Chris Evert v Martina Navratilova Classic Match | Australian Open 1981 Final

[@jt10s]

Love that this match remains ultimately watchable 40+ years later.

[@DouglasMcCulley]

Martina's last major with the wood racket... she told Chris to switch in 83, but it took her longer, finally making the step in 84. Martina's first major under the Nancy/Renee tutelage- THE start of her dominance.

[@andyroo9381]

I NEVER liked Nancy Lieberman.

[@DouglasMcCulley]

@@andyroo9381 not many people did- people who actually knew her have said good things about her- Mary Carillo said it wasn't all toxic- they had a lot of fun together (Mary and Martina were doing a book together on tennis technique/etc. and the 3 spent a lot time togther 82 I think)

[@DouglasMcCulley]

@@andyroo9381 I have to like Nancy a little- we both went to Old Dominion and she's the reason we won 2 National titles.

[@DouglasMcCulley]

neither had won the Aus. Open before this- Chris got her first the following year. Players didn't play the tournament much before the 80s. Chris only played 6 times in her 17 year career- making the final all 6 and winning 2. Martina only played 10 times in 22 year career- making 6 finals/wining 3 with 3 SF and 1 Qf losses.

[@zeddeka]

Martina said on Twitter a while back about why she stopped playing after 1989. She said firstly that the scheduling was bad and it didn't allow her to recover from the previous season but also that she hated the Rebound Ace surface. She mentioned how she'd got burned on her leg on one occasion when getting down for a low volley (the surface could heat up badly and start to melt). She also said when they moved the Australian Open from the grass of Kooyong, they asked the players which surface they wanted at Melbourne Park. She said the players did not want Rebound Ace but were ignored. A number of other players over the years spoke out about Rebound Ace, including Pat Cash.

[@DouglasMcCulley]

@@zeddeka ace rebound also caused a lot of injuries/falls- I don't remember anyone who like it! Always thought tennis needed an off season- players complain all the time, but when push comes to shove, they never do anything about it- they keep playing all these made up events in December and January for the money.

[@christopherproietti645]

@@zeddeka Martina probably skipped the Miami Open (back when it was called the Lipton International Players Championships) after 1987 because it was also played on a slow hardcourt that got soft and a bit gooey in the South Florida heat. I was a ball kid back then and you could dig your nail into the court, and it would leave a mark. Plus, she didn't like the windy conditions there.

[@tonymurphy9795]

I know the rackets were made of wood but it's hard to see either of those ladies lasting against today's top pros.

[@gerardmackay8909]

Give todays top pros that small wooden racquet with its tiny sweet spot and you would have your answer

[@keithlawford-r5e]

For some reason after reading your post this old quote popped into my head: “It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubts.”

[@mattoneill1272]

redundant comment

[@carlosalcaraz3667]

Novak Djokovic is GREATEST OF ALL TIME in tennis history 🎉

[@Lucas51192]

🥰😍🤩🐐🎖👑🙌

[@ShaqoorMustafa]

You sad little man

[@andyroo9381]

No one cares.

[@Megatronman1]

This isn’t about Novak