre une Wade vieillissante et une Mandlikova encore en devenir. 1982 une très mauvaise année pour elle où seule sa finale à l'US Open la sauve un peu. Ses passings de revers sont impeccables dans ce match. Le revers est pour moi le coup où elle a le plus de variations, le fleuron de son jeu restant la volée amortie de revers.

[@Logans3Run]

To think that two years later in 1984, Ginny reached the QF's at Wimbledon, knocking out the No 4 seed, Zina Garrison in the round of 16. In most other eras, Ginny would have won more than 3 GS's but when you see who the competition was in the 70's then...

[@kd17Burger]

She reached the Quarters in 1983 - she defeated the #5 Seed Garrison in the 2nd round in 1984 but then she lost in the next round

[@Pdjohnners]

Interesting comparing both Wade and Mandlikova. The latter won 4 major singles and 1 doubles. The former won 3 singles majors and 4 doubles. Wade reached a higher singles ranking (2) and won more tournaments.

[@mgr001]

Hana and Justine Henin were so elegant. Henin's backhand was even better than the great Roger''s (whoops - bracing myself)

[@smftrsddvjiou6443]

Wood against graphite. How good was Mandlikova in the early 80.

[@davidphelan5607]

I thought the Dunlop Max 200g came out in 1983

[@robertwebb3546]

@davidphelan5607 Pretty sure this was a prototype

[@poussinhamzah4013]

Roland Garros est le seul tournoi du Grand Chelem qui manque au palmarès de Virginia Wade

[@ade.k.6324]

it is like the mother plays against her daughter.....virginia wade looks even older than she was actually....her age is 37 at this time against a very young mandlikova aged 20....

[@95KIPPIE]

Doesn’t matter, Chrissie won it, yes, my girl!!

[@hanamandlikovastennis7724]

Chris Evert lost in semis to Andrea Jaeger, but I don’t get the point here? 🤔

[@BigTimeShowdown]

OMG Wade playing like crap.