Boris Becker vs Ivan Lendl: Wimbledon semi-final, 1989 (Extended Highlights)

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[@anwarjalal7805]

My all time favourite player Boris Becker. 🎉🎉🎉

[@dop5]

For me, Boris was the player with the most spectacular and exciting games ever. I've never had more fun watching tennis. And yes, he was only 21...!

[@donkey3187]

What about Nadal, Federer, and Djok?

[@WUDAT]

Boris was my favourite player until Roger came along. Boris was flashy, the dives the emotion and drive. Roger was immaculate never seen someone with his precision of the game. Tennis fans were and have been spoiled to see Roger then Nadal and Djokovic.

[@gnk6717]

​@@donkey3187The era of Nadal, Roger and Djokovic was a time of technological developments in tennis equipment, where rackets, strings and shoes were made to make it easier for players to achieve maximum abilities. while the era of Boris and his rivals is a beauty in the era of classic tennis. there are differences, but all legends show the best of their time.

[@donkey3187]

@@gnk6717 Yes, but most players today cant win one grand slam...these gguys won more than 20...they would have crushed the old players

[@gnk6717]

@@donkey3187 The era of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic was a combination of technological developments in tennis equipment with a hard work ethic like the era of Becker, Edberg, Sampras & Agassi. Maybe in the next 10 to 20 years, the achievements of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic will be difficult to surpass.

[@suatkayatennis]

Lendl was solid on grass where he reached two finals and five other semifinals at Wimbledon.He dealt with the best serve & volley players of all time and was almost winning at Wimbledon. Lendl spent 270 weeks at top the mountain as the best player in the world during a championship-laden 13-year span (1980-92). For eight straight years (1982-89), tennis fans couldn’t tune into a US Open men’s singles championship match without seeing the adidas-clad Lendl as one of the two finalists. He reached 19 major singles finals (third best all-time), won eight of them, captured 94 ATP singles titles in 144 opportunities, and tacked on another 49 victories in non-ATP events for 144 career singles titles. He compiled a phenomenal 1,071-243 (81.65%) record. His total number of matches played (1,314) and matches won (1,071) is second best all-time, after Connors.In the 80's Lendl was the best player after 1982 and forward,he is definitly top 10 of all time.

[@Brauzeuge1516]

after 1984...that was macs best saison

[@klnking7587]

mcenroe was the best player in the world from 1981,82,83,84,both him & connors owned lendl .lendl was the best player from 1985 to 1989 even though becker owned lendl in grand slams

[@klnking7587]

@eoe123321 connors & mcenroe owned lendl in grand slams from 1980 to 1984..forget OVR

[@klnking7587]

he was great lendl..no doubt..was unlucky to meet becker at his peak on grass

[@911801111801]

Take the following into account: 1) Lendl is 4th best in Grand Slam finals all-time. 2) Lendl is 3rd best all-time in matches won. Federer surpassed him. Jot it.

[@prinzessindianavonbaden787]

Wimbledon Winners in 1989: Boris Becker and Steffi Graf. These have been the best days of 🇩🇪 tennis ever.

[@imtiazmirza535]

Best player live it both

[@rajeshiyer1692]

But they never married

[@mp1314]

And it was repeated in 1991 with Graf and Stich taking the respective singles titles.

[@andrearust5364]

BORIS BECKER IST UND BLEIBT MEIN EWIGES TENNIS IDOL. JEDES SPIEL HABE ICH ANGESCHAUT UND IHM DIE DAUMEN GEDRÜCKT !!! 💕😍👍🌹💕💕💕💕💕💕

[@chandrasekharchandu300]

This is one of the most memorable matches of tennis history

[@SaintAlphaOmega]

Becker’s backhand returns! Just wow! Watched this match live back in 1989! Still gives me such joy! :)

[@C_AVATAR]

Becker's racquet 18x20 allowed him more control string bed was tighter so he could hit on the rise better. Djokovic's racquet is 18x20,too.

[@shahrulamar5358]

@M But Boris Becker is also soccer fan. Michael Schumacher also love soccer.

[@patrickhauser588]

​@@user-vk2wp4ot8hTennis is still a great Sport. And sometimes more exciting than football

[@LoveThatRod]

I met Ivan at MetroWest golf club in Orlando one morning at the bag drop back around 2003. Nice man - still loves golf!

[@nizzam1]

Becker should have been year end world number 1 in 1989. He won Wimbledon and us open

[@gerardmackay8909]

Incredible that this was Becker’s third title and still only 21 yet he was never to win another. He’s younger here winning his last than any of today’s big three were winning their first.

[@jameskenny5913]

Yep Federer was 22 when he won Wimbledon. Nadal 23. Djokovic 24. Becker 21 and had won 3

[@TheDPgamer]

@@jameskenny5913 Federer was 21 😉

[@TheDPgamer]

Work that one out yourself did ya? Federer was 21. He’s born in august.

[@gerardmackay8909]

@@TheDPgamer and your point? Apart from nitpicking? So he was a month off 22 well spotted 👏

[@FleagleSangria]

Yeah his temperment, personal life and going against his coaches advice messed with Beckers game. So young to handle all the fame and expectations. Great champion who should have been greater. He should have had double the slams. Personality got him. And of course sadly he is in jail now.

[@drd.n4695]

Serve and volley is beauty. Loved watching the passing shots from both legends ☺️

[@marccas10]

85 to 89 when tennis ruled the world.

[@angelasmithson5291]

They should make all these retro players play again in their 50's!! 👏😀

[@priyanawani9649]

One of my finest Wimbledon matches, almost 30 yrs have passed it still remains etched in my memory

[@sid1318]

True. I saw this match..I was 11 then

[@sanumadhav]

Same bro,,,

[@andrewg3666]

Tennis is far more entertaining then soccor

[@heatherperleberg7816]

​@M how's it feel to be nothing?

[@tauhidchowdhury5029]

I was 18, was very sad for Lendl. The rain destroyed everything

[@johnmccane3076]

I have seen this match dozens of times and today still watching it hoping that Ivan Lendl by any chance beats Boris Becker))

[@donaldbraugh2314]

I had never seen Ivan so despondent after a match. I can't believe I didn't notice it until now. 3rd time seeing this

[@richardbelliveau8881]

Back in the glory days of tennis.

[@c3vzn]

Lol that's just nostalgia. We're definitely in the glory days as long as Federer, Nadal & Djokovic are around.

[@aspiknf]

Grass is slower though

[@ashb001]

@@c3vzn "Glory days" as I have come to understand is the era when Djokovic wasnt around. Getting to watch his mindblowing greatness isnt enough apparently.

[@KevinSmith-wp9qs]

Amazing to think Becker is in the nick now. Having said that he's not hurt anyone, I'd have a pint with him. Good lad.

[@adrianboyddodd8007]

Boris Becker is one of those players that would have been a handfull for any player in history on their best day.

[@donnchadhsvlogs9467]

Hi reply maybe?

[@timmyteaching]

These guys absolutely crushing the ball with squash racquets. It's poetry.

[@MohammedMohammed-bj7oj]

I felt with beckers game he could have won many more major titles.

[@MrX-wd8cm]

Peach of a backhand from Becker, underrated champion, underrated backhand.

[@michaelbarlow6610]

If anyone thinks even for a second that the game of tennis is faster today than it was back in the 1980's and 1990's , just take a look at the 40-30 point and 40-40 point on Lendl's serve at 5-5 in the first set of the Lendl-Becker 1989 Wimbledon semifinal match! Becker hits a reflex backhand return-of-serve that whizzes down-the-line past Lendl on the 40-30 point and Becker then hits a driving return-of-serve at Lendl's feet on the 40-40 point that Lendl couldn't handle! Just look at the lightning fast play on the indoor Supreme Court rubberized mat in the 1987 Davis Cup tie match between McEnroe and Becker for further proof that tennis was a much faster game back then compared to today!

[@SSky06]

Goddamn those overrules were brutal. I feel for Lendl, must have felt like the entire tennis world was out to screw him out of the only slam he never won.

[@cosmoevents21st56]

I felt the same way. Those were momentum killers.

[@giladpachter4546]

Yes. Lendl was definitely robbed of that championship. At least nowadays we have hawkeye for the rescue.

[@mr.sinjin-smyth]

@@giladpachter4546 Hawkeye wasn't used in the recent US open with no linesmen but cutting edge laser camera & recorded line calls on each of the lines.

[@tauhidchowdhury5029]

The rain interruption was the killer. The momentum was with Lendl before the rain. Leading 2 sets to 1

[@haraldlund9261]

Becker’s service motion is really something.

[@trupiil]

Feel the Boris serve. best ever.

[@dancarter1573]

Absolutely a thing of beauty. People disparaged him for his supposed 'boom-boom' tennis. But actually I find so much of his technique aesthetically pleasing.... I try to model my own serve on Boris' because it's technically just spot on. And I have to say - though it's still WIP - that I now have a much better service because of it.

[@cervantes1168]

Even by today's standards, Becker's service remains a reference: precise and so powerful. He regularly served at 130-140 mph, an outstanding performance for the time!

[@kaialoha]

best ever. He was the ATP logo. Smooth, so balanced, no flying legs of today, Its also the heaviest say all his opponents-.

[@jermaineonealnumber7]

My fav serve motion always was Goran's, but Becker and Mac's were so distinctive.

[@Gitfiddle]

Growing up I never missed a match on HBO whenever I had the chance to watch Boris. He was my favorite player.

[@planetX15]

Tennis was shown on HBO?

[@WONGLER]

Ivan was a wonderful player and kind humorous man, he deserved at least one Wimbledon title

[@stagna1959]

Well, he won Wimbledon title in 1978.Boys title :) And I know it is not the same...

[@charlescopeland8474]

stagna1959 9

[@SuperHammaren]

He was well known as bully in the locker room. Aimed at people approaching net as tool to win.. ask Wilander for example. He lost his gear in an exhibition match 86 and borrowed stuff together. Lendl know that and humiliated him with 6-0 6-0. Even Mcenre upset. The next day he had his wife phone him and ask if he wanted to practice.. Nice man? Bad volley also.

[@thebigmonstaandy6644]

Markus : i think he schould not to play serve and volley after second serve.that was a misstake

[@EP-yc2gu]

Haha. That is legendary. Tennis needs more people like Ivan to mix it up. It's too boring.

[@Eric0816]

Those 80s Lendl Adidas shirts were dope.

[@jeffreybeshears8211]

That was by far the best thing about Lendl in general

[@elmoblatch9787]

They were dopey.

[@jefdarcy]

I LOVED this particular collection. I had a blue backpack with this logo back then. And in fact I bought a patch of this logo some time ago on Ebay and had it sewn onto my army backpack I use for shopping and other stuff.

[@donjohnson8120]

Lendl wore an Adidas shirt here but it looks so similar to Le Coq Sportif, a well-known French brand sportswear at that time. The dress code back then at Wimbledon was more relaxed, they allowed some color on the clothing. Now they got strict again, and everyone has to wear all white.

[@mddistribution30]

Lendl change to Mizuno in 1990.

[@raulgarijocabanillas7836]

Lendl's shirt... so iconic.

[@buzzfunk]

In the 80s, Lendl was always known as the "drago" of Tennis. He played like his life depended on it. Miss those days.

[@Uncle0456]

He was supposed to play Ivan Drago in Rocky 4 but he didn't want stop tennis to act. Lol

[@marcoentropiaco33]

@@Uncle0456 a quei tempi di campioni ce ne erano a josa; nel XXI secolo soltanto 3 tennisti hanno dominato la scena!

[@Phoenix-hd1tk]

Feels like things were much better then than they are today, i certainly dont belong here.

[@germanchris4440]

Today: Nothing but marketed robots, everywhere and in all fields. Not just corrupt, but literally owned. This is where the world has arrived today, finally, through its true leaders.

[@likilikiki]

Never tired of watching legends of the game.

[@pernormann4869]

The great Boris, he could have been one of the greatest in history, if it hadn't been for Boris Becker...

[@stratuspei9405]

What a treat to see the court level serves of these 2 legends. Both their first and second serves are marvels to behold

[@RajatDuttaSocialMediaHotShot]

Sad that Lendl never won a Wimbledon title. He was so neat and precise in this game.

[@nala3038]

It’s also sad that Borg never won the US Open

[@hendrocahyono913]

Boris Becker juga tidak pernah juara Prancis Terbuka.

[@tauhidchowdhury5029]

exactly

[@BentHestad]

Becker was really fantastic at these times, 89-90. Would have competed very well among the 2019 elite as well, on fast surfaces. This is big step up from the early 80s level of Borg, Connors, McEnroe and such. Another league actually. Full body behind strokes, no holding back.

[@JohnyMcNeal]

In my opinion these 2 couldn't get to top 20 nowdays with these plays.

[@1q2w3e4r5t6zism]

@@JohnyMcNeal That's rubbish! Every time has its players, material and way of playing. The mental constitution and talent of Lendl and Becker alone would easily allow them to be on top again today.

[@peterhammer6915]

@@JohnyMcNeal well your opinion is wrong

[@Gryffon3]

@@1q2w3e4r5t6zism If they releared everything from a young age maybe. There technique is subpar though. the serves are not impressive at all for wimbledon finalists, the returns are abyssimal, the groundies are way behind too but indeed a step up from Macenroe, Boirg and co...

[@overkongen34]

@@Gryffon3 Both players have better serves than most of the current players. It's Becker and Lendl! Becker's serve is one of the best in history, and Lendl's forehand is easily top 5 ever.

[@jmartin4204]

he many have never conquered Wimbledon but that does not change the fact that Ivan Lendl is still one of the top greatest players in the entire world , and the same for Boris Becker another great champion . It was certainly a German day at the Wimbledon final 1989 Boris Becker and Steffi Graff . Nice photo of them with the German Flag . Two great players ,Boris Becker third and final Wimbledon win .

[@Perebynis]

What an amazing running backhand by Lendl at 5:34. Truly one of the greatest players of all time.

[@pushkaranprasanth4687]

He is one of the great tennis player... How he can be considered as a Goat.... Come on...Jimmy conners has more winning percentage, more grandslam titles, and more tournaments titles......even today's players are even performing far Better than him, especially djoker...

[@guymarsault7264]

@@pushkaranprasanth4687 Djokovic is far better than everyone actually. No surprise he's got positive h2h against 2 of the greatest ever.

[@donkey3187]

@@pushkaranprasanth4687 Connors and Lendl both won 8 grand slams...so they are tied there.

[@pushkaranprasanth4687]

@@donkey3187 in singles...

[@donkey3187]

@@pushkaranprasanth4687 Right...thats what matters...we arent talking about doubles. We are talking about how great these single players are

[@Blofeld67]

Becker was one of the greatest servers, returners and volleyers of the game.

[@NisseOhlsen]

No. His volleys were no where near the level of Edberg, McEnroe, Leconte. Becker was OK. But many of his volleys were just plain uninspired. By todays's standards he's a god, of course. Djokovic can't volley to save his life, but with the slow courts of today he doesn't need to.

[@HG-Tv23]

Totally agree! He understood the game better then others and until now he’s loving and living tennis. He is one of the greatest of all time. It is still a electrifying atmosphere when he’s speaking on television. Becker was and still is a great man. I would like to see him playing against nowadays generation of players when he was in his good years :)

[@mddistribution30]

@@NisseOhlsen Granted he wasn't as good a volleyer as Mcenroe, Edberg, or even a Cash or a Rafter, but he is nevertheless one of the greatest fast court players ever. Just look as his record at Wimbledon and on fast indoor courts in the 90s. 2nd only to Sampras I think.

[@blake7871]

Jack Dutton He’s the best indoor carpet player ever, and I’m not a Becker fan saying that.

[@alecmorariu6291]

Niels Ohlsen djokovic can volley. That’s a myth saying he can’t volley just because he does not come to the net does not mean he can’t volley.

[@TheMojo78]

Lendl had sawdust in his pocket to dry his hands before tthe serve .....man they had character in rthose days

[@drd.n4695]

Tell me about it. Can't handle the tantrums and the grunts in women's tennis. Graf won hers quietly.

[@bbobrm]

and McEnroe hated him for it .... but of course ..... that's McEnroe

[@sanjib819]

my all time favourite player Boris Backer

[@EndofUSA]

Becker's winning power was in his tremendous impeccable flawless backhand!!!

[@michaelbarlow6610]

Boris Becker's power in his tennis game was not just his backhand but also obviously his tremendous forehand and serve! As Lendl said to Tony Trabert at the awards ceremony at the 1989 U.S. Open after Lendl lost to Becker, "It's not only his serve. He (Becker) does to players what I used to do to them on the court". By that Lendl obviously meant that Becker was pushing his opponents around the court with the power of his groundstrokes like Lendl used to do to his opponents in his matches.

[@oldfrend]

@@michaelbarlow6610 evolution of the game. and then pete sampras came along and he was just a little bit better than boom boom in every way.

[@peterhammer6915]

Great quality in this video, thanks for uploading!

[@lucaantonelli1511]

Poor Ivan was forced to serve and volley all the time, today he would win Wimbledon x3

[@krishnasathishkumar4366]

everyone did back in the day lol

[@miotubo839]

Except for the fact, that nobody "forced" him to serve & volley. Borg won on grass years before without doing much S&V (in fact, five times in a row). Agassi won it a few years later pretty much staying form the baseline 99% of times. So, it was pretty much his choice and he could have won it otherwise.

[@MSM123Jack]

@andreasmissiroli 😂😂👍🏼

[@nikhilbaskaran]

@@miotubo839 the courts were lightening fast then and the balls kept really low on grass and skidded on. The courts were also not of the same quality like we see today. Winning from the baseline was impossible. Agassi had a killer return of serve but more importantly took advantage of the gap between the Edberg/ Becker era and the Sampras era to win his only Wimbledon.

[@miotubo839]

@@nikhilbaskaran Borg won in the 70's from the baseline.

[@tauhidchowdhury5029]

Rain interrupted match! Lendl was almost winning the match as the momentum had been with him. He was leading 2 sets to 1, and playing superb. Suddenly rain came up and both had gone to dressing room. The momentum changed and Boris won the match. That was the year when Lendl could win the Wimbledon.

[@adiyendasan9031]

I cried when legend lendl lost in that day. Ivan the greatest legend of all time

[@guimov1984]

sampras plays golf?

[@nala3038]

Far from it!

[@chandrasekharchandu300]

This is one of the all time best match es of Wimbledon

[@tristancharles5470]

Becker was a complete tennis expert...in late 80s he could of beaten anyone.. his serve was awesome and he had a mean backhand

[@drizztdurden9045]

Yes he was Mr Boom Boom :)

[@papigringo5692]

At the time I was a dumb teenager and didn't really appreciate Lendl's game. Now I love watching old highlight reels of his matches. He was ahead of his time. I feel he'd be right at home in modern tennis.

[@martydav9475]

He wasn't much good at the net (Wimbledon always exposed the limitations of his game), so yes he'd be right at home in modern tennis.

[@ZAOUWV]

Lendl a byt underrated. Absolutely one of the bests

[@telmolicious]

Starting with a Damn good return game by Becker :D

[@Atombender]

Fun fact: Lendl was so committed to winning Wimbledon that he had himself a grass court built to improve his game on that surface.

[@MrPernell27]

Built and maintained by the same people that do the courts at Wimbledon

[@andrearust5364]

I MISS THIS TIMES !!!!

[@kochnasakti7187]

This is my favorite wimbledon semifinal match, including the 1989 wimbledon final. Many of the great male tennis players of that era ...

[@nigee_219]

Damn I felt for Lendl when he said “I’m already having a hard time”😩

[@sleepyjoe7241]

@Drew5876 spoken like a true psychopath

[@desmit4406]

I remember THIS match being maybe Lendl's most bitter defeat. He said it was the best match he had ever played on grass.

[@michaelbarlow6610]

@ des mit. It is very surprising that Lendl would say that the best match he ever played on a grass court was the 1989 Wimbledon semifinal match versus Boris Becker because the best grass court match that Lendl ever played was in the Queen's Club tournament final just before the start of the 1989 Wimbledon tournament, when Lendl played superbly to defeat Becker in straight sets!

[@desmit4406]

@@michaelbarlow6610 that was the 1990 Queens club tournament ( remember that)...but Lendl DID say that however. Lendl was a stickler for "the big tournaments". And he measured everything by them.

[@desmit4406]

@@michaelbarlow6610 Lendl blew Becker off the court in that 1990 Queens club match. But WIMBLEDON was his focus..he spent 3 months practicing on the grass that year.

[@michaelbarlow6610]

@@desmit4406 . Yes it was the 1990 Queen's Club tournament that Lendl defeated Becker in the final. I misremembered it as having taken place the year before in 1989. But Lendl was definitely wrong in asserting that his 5- set loss to Becker in the 1989 Wimbledon semifinals was his best-ever grass court match! He definitely played better in that 1990 Queen's Club tournament final because his volleying was even sharper in that match than in the 1989 Wimbledon semifinals.

[@desmit4406]

@@michaelbarlow6610 Lendl made that statement after immediately after the 1989 loss....IDK what he said a year later in 1990. But the Wimbledon loss hurt him the most.

[@andrewminty3250]

The glory days of tennis..Lendl and his saw dust and that tiny racket.what is that a 90? Becker in his dominance. This was when tennis was fun to watch.

[@andrewminty3250]

So much bravado!

[@overkongen34]

Closer to 80.

[@bp7152]

Vid quality 100% watching this on KZbin and it’s amazing. Nicely done. Much thx from Tn, USA.

[@gremsa]

beckers backhand was on point there

[@preciousjey]

Boom Boom! The commentator: Look at those eyes. Baby Blue Boris Becker Boom Boom!

[@77duplicate]

No ads anywhere 👍🏼

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

I viewed this match on television 📺 back in '89 ...I used to watch Wimbledon, every year ...Boris, Borg, and Conners, were who I rooted for 🎾

[@michaelbarlow6610]

Another tactical mistake by Lendl in his matches against Becker at Wimbledon , was that Lendl when serve-and-volleying would hit too many serves to Becker's backhand , thereby becoming too predictable! Lendl also lacked the important into-the-body serve that natural serve-and-volleyers possess like John McEnroe.

[@fitzyehboah8289]

Seasoning ending 1989,, 4 grandslam title's to his name.. by age of 22, Wow..

[@twatcherful]

The way Becker blows smoke off his fingers after that forehand return at 2:55 is quite telling.

[@IljaAlbrecht]

Wonderful match. Ironically, even the highlights transport the endless wait for Lendl's serves :-)

[@fundhund62]

Becker played so many epic and memorable matches at Wimbledon that it´s kind of hard to choose, but for me, this has to be one of his top 5 performances. Other contenders would be the 1986 and 1989 finals, his 1988 dismantling of reigning champion Pat Cash.. and, of course, his sensational 1995 comeback against then world number one Andre Agassi (being down 2-6, 1-4). And I haven´t even mentioned his magical run 1985 when he was only 17 years old..

[@fundhund62]

@Antonio Sapienza He also reached two back to back Wimbledon doubles finals in 84 and 85, which in those days actually meant something. Unlike today.

[@chrisrevill8717]

Those were the days: no hawkeye, fast grass, LED scoreboard, all parts of the court worn, and shorts WERE short! Also notice spectators standing up to watch, the Hillsborough disaster a few months earlier ended that.

[@iceinmyveins335]

Wow what a game:) with the equipment used here and still come up with those shots!Wow:)

[@MariaCCurry]

so refreshing to hear thoughtful commentators ~ great tennis - that backhand tho! AND THOSE SHORTS! - are short!

[@007therealjamesbond]

*Big hitting. Looks like they could hang with this era if they still hit like that*

[@chocolatetownforever7537]

Give them poly strings and youre damn right. The gut they used back then didnt put anywhere near the spin todays strings do, so theres so much more margin for error. That being said, im not sure Becker is ever at net considering how they slowed the courts and balls down.

[@marnieandme84]

The good old days of Wimbledon no rallies, shocking line calls , big serving and some nice feel around the net

[@petes6521]

The best Lendl ever played against Becker at Wimbledon.

[@vasudevan2168]

These are classics and we will not get to see tennis matches like these

[@MrCappon1111]

Lendl is the father of modern tennis, Boris was a great player on grass, Lendl was very good on grass and a monster in every other surface. if that game was played with todays wimbledon grass Lendl would have won a wimbledon title for sure.

[@NisseOhlsen]

Who introduced the double backhand? Who introduced the radical top spin forehand? Björn Borg.

[@mddistribution30]

Good point! Cos the grass is so much slower these days I think he would have won a Wimbledon title for sure.

[@matthewross3828]

I think lendl embodied the mentality of the modern game more than borg, who retired at 26.

[@absoluteb22]

Balls and court both slower these days. The grass also bounces higher which gave Nadal his victory there suiting him perfectly.

[@TheDazzler420]

@@mddistribution30 Players are so fast these days, that if they played in early 90's, they would have to make different class for players like nadal, federer and djokovick. But it is like these time passes and things are understood and evolved. But seriously compared to other sports the difference of play style between todays and early 90's players is too huge. Today's players will look like olympians to the men.

[@EJP286CRSKW]

Boris was serving so hard that day that Lendl was just getting out of the way.

[@nickra60]

2 times Wimbledon in a row : BB, best player ever!

[@MrTimepass777]

Becker lost just two sets in that tournament and both in that semi final to Lendl. Lendl was leading 3-1 in the fourth set until the rain interrupted the match to Becker's favour. Lendl was very unfortunate as usual....

[@mauziki]

Lendl was one of the most fortunate. That French Open final in 1984 when McEnroe went berserk and handed Lendl the championship or the 1990 Australian Open when Edberg being unwell granted Lendl the victory.

[@nickknight5373]

Thirty years ago, but they both look like very modern athletes. I have a feeling 1959 would look rather old-fashioned by comparison.

[@ericheryz7005]

😁

[@nickknight5373]

Also I guess the open era starting in the late 60s & the following upward trajectory in fitness standards.

[@MrPernell27]

Both are physically bigger than Federer and Nadal. Very modern athletes.

[@kaialoha]

the only difference between then and now is the poly strings. Both used heavy graphite sticks but small heads. With poly both would have all the spin they owned. Particularly Lendl, the godfather of the Modern Baseline Game.

[@oot007]

Lendl was the first player to look like a modern player. In his early days he was flat footed and kept losing to Borg and McEnroe. Then he started weight training, got seriously fit, improved his footwork and technique and became the best in the game.

[@jeffwads]

This was a very comfy match. Such great tennis.

[@cervantes1168]

What a match! And what a pity Lendl was never able to make it at Wimbledon.

[@SonateSonate]

Not good enough

[@psak1000]

I just noticed Lendl had a funny voice...

[@benthekeeshond545]

Good quality video. But poor Ivan Lendl. Wimbledon is Lendl's kryptonite. If Lendl was playing with today's rackets, he would be hitting like a Dominique Thiem or maybe like a Stan Wawrinka. His chances of winning at Wimbledon would be much better.

[@Spacedoc-zy7sj]

Und einfach nur hammer geil, wie er sich denn immer die Fingernägel abpustet. Boris ein Held meiner Kindheit!

[@jamesd362]

Have a look at the point Becker plays to break in the first game of this video. Quality the equal of any point played at this year’s tournament

[@jackkitchen737]

@4:37....the point of the match. Lendl, instead of dispatching a solid forehand volley into the open court, decided to yet again go behind Becker and push a volley that let Boris explode a backhand passing shot through him. These little things are what separated these two on this court.

[@brigittameyer3396]

Wie wunderbar !!!! Keiner rennt nach jedem Schlag zum Handtuch ! Das waren noch schöne Zeiten !😅

[@testplatform582]

The serves from both are just amazing when shown at court level

[@renhoek3851]

Jesus, those courts were fast

[@NoosaHeads]

Don't know what anyone else thinks but, to me, this play looks every bit as fast and sophisticated as Federer or Nadal.

[@theacechip]

Especially that sledgehammer of a backhand by Becker at 4.47 onwards.

[@ilangovetrivel9655]

really? i thought it looked very amateurish. fitness, skills, techniques hv gone up tremendously

[@peterhammer6915]

@@ilangovetrivel9655 not a very good try of trolling...

[@robdean704]

Yeah I agree but why wouldn't it as these are 2 of the best to ever pick up a racket. I totally get your point so please don't think I'm trolling

[@ponchotran9004]

21:11 Watching Lendl since the 80s. I don't think I ever heard his voice before. I remember watching this in 1989, and his protest of the three points.

[@ajaykukade1974]

Gone are the days of serve and volley at Wimbeldon. My my what a player Boris was to watch! Still lingering in the 9ps era where Boris and Stefan Edberg would been seen fighting for title.

[@Uns_Maps_8]

The lack of rallies is very noticeable

[@KaitainCPS]

Lots of people claim that they miss old-style serve-volley, but frankly it was mainly pretty dull.

[@archiesutherland6127]

@@KaitainCPS, indeed

[@GOATAli]

@@KaitainCPS Very dull.....

[@mathew3267]

Its because they're rushing the net after the serve, almost forcing a win/loss point as quickly as possible

[@boxerboy860]

Mathew exactly these guys are nerds talking real grass fake grass blah blah blah 🤣 it’s style of play

[@drlee2]

Each of the 3 times Lendl played Becker at Wimbledon, he performed better than the 1 before: losing in 3 sets (1986 Final), 4 sets (1988 semis), and 5 sets here (1989 semis). Guess he needed one more shot against him to get over the hump.

[@GeoAce777]

Lendl was my favorite tennis player growing up and 5:36 was divine

[@massimocosma7202]

Uno dei primi match che ricordo😊

[@sebastianherrera6309]

At that time Wimbledon was faster than today, which is why we have seen players like Nadal win there.

[@antonpepo5695]

If Becker had only trained a bit more or half as much as Lendl or today's players, he could hve achieved so much more, played so much longer...

[@anujabal4797]

Ivan Kendal versus Boris Becker match was the treat to me in this lockdown period thanks for uploading

[@herbertmische8660]

Great!!! Respect Mr. Becker!!!

[@alpergunes6833]

Damals war Tennis was ganz anderes das war richtiger Sport wo auch Technik sehr wichtig war und man hat einfach mehrere Stunden gesessen und die schönen Spiele einfach bestaunt

[@jimmyred5157]

Was braucht man deiner Meinung nach heute?

[@jorgegomezg.3484]

Becker was always my favorite tennis player

[@Max-yp1iw]

Jorge Gómez G. but now he is a terrible guy

[@soniahachemi4025]

Me too 😀 Stefan Edberg too but my best was always Boris Becker !!!

[@soniahachemi4025]

@@Max-yp1iw Really ? O !! 😢..he was my best...

[@Max-yp1iw]

sonia hachemi he was a good tennis player for sure without question.. but what he’s doing now in like tv shows is kind of awkward

[@soniahachemi4025]

@@Max-yp1iw 😢 i don't know about it..u re right so dommage someone like him ..i had all his photos i used to put on the walls of my room all his posters..i used to buy Tennis Magazine just to follow his news..😐..thank u ..