1986 Masters Lendl vs. Becker

December 1986, Lendl d. Becker 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

[@vincenthannah6556]

Tremendous passing shots by Lendl.He was at the peak of his powers during this time.

[@knightatthecrossroads222]

Noone but no one can persuade me that there is somebody who played or plays one hand backhand better than Ivan Lendl.......👏👏👏👏👏🥁

[@suatkayatennis]

Lendl transformed the sport in the early ‘80s with his systematic approach to training. Nutrition, weightlifting and early-morning aerobics became a standard part of the tennis-player’s regimen, and no detail was too small to consider. Before Lendl, it was unthinkable that a player would switch racquets with every ball change, in case the properties of the frame had altered during those nine games. After Lendl, it became standard practice. It wasn’t just Lendl’s physical fitness that improved; his mental toughness did as well. He lost six of his first seven major finals, but by the mid-1980s he had transformed himself from soft to steely. Lendl would finish with eight major titles and 94 titles overall-15 in his breakout season of 1982. Lendl couldn’t match Jimmy Connors’ 109 titles, but he passed Jimbo in weeks spent at No. 1, 270 to 268. For all of Lendl’s effort and professionalism, he struggled to win the love of fans and press: “The Champion That Nobody Cares About,” Sports Illustrated dubbed him in 1985. But his annual attempts to capture the only tournament that eluded him, Wimbledon, made him a more sympathetic figure. As always, Lendl went all out to make it happen, remaking his game for grass and skipping the French Open to prepare. The fact that this born baseliner reached two finals on Wimbledon’s then-slick turf was just one more in his long list of (over)achievements

[@dgontar]

Becker vs Lendl, one of the great rivalries in the history of tennis.

[@luislizard2626]

Becker still to this days had the coolest serve ever

[@4jrgolf]

Couldn't agree with you more. That kneebend in the trophy position. Iconic!

[@michaelbarlow6610]

@Luis Lizard. Although Becker had one of the most powerful serves in tennis history, the most beautifully fluid serve I have ever seen is Michael Stich's with Bjorn Borg's first serve a very close second and Pete Sampras' serve third.

[@thomashumphrey7395]

Lendl was SO solid and good. In my top 5 greatest and most influential players of all time. And maybe the most beautiful, textbook one-handed topspin backhand in the history of the game/sport.

[@teflonmagnet]

Straight-setting Becker on an indoor court...PRICELESS

[@michaelgarza8271]

18 year old Becker, but still impressive. Lendl was an absolute beast.

[@lucacilmi9421]

Lendl is clearly the most underrated champion of all!! People still like to consider him a boring player with no talent at all: you see these matches, and realize how good his tennis used to be!!

[@stickthatinyourpipeandsmok2457]

He spoiled us with winners!

[@dura1mater]

Look how crisp this guys are hitting the ball. Music to my ears, the shots echoing off the indoor walls. Especially Lendl! Hoyl Shit! The guy looks unstoppable. He would have flattened Federer and Nadal if he was playing like this. All with that tiny little stick. Simply amazing!

[@robertjones1887]

Ivan ....was the king of cool, clean, healthy The perfect speciman, sent back by skynet When i havent played for long time, i watch the old videos of Ivan on u tube (( bend right down to the ball )) I then play better tennis.... A great player on any surface and these guys played in the heat of the day everyday... Robert Antolik

[@idesofmarch2368]

He does play like a robot.

[@sastal]

@krosero Tomassi was a great commentator, not only in tennis but also in boxing. I miss those days listening to his tennis commentary at home in Rome. Thank you for showing him here. I was not aware that he had given his opinions on U.S. tele. Cheers from Miami,

[@krosero]

Also, Lendl had lost only 6 matches throughout the year. Becker had already lost 12.

[@nizzam1]

wow lendl won the french open and us open and still ppl didnt consider him #1 i hate all this bias against lendl

[@kasperrieberg3495]

@WheelsAlwaysTurning So you’r saying that he has to practics to be great is something we should hold against him !!??

[@darionsparkseries628]

@WheelsAlwaysTurning Djokovic's tennis is much more boring than Lendl.

[@zeddeka]

I think a lot a lot of it is the terrible habit a lot of journalists have - trying to make a story out of nothing. Seems they were desperate to hype this match up to give the. Something to write about. It also seems that journalists need to make a baddie out of a player in every era, just because it gives them something to hype up and write about. If there isn't a story they simply make one up to keep themselves in at job.

[@michaelbarlow6610]

Greatest one-handed topspin backhand of the graphite era in tennis - Ivan Lendl !

[@NIJOEL03]

Tv-reporters and papers talked shit the whole time but nobody sold more tennis-t-shirts than Ivan Lendl. That tells the story! Ivan Lendl - my hero!

[@stickthatinyourpipeandsmok2457]

He's my hero too!

[@rcharles3624]

18 years old Becker put today's young talent into shame

[@enematwatson1357]

C Sil He was truly exceptional in that he spent virtually no time as an up-and-coming young talent. He just burst on the forefront of the scene overnight and almost fully formed technically and physically at 17. I can think of no other player who did that. Not Wilander, not Chang, not Sampras... Not even Borg.

[@jton6852]

There's a video on KZbin of the '84 U.S. Open men's final where the commentators are talking about an Australian junior named Mark Kratzmann who had just won the boy's singles title over "a young German boy named Becker." One of the commentators said he had a feeling it wouldn't be too long before Kratzmann would be contending for the big titles. Cut to 10 months later, and that "German boy" was holding the Wimbledon trophy.

[@krosero]

I hoped Becker would win too. I remember after he beat Edberg one journalist here in New York was so impressed with his power he said he was becoming the Mike Tyson of tennis. But I never saw the match until now, and I'm terribly impressed with Lendl's performance. Look at what he did with Becker's power: he neutralized that serve with his chip BH return.

[@KingCast65]

Yep. And I play. Sure I watch the quarters on of the majors and a little Davis Cup but I miss the old days when you could easily tell who was playing.

[@depechemode4ever1]

Ivan Lendl is the pioneer of modern tennis...Federer is the combination of Lendl and Sampras game...and better matériel helps...but Lendl Is a king and the others 2 their princes ;)...RF1 2012 fed Power

[@jamesb2871]

Oh yeah....Fed MOVES and volleys like edberg, has TOUCH like Mac, POWER ;like Lendl - Becker Aggassi......speed and BETTER DEFENSE....pre-2007.....THAN ANYONE EVER INCLUDING RAFA. Fed was a waaaay better defender than rafa , earlier to the ball....LOOKED like slow motion.....but was NOT.....

[@zeddeka]

It's interesting that Sampras actually based a lot of his game on Lendl's. For example, Sampras based his forehand technique on Lendl's. You'll notice they both take their elbow up quite high when hitting it.

[@M.EngelhART]

Becker Was The Pioneer And First To Play Power Tennis In Wimbledon 1985 With His Great Services, Agressive Netplay, The Dive And Power From The Baseline And He Had The More Complete Game. It Was Clear, That The People Called Him "Bum, Bum, Boris". He Also Had Very Much Touch And His Mental Strength And Coolness Made Him Win Every Grand Slam Final Against Lendl.

[@mervinfernandes8763]

1986 belonged to Ivan Lendl. For a change, there were only 3 slams that year and Ivan was in the final of them all. Boris could never produce the consistency achieved by Lendl. Agree, Ivan never won in London, but he gave Boris and Stefan Edberg some tough matches at the AELTC

[@zeddeka]

Technically speaking, Lendl did win in London when he won the Wembley indoor tournament in 84 and 85, and the Queens Club tournament in 89 and 90.

[@mervinfernandes8763]

@@zeddeka I was referring to Wimbledon

[@ferrari79100]

on this surface lendl was maybe the best player of alla times

[@jasoncowell5133]

Wow...big big huge reach there.

[@uncletony6210]

Lendl was so good, even here as a viewer I'm trying to pick which way he's going on the passing shot and more times than not I'm wrong.

[@alkh3myst]

It was like watching a cobra strike. Did you see any of his matches live? I'm an old guy who did.

[@uncletony6210]

@@alkh3myst I remember when he was in some random WCT event finals pretty much every weekend on espn.

[@alkh3myst]

@@robmoody4710 Nunya.

[@robmoody4710]

@@alkh3myst means

[@uncletony6210]

@@robmoody4710 "Nunya" means, "None of your business." *His words, not mine.

[@benoitwalsads7262]

Masterpiece.

[@bull864]

I agree totally. Tennis used to have variety, now it's just hard topspin from the baseline. Boring.

[@jamesb2871]

Its HORRIBLE its JUST LIKE watching Evert vs King. Novack has LESS talent than me, or any other good player and could NEVER make the TOP 100 on FAST SURFACES like around 2001 -

[@jamesb2871]

He would lose 6-0 / 6-1 / 6-0 to Goran Ivanisevic on THAT DAY on THAT REAL GRASS? (which novack - Rafa have NEVER even played on), He would get KILLED just like he did from 2008 and BACK, when they REEEEEEEAAAALLLY disgraced and ruined the sport, CLEARLY advantage Novack. On fast courts the BEST SKILL OF TODAY aaaalways wins. Thats why they USED to call grass the "GREAT EQUALIZER'......because a LESS established but better skilled player had a CHANCE......because FAST courts reward SKILL.

[@jamesb2871]

Don't take my word. Borg said 'even I wouldnt watcha 4 hour baseline match between me and jimmy".........but I WOULD watch jimmy vs John.....or ME vs John......

[@jamesb2871]

Just ask Ivan Lendl and Pat Cash if Grass REALLY HONESTLY was the "great equalizer". They will PROVE that the BETTER PLAYER (#1 in World & 1 Seed @ 87 W ) Lendl.....LOST to a FAR inferior player, (Cash), armed with ONLY an equal serve, and better net game (minus Cash's BAD forehand volley), and he WON! that day..........skill won o ut. If they played ten times Ivan wins 9 ...even on fgrass......

[@williamdavies2375]

Boris before he lost his innocence 👍

[@9991revilo]

Net cord on match point.... Becker got his revenge two years later at the same event.

[@gentlemanjim480]

Well, not really. Lendl completely dominated this match. If he hadn’t won on that point, he would’ve won on another point. Two years later, Becker was lucky as hell. He was up 6-5 in the fifth set tiebreak - if that ball had gone into the net it’s 6-6, and who knows who would’ve won. Becker was always lucky was net cords, the little bastard.

[@edwinmolina2976]

Lendl backhand amazing

[@thomashumphrey7395]

Tennis and tennis players today need more variety and enjoyable "watchability" like the game and players like this from the golden era of the 1970s through the 80s. There are always going to be great, talented players, but tennis like this seemed more fun to watch than today's matches.

[@paulcarty]

Watching this makes me realize why I don't really love watching tennis anymore. Yea I know, the game is evolving but unfortunately it has evolved into a less enjoyable game for me.

[@dmichael100]

I absolutely agree. Evolution is not always progress. Tennis was certainly more enjoyable when these two played...and more popular worldwide, I might add.

[@fundhund62]

Tennis has made a huge step backwards over the last couple of decades. Federer is virtually the only one who learned the lessons from the past. All the others play as if the 70s and 80s never happened.

[@LinusFeynstein]

@@fundhund62 what exactly do you mean? What should Nadal or Djokovic or Wawrinka learn from Vilas, Borg and McEnroe? Should they pick up wooden rackets and wear tight shorts?

[@fundhund62]

@@LinusFeynstein They could learn how to construct a point other than exhaust the other guy and wait for him to miss. Or they might add some variety to their boring baseline bashing. And finally, someone in this generation could learn how to volley!!

[@LinusFeynstein]

@@fundhund62 believe me, they all know the things you proposed and they know how to stay patient and how to play Volleys. They have been training that much more intensely than past generations and there is no logic or evidence in claiming that all of a sudden in the new millénium players don't have the same average talent as they had before. In fact there are more people playing tennis and training methods have improved. So the pool of great talents is bigger than ever. In your retrospective you only remember the big names. Do you really think, a Nr. 50 of the 80s would easily beat the Nr. 50 of today? The problem is : modern rackets n strings make it possible to hit with heavy topspin. Therefore the players can hit extreme angles at a high speed. That was simply impossible with small and heavy wooden rackets. Just compare the Paris final of Borg vs Vilas with any match of men's tennis Paris now. Could be first round of two nobodies. To me, the wood racket era was interesting and today's tennis is super exciting. The era in between however gave us some boring tennis in Wimbledon and on other fast surfaces. I say that despite the fact that I was the biggest Becker fan. I remember matches, where there hardly any real points. It was just like a shoot out of two pistoleiros. Sorry, I don't want to go back to the 90s even though that were my years of youth. I am not nostalgic and I believe in progress. No offense. Stay healthy and let's hope that there will be a day with pro tennis soon. Peace

[@lucaantonelli1511]

Ivan was on fire that day!

[@ripperduck]

Two things: when Ivan got into prime physical condition he became one of the best ever. Second: Samantha Frankel was one of the best tennis WAGs ever. She was gorgeous....

[@soevjaanoemar2761]

Ivan Lendl GOAT... and That s Lendl ERA

[@phhuynh9881]

Lendl and Becker were prelude to modern and powerful players

[@robertedwardn]

Lendl was definitely #1 for 1986 regardless of who won. The fact that he did merely underscored that fact. Also, Lendl actually DIVED for the ball at 2:57 - normally, that's Becker's schtick.

[@douglashagan65]

That is truly amazing tennis stare

[@matteodinenno]

Ivan leads 10-5 in GP (7-4 on carpet), Boris 5-1 in GS. Thay played only 1 time on clay (winning Lendl), while 4 on Grass (winning 3 time Becker at Wimbledon and 1 Lendl at Queen's). I think this differences between GP and GS records is only because of different temperaments. For example Ivan leads 15-7 vs Wilander, but Mats leads 3-2 in GS finals and surely not because of technical reasons. Concerning motivations, i do think Backer had all of them too and is more difficoult to defend a title...

[@suatkayatennis]

Very well written

[@LEONIDA1899]

Lendl is the greatest tennis player ever

[@kasperrieberg3495]

I’m a huge Lendl fan too, but obviously his not the greatest

[@LEONIDA1899]

@@kasperrieberg3495 Lendl 1984-1988 was unbeatable

[@kasperrieberg3495]

@@LEONIDA1899 Yeah, but still he isn’t the greatest ever

[@robocop5935]

Borg and Sampras. The goats.

[@zeddeka]

No question that Lendl was number 1 in 1986, but astonishing really that Becker was challenging for number 1 at all at the age he was here (just turned 19). Becker one of just a tiny handful of male players to have won more than one grand slam in his teens (Borg, Wilander and Becker both won 2 before turning 20)

[@christophkaulingfrecks8933]

...nur Henker sind freundlicher...eines des bestes und eindruckvollsten Spiels von IL

[@davidschick4729]

Boris is 191 cm. Probably one of the highest number one in history. Novak is I guess the same high. Ivan is also tall. So lets say that most of number ones players of LAST 30 YEARS ARE AT LEAST 185 CM. So this aspect is very important.

[@zeddeka]

Marat Safin was 193 cm and was the tallest number 1. Becker though was also very well built. In many ways Becker was too big for tennis - built perhaps more like a rugby player.

[@matteodinenno]

@ulizinho I think that Ivan was even better. Look at the head to head with Boris on this surface. And Becker was terrific on carpet.

[@zeddeka]

I wonder if the pressure got to Becker in this match. It seems to have motivated Lendl to play a great match but Becker seemed somewhat flat.

[@drumtum]

I want the entire match, not just the match in less than 6 minutes.

[@SadisticRyoBand]

This two players much was always very high level and had varied playstyle. maybe one enhanced the other.

[@robinho1979]

Imagine if Llendl was able to chip and volley how many more GS he would of won?? Groundstrokes Llendl was one of the best in history.

[@krosero]

@ulizinho They met on clay only once, in their very first meeting, 1985 US Claycourt Championships in Indianapolis (after Becker won his first Wimbledon). Lendl won 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.

[@Bang4URBux]

lendl the warrior of modern tennis

[@HomeboyHotel]

Lendl is now Andy Murray's new coach! This will be epic.

[@krosero]

@chapaev36 Yes, Tomassi comes off as the most thoughtful here. It was really his input that prompted me to include the interviews.

[@samfrazier5599]

There was so much hype and excitement coming into this final, but hen Lendl just routined Becker. I'm still curious what the take is on this. At the time, I believe the commentators said Lendl was at his machine best and Becker self-destructed w rage.

[@danieleziliotto8932]

Best Lendl ever

[@mephatboi]

"Lendl became #1 in the world by default. I got old; Borg retired; and McEnroe went brain dead." - Jimmy Connors damn i wish jimmy, mac, bjorn & lendl all peaked at the same time so they could've fought it out when they were all at their best

[@uncletony6210]

There's a clear order: Lendl was better than McEnroe, i.e., edged him out in total slams and won ELEVEN of their last twelve meetings. McEnroe was better than Borg, as evidenced by him beating Bjorn in their last THREE grand slams finals and sending him into retirement; and, Borg was better than Connors, i.e., as evidenced by him beating JC in their last TEN matches. 1. Lendl 2. McEnroe 3. Borg 4. Connors

[@jton6852]

You do realize the progression from Connors, to Borg, to Mac, to Lendl was just as much a function of their ages as anything, right? Connors came first, then teen phenom Borg, who started to burn out when Mac started reaching his peak, who melted down as Mr. Consistency and Fitness Lendl reached his.

[@alkh3myst]

After 1984, Lendl OWNED McEnroe.

[@suatkayatennis]

Borg was a player better than Connors, McEnroe and Lendl.

[@michaelbarlow6610]

@ Uncle Tony. As great a player as Lendl was during his prime from 1985-1987, the level of play of McEnroe in 1984 was clearly better than Lendl's best in 1986-1987.

[@damienbeauvais6005]

Unfortunately Ivan had lost 5 months earlier a much more important match, Wimbledon final. I think he should have played like this, staying baseline and hitting tremendous shots and passings.

[@mecontadmanboy7959]

Grass was too fast back in the day... it was almost impossible to win from the baseline.... even Borg and Connors played Serve and volley to win wimbledon

[@thebigmonstaandy6644]

@@mecontadmanboy7959 Andre won from baseline.i think Lendl schould play from baseline.if 2 players are playing from baseline,Lendl was a better player

[@blake7871]

Monsta Andy Andre was unique. He hit the ball on the rise, which offset the fast grass. Lendl and almost everyone else didn’t do that.

[@thebigmonstaandy6644]

@@blake7871 to hit the ball on rise dont make from you succesfull grass player : SEE davydenko,rios,nishikori,kafelnikov.

[@blake7871]

Monsta Andy They weren’t nearly as good at it as Agassi.

[@miguelbarahona6636]

0:28. Wow! Pam Shriver was a beauty!.

[@arelortlec9056]

86 and 87 lendl's years till a certain wilander got 3d tennis.

[@Stiffjab71]

The perfect vengeance for Wimbledon

[@JohnnyLop87]

marvellous.

[@whity72]

@BuddhaShiva1 5:40 was Benedictine Courtain, Beckers gf at that time, no?

[@goodyears73]

@mephatboi Yes ...consider also Laver and Newcombe at old's people hospice, Lacoste who became only a t-shirt maker and Bill Tilden long gone ...

[@krosero]

@chapaev36 I tend to agree with Tomassi on this, but statistically it's kind of close. If Becker had won this match, Lendl's lead over him tournament victories for the year would have been only 8-7 (in Slams, 2-1), and he'd be trailing Becker 1-4 in H2H. That's according to the ATP stats anyway.

[@amitmarathe232]

Lendl was in prime shape and well prepared for this match and waiting to teach Becker a lesson. His body language and stroke play was of the alpha male in this match.

[@TabletAether]

Lovely tennis!

[@douglashagan65]

Yeah he really hits through the ball lindo does

[@tatsf226]

I want to see more single backhand players in modern games. Federer is the last one.

[@नागराज-न4झ]

There is Stan Wawrinka, Dimitrov, Denis Shapovalov in Next gen

[@suatkayatennis]

@@नागराज-न4झ Gasquet,Kohlschrieber,Theim,Cuevas and Cecchinato are still active players with one-hand backhand.

[@kidpagronprimsank05]

Tsitpisas, Thiem

[@jeromepedron4910]

Were they joking at the beginning of the video by stating that if Becker would have won the final of the masters he would have been the number 1 in the world? Lendl won the french & us open where Becker could only achieve 1/4 & semi final. 3 championships series for Lendl, 2 for Becker,...But the answer came in the court

[@jack89ts]

I agree with both of you,but guys,it's TOMMASI,not tomassi!since he's a fellow countryman I must add this correction!btw krosero these videos are great,I totally love them and spend a lot of time watching these slices of tennis (and social) history!

[@Sigismondus]

Grande Rino Tommasi!

[@parrarulz1]

is boom boom Becker is playing

[@gioutube]

it's Tommasi, not Tomassi :)

[@Ineddiblehulk]

Really? And Lendl also won 2 slams to Becker's 1. Sure Becker wold have proved he was a superior match-up to Lendl, but that doesn't make him #1, just like Nadal would have had a winning record against Fed for many of Fed's best years, Fed doesn't mean Fed is not #1, just that Nadal outmatches him on a head-t-head

[@Replicachile1]

genius Ivan and Becker.-

[@pablotjob]

bill talbert was tennis player during the 50s and 40s, really???

[@spacyfoil]

Lendl Who ???

[@davd1986]

Seriously Bud Collins!?! You did not say "Boris Uber alles.." at 0:18?? Do you know what sort of a connotation that has? Are you implying Becker is a Nazi? Terrible!!

[@halleck3]

I don't know if he meant anything by it. Collins was always saying stupid shit, or groaning and moaning when people hit good shots. Kind of a jackass but don't think he was malicious.

[@grahamnewton3637]

NO GRUNTING back then, and there weren't many players that played two handed backhand..boring

[@christophkaulingfrecks8933]

...nur Henker sind freundlicher...

[@douglashagan65]

Yeah I'm just surface what is this indoor who's better Becker lindo

[@dalongbong]

short shorts

[@DaneRates]

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