Allan Stone & Tony Roche Vs Stan Smith & Ilie Nastase

1980 Singapore Challenge tennis.
Melbourne. Festival Hall.
Footage owned by Channel 10 Australia.

[@marcbrandes9682]

Most modern tennis fans dont realize that the top pros also played doubles back in the old days. Some of the great teams were Newcombe Roche, Smith Lutz, Rosewall Stolle , Nastase Tiriac, Hewitt Mcmillian, Laver Emerson. The last top pro to consistently play doubles was McEnroe. No disrespect to the Bryan Bros but they would not have been able to stay with these old boys.

[@user-bf2cv9xo7x]

Frew McMillan. With his two-handed forehand. And white golf hat. Bob Hewitt. Later imprisoned for raping and molesting twelve, thirteen, and fourteen-year-old females.

[@WaltKurtz68]

None of today's top players would be able to hit even one decent shot with a racquet the size these guys used. IMO these players are the true masters of the game.

[@jacksonj3082]

So many tennis legends from AUS - Roche, Laver, Newcombe, Rosewall, Fraser, Sedgman, Emerson, Stolle, Cash, Court, Goolagong Cawley

[@briansd2772]

Allan Stone and the 1975 Indiana Loves WTT team! I remember watching him and that team! Market Square Arena.

[@chatkeow]

1.45 lol tells you everything about Nastase.....just sublime Imagine doing that today lol

[@belairscents]

True legends of Tennis courts🏆💝

[@nastaseis1261]

God bless you David Stone!!! This is amazing! Smith is still wearing the 70's Adidas while Nastase is wearing the argyle crap created for Lendl. Smith is using the MIDsize Fischer Austrian racquet while Nasty is still using his signature wooden Adidas Nastase Master stick. He would start using the Adidas racquet Lendl used beginning in the 80's. In terms of technology Smith definitely had the advantage here. Roche was always one to the best doubles players. There is an awesome clip on youtube of Allan Stone hitting a volley behind his back I think although it may be Ray Ruffles. Fun to see Okker and Marty R in the audience, they were getting a kick out of it!! If Newk was Rochies partner they may have won. I remember when they beat Nastase and Connors at Wimbledon, although Nastase had a winning record against Newk in singles. Thanks so much for posting keep em coming!!!

[@nikita-dh5je]

Odd seeing Smith and Nastase teamed up here, they were usually fierce opponents in David Cup and grand slams. The Wimbledon match from 1974 in which Newk/Roche came from 2 sets behind to defeat Connors/ Nastase was a tremendous match, I have seen the entirety on video and it still exists somewhere. Nastase was really acting up and angering the Australians the first two sets, so Newk got in Nastase's face a little, then spoke to the umpire, and from then on Nastase was quiet, and Newk/Roche settled down and beat them. They admitted later that they played to Connors a lot in hopes of softening him up for Rosewall the next day in the final, but it didn't work, Connors won the final over Rosewall in straight sets.

[@nastaseis1261]

@@nikita-dh5je Smith and Nastase actually won Madrid doubles together in 72 when they were both vying for 1 in the world. I also saw the Newk/Roche v Nastase/Connors doubles final, I think it used to be on youtube. Essentially when Nastase and Connors were playing doubles together, win or lose they were out there for a laugh, while Newk and Roche were always dour sorts of blokes, all business. I remember when Nastase and Connors played the British Indoor doubles final and they came out in tuxedos and drank champagne that they had opened during the match!! During the 74 Wimbledon final Nastase was calling out "Yours" a bit too loud during the points and Newk complained to the umpire. After that it appeared the fun had been taken out of it, "for the crowd too" and they just zombied out for the rest of the match. The Aussie tradition instilled by Hopman was very strict on comportment etc. Until after Rafter the Aussies rarely goofed off during matches. Laver used to criticize Connors and McEnroe saying it was the American "have it your way" i.e. 70's Burger King commercial mentality. Rafter was aghast at the behavior of Tomic and Kyrgios when he was Davis Cup captain, not the Aussie way, but again, at least in Kyrgios case; like Nastase he is immensely talented and entertaining.

[@pontusnorgren8849]

Goddam. Awesome with knowledgeable comments!

[@purveyoroffinefoodslaszlo9955]

That point early on at 2:40 is sensational, the way these guys move on the court, close on the net and cover is great in any era.

[@stanislavdermek4982]

Fantastic tennis. A little bit unlucky Allan but some fantastic volleys from all players especially Roche. Very hard to imagine to see something like that today.

[@nathanmiller6051]

Thank you for posting this video! This is amazing on so many levels, hard to believe how good these guys were at the net with those tiny headed racquets!

[@theoriginalthinker9199]

Have you ever played with those rackets? Everybody makes it out to be so difficult. I played with them. They're not that difficult to play with

[@nastaseis1261]

@@theoriginalthinker9199 I agree, and obviously as we see here you could hit some amazing shots! That being said however, having learned and played with a wooden racquet, the old Dunlop Maxply fort, there is no way you can compare the old wooden racquets with the ease of play you get with these current models. The strings too, are almost akin to the banned spaghetti racquets, in terms of the crazy amount of spin you can put on the ball. That's why no one serves and volleys, maybe Dr. Evil and that 7 foot guy out of UCLA, but otherwise it's pretty much a no go. In the wooden racquet days almost everybody served and volleyed at Wimbledon, Mac could even do it at the French! They should have stuck with wood like the bats in MLB. Now everybody plays the same, you watch college tennis and it's cookie cutter: western forehand two handed backhand all day long. What a snooze compared to this doubles match. The artistry and subtlety is gone forever!

[@theoriginalthinker9199]

@@nastaseis1261 Yes, well said! The days of John McEnroe and ironically the OP's moniker, Ilie Nastase, are gone. These players were artistes with the wood. Now it's just who can blast the hardest and the longest.

[@neondiamondsaquaberry17]

You have to understand those small racquet heads were the norm. These players never knew anything else, so naturally you are good with them. Compare them to todays options and yes, they are difficult to play with.

[@kaialoha]

Indeed. Imagine metal bats in baseball...the records would mean nothing.

[@rrfamig]

These are classic tennis matches you hardly see

[@danguee1]

3 absolute legends of the game - and Allan Stone (well done, mate, for stepping in!)

[@taylordve]

Thanks David. Great highlights ... & see myself in the crowd with mum & dad!

[@davidjstone001]

That's so cool that you were there

[@johncasey9966]

Fantastic doubles match ... all dbls slam winners (23) .. Smith Nastase at net, no bobbing down , just cool ready to pounce either way

[@stevehughes1510]

Great to see this thanks. Allan Stone played at our Benson and Hedges Open here in Auckland a couple of times I think back in the day, maybe Tony Roche also one time.

[@patrickkelly9110]

Great stuff , thanks

[@egorgeroev3597]

What player Roche!!

[@philippededeken9845]

When tennis was elegant...

[@glock22357]

Much more entertaining than current tennis.

[@wingshumma4713]

all rounds double's skills 👍, u never seen nowadays

[@colliver069]

Brilliant mate! I remember Stolle/Newk v McEnroe/Fleming at US Open early 80s as well

[@johnrobbins917]

I was at one of those matches.

[@nastaseis1261]

@@johnrobbins917 Me too. Mac hit Stolle and Newk stood there staring at Mac for a good 50 seconds until Mac gave some sort of apology.

[@BOBBY-et9xb]

What a match 👌👌

[@h-dawg1876]

Gosh these days was so fun to watch. The 80s and 90s was great too. But these guys practice was doubles. They not only had single GS titles but also doubles titles. McEnroe has 7 single GS titles and 9 double GS titles. I’d say these guys was better then todays. Why? The competition was harder

[@rrfamig]

Tennis elbow was the cause of Stan smith retiring. You can see the brace

[@kadambisridhar9365]

Great video! Was lucky to see Allan Stone and Ray Ruffels at Madras in 1970 against the Indians in an exhibition event. Think it was on their return back home after the Davis Cup tie. Still remember the shiny steel metal rackets!!!

[@VSV659]

I was at the Davis Cup tie in Bangalore which India won.

[@kadambisridhar9365]

@@VSV659 Very nice! Where were the courts located? Cubbon Park?

[@VSV659]

@@kadambisridhar9365Was a young 11 year old from Coimbatore - came with the supplier of tennis balls for the tie - do not remember venue but did meet all the players and in fact was in the car which gave rides to fringe players like Shashi Menon and Jasjit Singh.

[@kadambisridhar9365]

@@VSV659 Very interesting! BTW, I was 11 too at the time!! 3 years later I got to watch the Davis Cup tie (again vs Australia) in Madras. Very different results, this time!!

[@VSV659]

@@kadambisridhar9365Yes - Newcombe was in the team - a key difference even though he had lost the singles match in the previous round against Japan to a Toshiro Sakai

[@datacipher]

I’m guessing Allan stone modelled his serve after Gonzales - as so many others did (Ashe for example).

[@misterfunnybones]

It would be funny if they were all wearing Adidas Stan Smith tennis shoes.

[@stephenomalley9611]

pre-thermo days!

[@ST-xg3gy]

Great footage. Roche is what, 55 here? Wow.

[@johncasey9966]

No Roche is 35 years here .... all 4 are mid 30s

[@jerryl9823]

1980?

[@user-bf2cv9xo7x]

Your Dunlop Maxply Fort (Fort means Strong) wooden racket would break right where the white meets the natural wood, a little below halfway up the side of the head, on a very regular basis. You had to buy a new one every few months. Rod Laver won his two Grand Slams with it. Adidas = Adi Dassler. He co-founded the company with his brother Rudy. Adi, from Germany, didn't want to use his full name, Adolph, for some reason. Rudi later founded Puma.

[@ThePiellegi]

Fantastico.... Che tennis.... Che classe! Artisti della racchetta... non i martellatori di oggi (Federer e Mc Enroe esclusi)

[@joaquinharnecker9060]

Nasty nickname well deserved

[@johngriffin6990]

The singles game is significantly different today, but not so much the doubles game. These top players from a generation or so ago could absolutely hold their own in doubles with today's players if they were all using the same types of racquets & strings. Especially if ou put a wooden frame with a small head size in the hands of almost any current player and they'd be lost.

[@KevinWBrown-cm6fr]

Nastase was one bad dude 🤣

[@chatkeow]

just fantastic lol

[@turu-1000]

さすが！

[@dks13827]

Good. Is that your Dad ?

[@davidjstone001]

Yes

[@Ricksasha]

Thank you for uploading this David, do you know what year this match was played?

[@davidjstone001]

I'm 80% sure it is 1980. Other possibilities '79 or even '78

[@Ricksasha]

@@davidjstone001 That's about what I was thinking too. There seems to be nothing on the internet about Australia vs the world tennis. So many great names played in this event from what the commentator said. Thanks again for uploading this.

[@MarkTWirth]

May 1981 - Singapore Airlines International Challenge, Festival Hall, Melbourne.

[@balikhartum6179]

On carpet? Right? Anyone please.

[@davidjstone001]

Pretty sure it is hardcourt

[@JossLeigh]

If it was carpet you wouldn't hear the bounce of the ball before serving ! @@davidjstone001

[@robertseward7690]

@@davidjstone001 raised wooden platform like a basketball court.

[@Nocturnbandofficial]

.. is that Rod Laver commentating?

[@davidjstone001]

The host is a guy called Mike Williamson. *I thought * the expert was Geoff Masters but I could be wrong...

[@Nocturnbandofficial]

@@davidjstone001 ... but you also could be right ;-) Maybe Geoff Masters sounds a bit like Laver. I wasn't sure myself, that's why I asked.

[@davidr2802]

@@Nocturnbandofficial At the end of the video the announcer notes who was doing the announcing

[@joaquinharnecker9060]

Why did Smith quit using his endorsed Wlison Stan Smith autograph racquet , switching to that odd Fischer one ? Lots of $$$ like the Adidas shoes ?

[@user-ey8rw6gn3m]

30:22 yeah

[@tomcooper6108]

The doubles back then were pretty decent... compared to the pitiful singles. Of course, today's players are hitting harder with many more angles.

[@TimTheMusicMan]

Looks at the rackets they used and the racket covers. Players today would never be in pro tennis if they had to use these rackets. Many players today are only playing due to the technology allowed in the game. Tennis needs to go back to wood and s/v.

[@kesun32145]

LOL Roche sometimes serves with 2 balls in his hands. Who does that now?

[@nikita-dh5je]

Allan Stone must be filling for John Newcombe, Roche's lifelong doubles partner.

[@davidjstone001]

Correct. John got injured at the last minute. Allan had actually retired from playing, but was at the venue to do the TV commentary. When John became unavailable, Allan was asked to play and they sent a taxi to his home to collect his clothes and rackets...

[@nikita-dh5je]

@@davidjstone001 Thank you, I have always been a fan of the Australian tennis players, particularly of that era. Newcombe/ Roche were perhaps the greatest doubles team ever, and Allan Stone looks just about as good as Newk in doubles. I wonder how he enjoyed playing against Nastase, he was always a pain to play against because of his antics, but he seems ok here.

[@Nocturnbandofficial]

... Nastase still with a wooden racket..

[@SuperHammaren]

Well in 1980 most were, Borg was number 1 with one and Mcenroe 2nd.

[@Nocturnbandofficial]

@@SuperHammaren ... I'm not sure about "most", but Borg and McEnroe and some others were, that'S true.

[@nastaseis1261]

@@SuperHammaren Borg, Mac, Vilas, Solomon, Clerc, Gerulaitis, Teltscher Wood, Gene Mayer Prince Graphite Oversize lol my coach made me use that frame. Connors still metal and Lendl of course, bringing the pace with the white Adidas graphite frame. "1980"

[@alisterzarkar7163]

Naste

[@SuperHammaren]

These guys look like 50+ years old.. plays well though.

[@johncasey9966]

All in their mid thirties

[@SuperHammaren]

@@johncasey9966 I know but it looks like grandads playing on a sunday morning.. Not the level of play though -they still showed good ability.

[@jeremyd1021]

@@SuperHammaren Nastase has a big shout as the most naturally gifted player of all time. He's way past his best here, but still it's all so effortless for him. He glided around the court like a panther.

[@SuperHammaren]

@@jeremyd1021 He was very gifted, with Borgs head and physique..