Borg v Connors SF Wimbledon 81 5th set

[@Levoyageur-y3w]

Borg is the most impressive tennis player I have ever seen. He was a very mysterious player because he was very silent, very calm and made no gesture of irritation or joy. His nickname was "iceborg". I felt like I was seeing some sort of “God” come to Earth. No other tennis player ever gave me such a visual impression again. Federer Nadal and Djokovic are legends, but they never achieved the aura of Borg because they remained human, while Borg gave the impression of having come from another planet, of being an alien, and when he had his beard, he looked like it was Jesus Christ playing tennis. At the age of 25 he had already won 11 Grand Slams. People today can't imagine the legendary player Borg was back then. He stopped playing tennis at just 26 years old, that’s incredible too.

[@nz1229]

Looks like he lost.

[@robertwheatley2471]

Borg was tremendous and had a mystique unlike any other rarely displaying any emotion or got rattled. He was a joy to watch on the court and the total opposite of McEenroe and Connors who were the Big Three and the glory day of tennis. Today besides Djokovic and Nadal I couldn't name one current player and rarely if ever follow the game. Nothing great last forever.

[@nala3038]

Borg had a bad temper when he was younger, so he decided he had to behave if he ever wanted to be great.

[@johns7530]

Having watched a ton of tennis in all eras, there is just no way Borg hit with the kind of pace that Federer, Nadal, Novak did. His (or Connors for that matter) serve was not a weapon like those guys... all 3 of them would have owned those 2 - unless modern rackets would have raised their serves/pace, which is possible. Probably not fair to compare era's due to difference in rackets. Otherwise, great as Borg was for his era, he would not have stood a chance vs the big 3, not with that racket.

[@johnrltr]

@@johns7530 Hello! This was still years away from the revolution in racquets from wood to graphite and then to composites. No one could hope to hit the ball anywhere near as fast back then, although the metal T2000 that Connors started playing with was a huge advancement, and he won several majors with it. Service speeds with today's racquets are somewhere around 20-25 mph faster than with wooden racquets. One of the things that made Laver so great was the tremendous strength in his grip and forearm. True story: in a Davis Cup match against Mexico he knocked the racquet out of the great Rafael Osuna's hand. Early 60's as best I can remember.

[@benphilips7235]

This was the last great match these two played at Wimbledon. Along with McEnroe they were responsible for catapulting men's tennis to the stratosphere. I was at school at the time. The match began at around 4.30pm. Normally people would be busy around campus doing all kinds of things. By the time we get to the fifth set there was not a soul around. Everyone, including the teachers, had rushed to commons rooms all over the school to find a tv to see how it panned out. The very definition of a truly great event. You cannot imagine how exciting this was. As they took their bow to the Royal Box at the end, Connors in his white tracksuit top, Borg in that iconic red and vanilla Dunlop strip, Dan Maskell said it was one of the greatest matches he had ever seen. It was on a par with that great 1980 final the year before between McEnroe and Borg. A momentous match during a truly memorable period in men's tennis.

[@antonboludo8886]

I agree. How did Connors blow this match, though? I do not know why, but Connors has always been my favourite player, even though he was rather vulgar. After Connors, Borg was my favourite player. Then came McEnroe, and then Agassi. I liked Lendl for a while. If he played Agassi, I was for Agassi. I do not know why I never wanted Sampras to win, even though he seems like a great guy.

[@faustoferrari4303]

I was in 1st year uni. Yes, you're right, but I desperately wanted Connors to win and watching it again all these years later I'm still amazed Jimmy let Bjorn off the hook when he was so dominant in the first two sets. I know Borg had legendary resilience and was never going to give up his crown easily (he hadn't lost at Wimbledon since 1975) but Connors had him on the rack and usually Jimmy was ruthless when he was in the ascendancy. What's even stranger was that I was sure that was the end of Connors as a grand slam champion as McEnroe was also beating him regularly at that stage, then he comes back the next year an wins the tournament (as well as the US open).

[@faustoferrari4303]

@@antonboludo8886 That's weird, I feel almost exactly the same (except for Lendl, I didn't like his style of play, but I think he's a great bloke now with a tremendous, witty sense of humour). I think the problem with Sampras was his no-frills hyper efficient game didn't let his personality come through, I never wanted him to win either. From what everyone says, Jimmy has always been a complete A-hole, but maybe that intense competitiveness is what makes him so fun to watch. Also, I thought he was very idiosyncratic: odd service motion, flat hitter, double handed backhand (he made it popular) and unique body language which also made him fun to watch.

[@lawrence1318]

@@antonboludo8886 Connors choked. That's how he lost. If he hadn't have choked he would have won in straight sets.

[@Sholay48]

Two great players. Iceborg remains my favourite and Wimbledon icon. He did not talk much and got on with his games. Jimmy on the other hand used to intimidate and patronise opponents, but never against Borg. They had high respects for each other. And why would anyone trying to intimidate Borg anyway? That time also with McEnroe was the golden age of Wimbledon in my view.

[@markwhitman9029]

This is when tennis truly meant something.rallies are so intense and shot variety far superior than today's mere sluggers of the ball

[@antonboludo8886]

@@markwhitman9029 Yes, Borg, Connors and McEnroe had 3 very different playing styles.

[@mikes3827]

Agree@'golden age' of tennis comment. I was a lil sh-t when I was introduced to those great male players back in the day, and that magical trio of Borg/Connors/McEnroe brought an intensity and "pizzaz" to tennis that really hasn't been equaled since, IMO. Subsequently produced some of the best combination of drama, showmanship and epic tennis matches between those ultra competitors. BTW, has there ever been a more well-behaved, non-bitching athlete than Bjorn Borg??

[@antonboludo8886]

@@mikes3827 Bjorn had to hold these emotions in. It is the Nordic Way. He probably got really mad and explode in his private life, though. The other 2 would just let it out on the court. These 3 were amazing. 3 different styles of playing with different type of racquets. An amazing period in tennis history.

[@sanjverma318]

Tennis was so much fun to watch from the mid 70s to mid 80s.........Breakfast at Wimbledon was always memorable .

[@VladislavBabbitt]

Indeed it was. It was fun to make a brunch and eat it whilst watching the match.

[@meilstone]

The way they were able to play with these rackets is truly remarkable!

[@Subotaï01]

Mais 40ans avant les raquettes devaient être encore 10 fois pires !😉

[@markwhitman9029]

Oh the kids today haven't a clue about the equipment back in the day. I used to be pretty damned good with my Wilson wood racquet and got deep in local club tourneys. We used to have much better variety of shots but one couldn't get super powerful speed but made for better rallies.I wouldn't trade my time in 70s and 80s and the men and women stars for the world

[@meilstone]

@@markwhitman9029 When I started playing as a child in the late 80's, we were already using graphite frames, I would love to play with a wooden racket some time, though. I imagine the strings felt softer than today's?

[@afaircomment]

I love how even Jimmy Connors shows Borg some respect.

[@colderbeer]

Today's top 20 players should all be charged a 1% Royalty charge on their earnings so that money can go into the bank accounts of Connors and Borg. THESE ARE THE GUYS (especially Jimmy Connors) who directly brought the big prize money into Men's Tennis. These are the guys who made tennis a draw on TELEVISION. Jimmy Connors invented the fist pump....nobody had ever seen any players act with such gusto and passion before he showed up in the late 1960's. And Borg Borg became a ROCK STAR in the tennis universe, almost winning 6 titles in a row at Wimbledon.

[@jasoncowell5133]

McEnroe deserves 2% all on his own then

[@TBguitar]

B

[@johnhughes8466]

Yeh Jimmy Connors is the most exiting player ever! My favourite and he changed tennis forever! For me the greatest ever for sheer commitment and giving the fans their moneys worth! And dont forget has the world record of 109 atp tour titles!

[@emin7540]

John Hughes yes and when tennis had tougher draws! It was like Ali, Foremen and Frazier along other dangerous fighters.

[@atheeoslsarkkos7739]

Borg only diserves this. Ice Borg.

[@Ruda-n4h]

The most memorable tennis match I've even seen and Borg's greatest comeback - the coolness and guts he showed on some of the break points against him in the fifth set had to be seen to be believed, and of course at this time unknown to the public he was starting to feel burnt out and coming to the end of his tether. You can see it slightly in some of his mistakes and mannerisms. At times his face seems sadder than normal. Their wasn't much sport on TV then and the whole world seemed to stop for it. The networks around the world thought Borg would win in straight sets but when Connors went 2 sets up they were scrambling their schedules around to keep it on air. At the time some people called it the greatest match in Wimbledon history

[@stevlehr]

I felt sad when Bjorn retired.

[@giovanniesposito8759]

Era simpatico Connors coi.suoi capelli a caschetto

[@stevenashe8900]

It’s sick to think how many majors Connors would have won if he had a serve like Federer or even one like Nadal that more than occasionally yielded him “free” points. Connors got so few “free” points on his serve yet won Wimbledon twice and reached the semis or the finals there many, many times. Remarkable.

[@antonboludo8886]

Yes, his overhead smash was good but he was never able to get any velocity on his serve.

[@eddieingalls534]

Indeed and even more surprising he never did anything about it, he always had and kept his pat-a-cake serve. Borg used to beef his serve up for Wimbledon, it was actually a very effective serve he had. We don't notice as much as I don't think any player in the history of the sport has served as quickly ( as in taken the serves) as Borg. And what was immense was that he even served quickly when down on big points. McEnroe would go for a whiskey at the local pub before serving his second serve at 30-40, Nadal and Djokovic play around with their shirts or bounce the ball a 100 times before serving. Mentally the man was unbreakable. (Well until he broke himself and quit)

[@onthe4572]

Connors still holds the record for the most singles titles in the Open era (109).

[@Coolrobb]

Hey very god point. Never thought of that.

[@iamtman1]

@@onthe4572 At least 20 of those were bill reardon's small events separate of WCT back in the early 70's. Connors isnt going to be measured on 109, but on 8 majors.

[@PeterTamura]

I went with my grandma to Wimbledon in 1981, we had tickets to No1 court. We saw McEnroe and Stan Smith in the round of 16. Connors was on an outside court, I think his ranking had dropped somewhat. He had a resurgence after Borg retired soon after this. Borg was playing Gerulaitis on center court, I got a glimpse of both of them but it was very crowded. Borg was my hero, so enigmatic, so seemingly unemotional and cool under pressure.

[@starrosborne7839]

Thank you so much for putting this on here this is the one match I listened to the last set to at work and I remember shouting " yes he's done it " and everyone looking at me in total amazement lol

[@ganz7ful]

I remember as a kid hearing my friend, who had already watched the first two sets, saying that Borg was two sets down to Connors. I wasn't a tennis fan but presumed that Connors would win it. By the time I got home I couldn't believe it when I watched the 9 o clock news to see that Borg had won!! From then on I was a Borg fan. By the way, The crowds back then - so many people, packed like sardines. That was tennis at its height.

[@antonboludo8886]

Agreed.

[@martm216]

I had the privilege of being there for this fabulous match. As someone commented, the last match that Borg won at Wimbledon, because he lost in the final that year to McEnroe. Then, after the U S Open that year, I think it was, he pretty much walked away from professional tennis.

[@johnclark7049]

" If there was ever 2 men who deserved a standing ovation then its these two " Dans comment at the end.

[@jackkitchen737]

Good catch on your part

[@stevedavid1226]

Agree!

[@lisamccaff9217]

I’d so love to see a 2022 clean video version of this

[@memoir4you]

superb tennis -worthy of a final . Borg was still hugely loved by the crowd, excited that he'd reached a 6th Final.

[@michaelm7717]

Indeed, you didn't see very often 6:0 and 0:6 between such a great champions.

[@martm216]

I was actually there for this match. Such a privilege. The last match that Borg won at Wimbledon. Brought his unbeaten run to 41, if my arithmetic is correct 😏.

[@faustoferrari4303]

Watching it on TV , I couldn't believe Connors threw away the two set lead. How did it feel in the stadium? Did it feel like it was a typical Borg comeback?

[@martm216]

@faustoferrari4303 it was dramatic in the stadium. It was dramatic for me just seeing these two great players before my eyes, as it were. But yes, it really did look as if Borg's great winning streak, 40 matches if my arithmetic is reliable, was about to come to an end. But as one writer said, Connors knew that he probably had to win that third set. Because he knew that Borg became more dangerous the longer he went on. He went on. There was a strong sense, even before the third set was over, that Borg would probably beat Connors yet again at Wimbledon. It was a privilege to be there. And to see the last match that Borg ever won in that famous stadium.

[@dempalundquist703]

I started to play tennis around 1988. Mostly on public courts here in Sweden before I got a job and could pay for the clay courts. Most people at that time was impressed by Wilander or Edberg. So was I. But there was one thing I remembered around this time. Borg used to string his rackets to 28kg. With a wooden racket, that´s alot. They broke alot of rackets back then. Of course, this wasn´t a problem in 88 because we used graphite. So, I stringed my rackets to 28 kg. And you can hear it in this video, That poppin sound of Borgs racket. 28 kg! Wonderful!

[@drobson8004]

Actually it was more like 40 kg

[@benphilips9918]

'81 was actually a resurgent year for Connors. Though he narrowly lost to Borg in this epic semi, he went on to beat McEnroe in the final of the indoor championship at Wembley towards the end of the year and the following year won another Wimbledon title against Mac, as well as successive titles at the US Open in '82 & '83, taking his total to 5 in that competition. Borg attempted a comeback in '82 and '83 losing twice to Connors and then gave up. Jimmy's persistence stands as an inspiration to us all...

[@kennethbrady]

Totally agree!!

[@benthekeeshond545]

The modern rackets change the game of tennis. When Pete Sampras retired and did not even touch a tennis racket for a few years, when he did, he was amazed by the power of the newer rackets. The rackets of Jimmy Conners and Borg were the dinosaurs of tennis. As we watched this video, we have to wonder if the tennis court was longer and wider than the modern tennis court. Of course, what I am trying to say is that shots produced by Del Potro, Robin Soldering, Stan Wawrinka, and some modern players are so must faster because of the newer rackets.

[@Subotaï01]

Evolution is normal. But tennis is tennis, serve, backhand, forehand, volley, passing shot, lob, new rackets will never change that.

[@tonyrappa4611]

Also the string technology

[@DrBroncanuus]

so nice to hear Dan Maskell's voice again...I think this was the greatest semi-final ever at Wimbledon...

[@jmartin4204]

Dan Maskell was a great commentator , then he teamed up with Virginia Wade equally as good

[@DrBroncanuus]

@@jmartin4204 some people are irreplacable...I miss David Mercer and Bill Threlfall too

[@ag358]

Conners, the all time singles title winner with 109 wins, didn't play 8 french opens because he was banned or couldn't schedule it, i know he was banned for 4 years, all in his prime. Conners won on every type of surface, he won the us open on grass, the us open on clay, and the us open when it changef again to hard court, the only man that did this. In 74 he won 3 majors but banned from french. How many more majors could he have had during those 8 years. Shame on the french.

[@mikem9252]

borg and connors had 2 great matches at wimb - 77 final and this semi - thx for posting

[@BruceLee-zd9bw]

Incredible tennis from two of the worlds best. Jimmy using a modern technology racquet, and Borg preferred to use his trusted Wooden Donnay racquet. Legends. 🙏👊😎

[@stevlehr]

@Gumshoe Beaumont French player Lacoste designed the T-2000 in 1953. Not modern. It was not patented and sold until a few years later. It's head was small, as were the wood rackets of the day. I played with a T-2000 for maybe 4 years when Jimmy used it. I liked it. It was powerful compared with competing wood frames. Jimmy eventually moved on to the Prince Mono, so I played with that, too.

[@stevlehr]

@Gumshoe Beaumont I started playing tennis in 1961. Just about all rackets back then had tiny heads. About 30 years ago, I played several matches with a young guy. I won every match. I had my best play between age 40 and age 50. Never an expert player, my ratings ranged from 3.5 to 4.5. He told me he was considering a new frame, perhaps the Wilson Pro Staff Pete Sampras made famous. I think it is 85 square inches. I have hit with it - a sweet frame that really challenges its owner. I told my young friend that if he mastered that frame, he could really improve his play. I didn't see the young man for a year. He called me for a match. He showed up with the 85 inch Pro Staff. He had cleaned up his strokes - he really had no other choice with that racket. I lost against him for the first time and congratulated him with real pleasure. I consider my main frame to be a Head Prestige, 93 square inches. But I also play with 103 and 108 square inch frames, when I'm not feeling my game. My most unusual frame is a Wilson Triad XP5. You could look it up - it is a 3 piece frame. It's very stiff while being pain free.

[@EndofUSA]

I totally agree with the opinion and comments on this specific video....THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST MATCH EVER PLAYED BOTH BY BORG AND CONNORS!!!

[@bradleysmall2230]

I wish I could find or buy the entire match- agreed

[@michaelm7717]

I remember this match very good. Really great match, 6:0 and 0:6 in the same match, you don't see that often.

[@denisdaly1708]

I watched this live, back in the day.

[@michaelcampbell4503]

Best match ever. I remember watching it all. Borg just decided he was not going to lose. Simple as that.

[@normadesmond6017]

o, my too. Those were the highlights of my summer.

[@jackkitchen737]

I did as well. What a great match. The 5th set was so riveting. The whole world was watching. Tennis was HUGE at the time.

[@GerardoHernandez-fq1mx]

I have watched the replay of this match…especially the 5th set, so many times….hoping for a different result. If Jimmy could have broken him in the 3rd game of the 5th and go up 2-1 with his serve. He had 2 break points.

[@jackkitchen737]

This was one of the greatest matches I ever got to watch. And for you to put the great 5th set on here, with all its drama, WOW.

[@alanchong7513]

Only Borg could come back like this. I saw it live on TV. So memorable!

[@tenniscollector]

Hey don't forget Connors vs Pernfors at Wimbledon 1997 which is available on YT thanks to JimmyConnorsGreatestMatches and Tennis Moscow.

[@alanchong7513]

+tenniscollector Connors vs Perfors. I used to own that on VHS as I was taping Connors getting a thrashing. Then he miraculously turned it around. That was an amazing comeback too.

[@mddistribution30]

Even though this was Borg's last Wimbledon, this is just a classic match! Bit of a forgotten classic!

[@sweetrobertos]

And that's why Jimmy's my all time favorite. He had absolutely no serve, so he was always already at a disadvantage to begin with. He was much easier to break than was Borg, Mac, or Lendl. But he was such a grinder and left everything he had out there on the court. I just loved watching him. But he lost to Borg at Wimbledon and it killed me as a kid to see him lose all the time.

[@iamtman1]

No serve, and really a mediocre forehand on anything hit low to him on that flat side. Yet you're right, Jimmy had great mental toughness, a magnificent backhand, underrated speed and good (not great ) volleys. Also a brilliant overhead. But if you watch Connors footwork, it was tremendous as well. Borg was just a better athlete, , with more consistency, and a bigger forehand and serve than Connors. It was a bad stylistic matchup for Connors in this rivalry. Espec once Borg matured into a good server. 2 all time greats.

[@sapio0o]

Using this factor, then Nadal should be the undisputed goat. He has serve not any better than wta player outside top 10 yet he's still on 16 slams, having won on all the surfaces, that too in a competition with Federer and Djokovic. Rafa usually get broken in almost every match or at least every other, regardless of who he play against. Surely he's the player among the greatest who has the weakest serve of all time. Don't forget that in the woorden era, the serve didn't really matter so much, since the raquets didn't allow almost no power. In the current era the serve matter way, way more.

[@garygentry8050]

Connor's also had one of the greatest returns of serve ever.

[@quasar4601]

his serve is a total joke and I don't understand why he never improved it.

[@jasonbrooks6562]

You are so right. It still won him 8 grand slams,against some of the true greats.

[@hunkgolden5726]

Hard to believe, Jimmy would play 10 more years and Bjorn would quit 2 months later. Big mistake borg

[@borgtennis]

Very very true, Like McEnroe I was actually waiting each year for him to come back!

[@MrMakemyday3]

he did what he wanted to do. no mistake

[@tomloft2000]

Borg had no intention of retiring after the 81 season.he was just going to take some time off.he was later informed thatecause of his lack of play that he would have to qualify for Wimbledon.being a 5 time champ he was justifiably upset,and decided not to play the 82 season.

[@somebose7395]

Yes the authorities r to blame for deny the public chance to see comeback in 83 of the all time great.. so stupid of them

[@michaelbarlow6610]

@ Hunk Golden. Connors played 13 more years on the men's pro tennis tour after losing to Borg in the 1981 Wimbledon Men's Semifinal not 10 more years. Both Connors and Lendl retired from the men's pro tennis tour in December of 1994.

[@Pavitra66]

Thanks so much for sharing this from a life-long Borg fan. The memory of this nail-biting match has been etched in my memory ever since I saw it all those years ago on our small 24" colour TV in Hounslow. 😀 I couldn't believe how Conners thundered through those 1st 2 sets, winning one 6-0 & thinking how can Borg come back from this? The way he did then, also winning a set 6-0 was tennis at it's finest. I was pacing up & down cheering Borg on & so very happy when he won. 😀

[@tenniscollector]

Bless you stephane. Borg vs Connors - When They Were Kings !

[@alanchong7513]

This match shows just how much mental toughness Borg has. He could have conceded this match. But he found a way to win against a guy that hated losing to him. That's unbelievable!

[@quasar4601]

borg would have a very hard time even winning a game or two off Fed, Nadal or Djoker. Borg's game looks pathetic compared to anyone on the ATP today. Sorry to say.

[@peterbrown6434]

Excuse me,he would have their Rackets and with his speed,much faster than those 3 plus the Grass is slower nowadays,do your homework and do NOT dismiss an all time great!!

[@deys2832]

And 40 years from now, the top players will make today's champions look like chumps.

[@LeadershipAlliance]

Absolutely, utterly wrong my friend. I saw Borg play live in his day. Using the same rocket launcher rackets that unfortunately took over tennis shortly after Borg retired, he would have demolished Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, etc. FYR Borg also has one incredible record that no player before or since has equaled: an 89.8% winning percentage of matches won at Grand Slams. Borg and Federer are the two best players in history in my book.

[@Richard-g4u1r]

Remember early in Borg's career the experts thought he'd never be able to win majors on grass with that game. But he kept improving his serve. Not to mention volley(s.)

[@markokrunic3887]

Jimmy nearly destroyed my childhood when he lost this match..He was on fire in the first two sets and Borg had no answer to his aggression and power.I dared to believe that this was his year but Sport is so cruel as I watched in agony as victory was snatched from his grasp!

[@onthe4572]

But at least he won it the following year.

[@tonypatricelli8408]

Little lucky in '82

[@hansjolen6087]

@@tonypatricelli8408 McEnroe in a verbal fight with umpire Jenkins. And losing the control he had in the match.

[@johnhughes8466]

@@tonypatricelli8408 Dont talk nonsense!

[@alvaroasc]

Two tennis monsters on a superb final set. Can´t believe my eyes!

[@staffordshiretowncountry9985]

I have all this on vhs tape. Tremendous match. Connors on fire for two sets then a close third set and he didn't play badly in the fourth but didn't win a game. This final set was immense. Nectar Of The Gods according to our press... I was 16 years old watching on a bw tv in Harlech, Wales

[@fredrikdahlin7869]

Staffordshire Town & Country if you’ve got the whole thing on VHS could you digitize it and put it up on KZbin? Would love it man!

[@johnny-r]

The precise shot-making of Connors and Borg - and McEnroe - was just amazing. Such skill with ball placement and court awareness.

[@devilmaycarebutGODdonot]

This court seems pretty slow and also thrilled to see so many baseline rally. This guys would be giants in today's game with better rackets.

[@JohnnyKonoko]

So nice to hear BBC..Only commented when it's warranted.....The ambience....Especially at Wimbledon speaks for itself....Pat Mac....take Note....Just to name one

[@markbrandis5684]

It's fantastic, what Connors achieved despite of his poor serve! Hats off!

[@alanchong7513]

Connors' serve is not as bad as people make it to be. He won over 100 tournaments. No one does that with a bad serve. He know how to get it in with slice, topspin or hit it flat. It's ok.

[@thebigmonstaandy6644]

Borg did not have a better serve.

[@markbrandis5684]

sorry, but Borg's serve was way better!@@thebigmonstaandy6644

[@thebigmonstaandy6644]

@@markbrandis5684 i dont think so.Connors technik is better.and he ist lefty. but i cant find any stats,so i must see whole match to be sure.and i dont want to see whole match.

[@ag358]

Conners won 109 singles titles. The all time record..

[@johnny-r]

I watched all these matches live, in America, so I only heard Engberg and Collins and Newcombe and that crowd. Watching the matches with British announcers is so cool. It's so much more down to earth and respectful than American commentators.

[@oinkooink]

Interesting how they played without a ball back then. Classic stuff!

[@johnmortensen2779]

Conners Wilson T-2000 steel tennis racket cracks me up. The head is perfectly round.

[@jean-lucbereda1155]

I saw Bjorn playing. He was a normal guy but I never see a guy so kick and so cool on court. Playing with small rackets 35 kgs gling gling old strings 450 gr. This guy was a Viking.

[@Harlee172]

Never missed Borg...I grew up modeling my game as a Borgian and I still play today at 59

[@Kradhan]

Likewise at 54 , and with the Donnay Pro Borg !

[@pedromac1620]

I watched this game when I was 15. Wanted Connors to win but was in awe of the comeback by Borg.

[@mikhailyakovlev7219]

For me Bjorn Borg is like a group Beatles, He took off, shone like a star brighter than the others and retired early ...

[@willkittwk]

Interesting comment. I think Borg helped make modern tennis as well. If you call Borg Beatles I call Jimmy Rolling Stones. Lol

[@joe1972]

@@willkittwk mcenroe must've Been nirvana

[@willkittwk]

@@joe1972 right on!

[@usaslakt]

What is this??? No towels to use between every point played??? Great game, remember watching it on a black and white tv at our cottage at sommer break...

[@willkittwk]

The T2000 is iconic. Conners slapped deep flat shots with that racket especially on hard courts. It was about a $30 dollar racket you could find at Wal-Mart or Sears lol everybody wanted to give it a try.

[@blugold94]

40 plus years later, still get chills at the end as those two titans of the sport walk off the court to a standing ovation. 13 break points in the set.....Borg 1 of 9, Connors 0 of 4. So many huge points that could have turned it.

[@LaserRanger15]

tennis in the 80's through the mid 90's was just great. Before the pure power game came along

[@markokrunic3887]

Very true.The power game ruined it

[@emin7540]

marko krunic the western grip ruined it. All teaching went to the western grip. Look at the court wear, a measurement of how wide game play was.

[@markokrunic3887]

@@emin7540 Very accurate observation.The continental and eastern grips have disappeared and the variety and subtlety of the game has been lost.

[@Editor_Hound]

That's why Borg is my all time favorite, only the "IceBorg" could lose a set 6-0 and go on to win the match like it was nothing!

[@usaslakt]

Or come up with two aces when he is down 1-2 and advantage Connors...Great!

[@paologalliani4172]

for me Borg is the tennis itself

[@normadesmond6017]

Yes, i remember that as well. For him, losing the first set 6-0 was just a warming up, I guess. It didn t bother him. And then he went on and beat the hell out of the other guy. How great is that for confidence! For me he is still and alway will be the greatest.

[@eddieingalls534]

I seem to remember he did this in the 1980 final too, against Mac? I might be wrong but I am sure he lost the first set to Mac 0-6?

[@normadesmond6017]

@@eddieingalls534 It doesn't matter who loses the frist set. It matters who wins the last one.

[@maxipaz5597]

Not many people see this as THE LAST VICTORY BJORN BORG EVER HAD AT WIMBLEDON

[@martm216]

Quite right. He lost to McEnroe in the final. And if I remember right, after losing to him again in the final (I think it was the final, no, might have been the semi-final, more or less walked away from competitive tennis.)

[@siberiantiger8553]

Borg and Connors don'T player good in this match , the only important difference is that Borg winned.

[@vanlendl1]

I think, that Borg lost too much energy in this semifinal, although he did not play bad in the final.

[@martm216]

@@vanlendl1 I was actually there for that match! So I'm always proud to tell people that I was there for the last match that Bjorn Borg ever won at Wimbledon.

[@MrBjorn6]

@@martm216 I remember this match, because I was living in NYC and we didn't have live tennis. I was listening to the radio 1010 wins and every 30 minutes at 45 on the hour, they did sports. They had a live report from Wimbledon. When Borg lost the first set 6/0 and then the 2nd, I was in total shock, because Borg never lost to Connors. I was terrified every half hour to hear, what was happening at Wimbledon. Then out of nowhere I heard incredible comeback at Wimbledon Bjorn Borg has comeback from 2 sets to love...... I was happy until that raining July 4th in NYC, when we all know what happened. We got the final live on NBC, and Bud Collins said, "the king is dead, long live the king." I was so devastated (I was 12) that an extrovert talking Kid became a mute, for a month, my mother was concerned,.what was wrong with me. Bjorn Borg had lost at Wimbledon and I was in shock.

[@usaslakt]

At 18:35 min, Connors thinks Now I got him! Borg is totally unmoved as usual and replies with a serve ace...

[@fitzyehboah8289]

Great Match... Super Energy... Espetacular Magnific Bravo. .

[@barryodonohoe9806]

I remember watching the first set live with my dad. He turned around and said..”Nobody beats Borg 6-0.” He was right, Borg would invariably win the match in those days.

[@freewheelman68]

Fondly remember this epic. Connors also had a 5 set comeback against Vijay Amritraj, earlier round. Was there a banner in the crowd with " Kill him Jimbo!" on it?

[@Ruda-n4h]

Indeed there was.

[@blugold94]

The greatest 6-4 set in tennis history.

[@lisamccaff9217]

MARVELOUS in the true sense

[@maranatha_1968]

Last success for Björn BORG in Wimbledon that means 41 consecutive victories in the same tournament...

[@raphaelarnaud8366]

So long ago...41 years! This match made me love tennis forever. The second one I've watched on TV after (already) Borg vs Connors on Wimbledon's final on July 2nd 1977, the day my 9th birtday😂 Jimmy Connors was my favourite tennis player ever .Then will came John McEnroe. Boris Becker and Rafael Nadal

[@misspasteque2738]

39 years pasted ...and first time I can see this last set , because french TV had stopped to show the match before fourth set :(

[@RonnieLeeDuck]

Did anyone read Connor's bio? There is a passage in that book that I can no longer recall where Connors' provided his take about Borg and Wimbledon. I remember him saying that Borg was tough at Wimbledon but he was never invincible. But then he also mentioned Borg's particular style gave him some inherent advantage late in the tournament when the grass courts became worn. Does anyone know that that was? and if there was any truth to it?

[@michaelbarlow6610]

Just think how much more dominant Borg would have been in his era than he was, if (1) he had improved his volley ( both forehand and backhand volleys) , (2) improved his second serve to the point where it into would have been a weapon in his game (as Lendl did by hitting his second serve aggressively during his peak years), (3) had developed a great topspin backhand lob and topspin forehand lob (which astonishingly he lacked on the backhand side considering his excellent two- handed topspin backhand groundstroke), and (4) had stood just behind the baseline to return McEnroe's serve , thereby depriving McEnroe of the time needed to get inside the service box for his first volley, instead of ridiculously standing 10-15 feet behind the baseline to return McEnroe's serve which allowed McEnroe to get in tight to the net to volley away for winners Borg's attempted passing shots.

[@thomaszeun5551]

Two of my favorite players. Both unique, no one like them before or after

[@alancjones64]

Connors was as pumped up during those first two sets as any player has ever been in the history of Wimbledon, in the history of tennis, in the history of sport. It was absolutely spine tingling. But Borg. The coolest guy on the planet just wouldn't let it go.

[@Banbanjaara]

🤦

[@lawrence1318]

Borg didn't win this. Connors lost it.

[@kenarthur6253]

One of the greatest Wimbledon SFs ever. Hated to see either player lose. Connors' forehand let him down, for sure, and cost him the match.

[@colinjennings3661]

Wonderful era of men's tennis. Best ever

[@BorlandRIP8]

Merci Stéphane Je me souviens de ce match : de mémoire Connors menait 2 sets à 0..et la suite et fin de partie était diffusée en fin de journal télévisé

[@Banbanjaara]

🤦

[@tomloft2000]

when was the last time you saw 2 Hall of Famers win and lose a set 6-0 in the same match?

[@RonnieLeeDuck]

Ironically, Connor's body language throughout this set reminds me a lot of Krickstein 10 years later when he lost to Connors in the famous USO 4th round match. Even when Connor's is pumping himself up after a great shot to earn a break point, there is a look about him that he knows deep down an inevitability Borg is going to win the match.

[@fundhund62]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

[@obicoke1810]

In my eyes this match was the main reason Borg lost the final to McEnroe. This was played after McEnroe's game. So Borg hadn't the time to recuperate unlike McEnroe who had played earlier in an easier match against Frawley. Both matches were over 3 hours long, but Connor made Borg run around a lot more than Frawley had done to McEnroe. By the time Borg had bested Connor he was out on his feet. IMO.

[@martydav9475]

This match would have been an-all time great final, nevermind just a semi-final - it was epic stuff.

[@colinjennings3661]

The best era of men's tennis. Borg McEnroe Connors

[@jean-lucbereda1155]

Yes. Still a great pleasure to see these guys. And a girl Chris Evert. Listen the applauds at the end.

[@johnclark7049]

@@jean-lucbereda1155 Aye and Martina !

[@jean-lucbereda1155]

@@johnclark7049 What did you try to say ?

[@alecsuchi6620]

I recall watching this match in 1981 and was hoping Connors would defeat Borg. It is the best and most intense match I had seen, Now I wish Borg had won the US open and that Connors had won more n Wimbledon titles. The Connors-Borg matches were more interesting to me than those with Macenroe.

[@markanderson8006]

First memory of Borg was beating Tanner in 79. He would win Roland Garros and then immediately start practicing on the grass for Wimbledon he used to struggle in the early rounds but peaked in the second week reaching 6 finals in a row. I often wonder if he could’ve won more slams if he hadn’t retired. The ATP bosses should’ve let him play where and when he wanted from 1982 onwards. Like Djokovic now he only plays a limited schedule nowadays hoping he wins number 24 at flushing meadow but I think 23 is where he’ll finish at least he’s won more than Nadal

[@markanderson8006]

Borg defeated Connors 10 times in a row from 1978-1981 then retired . What he must have thought when he witnessed Jimmy win Wimbledon and US Open in 1982. Borg was my favourite tennis player of all time. I was 9 in 1981 but I remember this match was gutted when he lost to McEnroe in the final.

[@AlexanderArsov]

Great tennis and great drama. The youngsters who keep chanting that tennis began with the B4 ought to watch more matches like this one. Sadly, they won't.

[@philippeigoa7765]

Little do the youngsters know about tennis in the wood racket era. I've only heard of the tennis rivalries of the 50's with Kramer and Gonzalez, and I was a bit young to witness the Australian domination with Laver winning slams as both an amateur and pro, and I can only imagine how many more slams that the "Rocket" would have won had the rules been different. Having said that, I can't imagine these aforementioned era Connors being anymore exciting than the late 70's and early 80's with the Borg/Connors rivalries, and soon to be replaced with Borg and McEnroe. It was a different kind of game, shot making required greater skill with the old technology.

[@ag358]

@@philippeigoa7765 laver was stopped with the emergence of conners, conners had 3 majors that year but couldn't play the french because he was banned. He signed a contract that the french open didn't agree with.

[@davidthompson7640]

I was there for this match, absolutely Fantastic!! Nobody thought this would be Borgs’ last win at SW19 😢. Jimbo doesn’t seem to get mentioned in the conversation with Mac and Bjorn BUT ….. who held almost every record conceivable in mens tennis till Fed, Rafa and Nole came along . Yep you’ve guessed it .. Jimmy Connors. 👋👋👋. OBTW, he has 1 more Slam than Johnny Mac !

[@WithBACON]

Borg had perhaps the best footwork I've ever seen...

[@markwhitman9029]

He and Chrissie on the women's side had best footwork

[@gedewurd]

THE GOLDEN AGE OF TENNIS ...'70.'80---EVERY YEAR A WONDERFUL FIGHTING SEASON...CONNORS...BORG...MC ENROE...LENDL...VILAS...TANNER...GERULAITIS...WILANDER....NOAH...BECKER..EDBERG......NOW IS SO BORED!! ONLY 3 CHAMPIONS..

[@michaelhegyan7464]

Yes it was, unfortunately there are no Americans who can play tennis, like Connors and McEnroe, anymore..

[@opencurtin]

Michael Hegyan seems like men have given up playing tennis in the USA not since Agassi and Sampras has there been a champion

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

Once Borg figured out Jimmy around the end of 1979, he had him. Took him several years how to counter the flat Connors strokes and strategy, but once he did, he was bound to dominate Jimmy from then on. It started with Bjorn realizing his serve was a deadly weapon against Connors. Connors was on his back foot for the last 2 years of their rivalry, every match. Very sad this could not have happened prior to 1979. Borg absolutely intimidated Jimmy starting in 1980, and never let up for that short time Borg was still around until the end of 1981. Borg absolutely sliced and diced Jimmy to shreds in Bjorn's final Grand Slam victory at the US Open 1981.

[@richfaulkner1527]

I think this was when the Burn out problem slowly and sadly began

[@denisdaly1708]

Borg said that he was just going through the motions in this tournament. He was burned out at 25. He had played alot of tennis by then. A pity the tour would not let him take time out.

[@uncletony6210]

I don't think Mac or Pete burned out.

[@uncletony6210]

but McEnroe came back and played with probably more passion the last six yrs of his career than he did at the start / in his prime. With regard to Sampras, I think dominating the game turned him from a humble champion into an arrogant ass. I first noticed the difference during the 97 AO. But I don't think it was a matter of "burn out."

[@uncletony6210]

I'm not sure about that, he looked as quick and fast as ever to me. I think it was simply a matter of the being overpowered by the then new generation/brand of tennis. One thing about Mac, if he ever believed he was going to lose, rest assured something was "wrapped up" or "injured." 81 FO vs Lendl wrist, 82 WCT vs Lendl ankle, 83 Davis Cup vs. Argentina shoulder, later in his career it was the knee, hamstring, etc., but the funny thing is, I never detected the slightest hitch in his movement. Dude seems extremely durable - as evidenced by the fact he's still beating 45 year olds at the ripe old age of 58.

[@brianmccall452]

It happened to Sampras, but it was much more understandable in such a case. He played consistently into his 30's.

[@brianmccall452]

I don't think you know what you're talking about. They've both said as much many times.

[@bradleysmall2230]

If you played JAMES SCOTT CONNORS you knew it was going to be a dog fight or a prize fight and he was going to scrap for every little piece of left over bone- GOD BLESS CONNORS.

[@googoo-gjoob]

youd better beat in 3 or 4. dude found an extra gear in 5 setters.

[@pradeepkumar-vm5ue]

in First set Connors 6-0 against Borg is unimaginable when Borg is in Peak. Connors is warrior and fighter , kill or get Killed. After this he was beaten by young John Mcknroe who was beaten by Connors in 1982. He, McKnroe and other Americans he never allow org to win US open. Connors is a very great and courageous player.In 1987 he was trailing by 2 sets down and 1-4 down with Penfors the swedish giant and Connors came back and he won the match. This kind of match has never been witnessed so far and it is the greatest come back. Mind there was Becker, Lendl, Wilander ,Edberg who were all 15 to 18 years younger ,He reached semi finals and he was beaten by Pat Cash in straights and Pat beats Lendl in straight .Hence Jimmy is greatest fighter and is the best. Borg retired but Connors went on playing.

[@vanlendl1]

I saw that match live on TV.

[@normadesmond6017]

oh yeah me to. Borg was my hero as a teenager. I used to get out of bed in the middle of the night to watch the matches.

[@jgs2207]

I watched this live on our Channel 9 in Australia as a 16 year old. So excited after 2 sets. So stressed after 4 sets. Deep depression after the 5th. Remember this do well. 😔😔😔😔😔Took the day off from school next morning - parents didnt know it was purely being heartbroken that i didn’t want to go to school. Thought i was really sick! Now here i am, 39 years later, senior teacher at major Aussie school 😜🤫

[@honeybeebadger]

Great match thanks for posting this

[@aemiliadelroba4022]

Nice 👍 Why is this clip out of synch ?

[@doudoubulle]

Belle qualité de vidéo 👍

[@drbonesshow1]

One thing was very strange about this match (I've never seen this elsewhere): Connors won the 1st set 6-0 and lost the 3rd set 0-6. Where have you seen the opponents doing that before or since?

[@jimbotc2000]

I never realized it back in the good old days, but compared to today, these two greats have very odd or different backhand swings/strokes..especially Bjorn Borg..

[@pradeepkumar-vm5ue]

Two all time greats played excellent tennis. King of grass court play king of Hard courts. Borg-Connors-McKenroe matchs are really classy. Thanks Stephane.Borg retired after 1982 but never ageing connors again beat McKenroe after loosing to Ash,Borg , Mcknroe and not to anybody ,in 1982 which is greatest come back ( after 8 years which he won wimbledon in 1974)in tennis history.

[@michaelbarlow6610]

@ pradeep kumar. Borg essentially retired from pro tennis after the 1981 season not after 1982. Borg only played sporadically in 1982, primarily in exhibition tournaments.

[@dcb113]

Connors tired in 5th sets a few times. While Borg was carb loading the day before and eating pasta as many Europeans had started to do, Connors was still eating steak and potatoes two hours before a match.

[@zelmoziggy]

If memory serves, NBC showed this match on tape delay at 12:30am.

[@HKHK7]

Beautiful Tennis!

[@milesfromneworleans]

The players were not as good back then as they have been since about the beginning of the new millenial. Still, this is fun to watch!

[@Unsung_Earth]

They were a lot better then, the only thing that was better several years after this and onwards was power

[@johnhughes8466]

The big 3 back then was the greatest era in tennis and were the best players ever! Jimmy Connors is the king of tennis for me! Sheer will and tenacity with wonderful skill tremedously hitting the ball flat! Nobody has played the way that Jimmy played ! Sheer joy! I dont feel that way about tennis anymore! I think the last great era was the Becker V Edberg era! But the Connors ,Borg , Mcenroe era is the greatest!

[@davidjackson1410]

This is great to see !

[@MrSwj2009]

Really enjoyed hearing Sir Anthony Hopkins commentary. :)

[@marcionogueira4703]

i want that you know that really i think the tennis players of the past better than todays tennis players, and this story they would not play in modern tennis, is that they have no concept of tennis history. If the players of today played sixty years ago, with the rackets, and the preparation of that time, their standard of play would be equal to the players of the past. With less technique compared to the best players, and i have no doubt of this. There isnt nothing in the physical structure, comparing the players of today with those of the past, who say that todays are better. Phisically many any of the greats of the past, were tall and physically fit for tennis. If you compare that a soccer player forty years ago, would run six kilometers per game, and today run ten kilometers. And clearly if you compare physically they are the same physically. And there isnt doubt that today, they would run ten kilometers too. And the preparation of them, physical and technical, forty years ago was not very different from today. This proves that the evolution of sports is very psychological, and not just physical and technical training. Like an example, in tennis, if you compare the final of wimbledon of 77, and the semifinal of 81, the two games between borg and connors, and in the same court, with the same balls, and the same rackets, and in great shape, you will see that in 81 the ball is walking faster. Then clearly tennis has evolved only in those four years. And you can compare several examples like this, that the tennis players did not change anything in training, and managed to evolve, because it was a natural trend of the sport. So it really is a lot of naivety to think, that the players of the past would not play today. And maybe they would not play with shame of the bad level of the players of today and this is sure and thank you.

[@SMSJSC]

You need to learn to write in sentences, mate