Chris Evert vs Helena Sukova - 1986 Wimbledon QF (1/2)

[@fjosephgonzales6870]

R.I.P. Dennis Ralston, Evert's coach at that time, who passed in December 2020. :(

[@shihlin1]

This happened to be the last grand slam tournament with John Lloyd in attendance. Over the course of that summer, the Lloyds unfortunately decided to head for divorce. John Lloyd was instrumental in improving Chris's game and never got full credit for that.

[@maxipazz8214]

How do u know this?

[@willnill7946]

Maxi Pazz ?

[@Logans3Run]

Spot on. John helped develop a more aggressive attacking game that Chris benefitted from. Her serve and volleying, was visibly improved. 👍

[@tomogden9503]

I could watch Chris all day. What an exquisite match. She was brilliant in that deciding set. Helena was a tough proposition on grass with that huge first serve. Does anyone have the semi from the following year at Eastbourne? Chris let slip a 5-2 lead that match 🙈 Just adore Chrissie!!

[@zeddeka]

Helena Sukova pulled some impressive escape acts in that tournament. In the final, she was 0-5 to Navratilova before turning it around and winning in straight sets

[@BTURNER1961]

In 4 US Opens she entered on grass, 5 Australian Opens she entered on grass, and 18 Wimbledons she entered on grass, Evert reached the semifinals of all but one ( That is 27 of of 28 majors over the course of 19 years) She reached the QF's in all but one and won every single one of them in her career . She reached the final 48% of the time she entered a grass court slam.

[@franciscodeoliveira7935]

Here are Chris Evert’s results on Majors grass: #Us Open: Chris Evert= - Billie-Jean King-Kerry Melville-Margaret Smith-Evonne Goolagong=0. #Wimbledon: Chris Evert= Morozova+Goolagong-Goolagong-Goolagong+Mandlikova-Mandlikova-Billie-Jean King-Billie-Jean King- Wade-Kathy Jordan-Graf- Navratilova-Navratilova-Navratilova-Navratilova-Navratilova-Navratilova-Navratilova= 3. # Australian Open: Chris Evert= Navratilova+Helena Sukova-Navratilova-Navratilova-Goolagong= 2.

[@BTURNER1961]

@@franciscodeoliveira7935 great post. Now ask yourself how many of those represented major upsets, taking into consideration the ranking, grass experience and circumstances. The only ones that were concerning is the loss to Jordan (early rd) and the loss to wade ( Wade was an old player having a great day and tournament but she should have been beaten. Evert had not lost to her in years) Even that loss to Melville really was not an upset given it was Evert so inexperienced on grass, and Aussie Melville's #9 ranking

[@franciscodeoliveira7935]

Ok for Kerry Melville but No, No,No I don’t agree with you for Virginia Wade. Come on, how can you say that she should have been beaten? Brian Turner!!! No way! Virginia Wade played that day the finest grass court game of her life! For Kathy Jordan, I can’t tell you because I’ve never seen that match. I only heard that Chris Evert was sick this day, so... The 1978 Wimbledon’s final is for me a major upset for Navratilova. At that time she was far from her country and her family and she won previously in Eastbourne against Chris Evert.

[@BTURNER1961]

@@franciscodeoliveira7935 After looking at that head to head, it turns out you are more right than I. It was lopsided towards Evert, but Chris had actually lost to her earlier that year in straight sets on carpet, which undoubtedly gave Virginia confidence. It ends up being a horrible match-up for Wade, something like 40-6, but Virginia really was playing some fine tennis that year, not just at Wimbledon. I stand corrected. As for the Jordan match Chris really was ill, and had asked for a postponement that was not granted. It is also true, that Jordan often caused Chris headaches, and beat her again on indoor carpet when illness was not an issue.

[@franciscodeoliveira7935]

Brian Turner! Great post! Very fair to both players!!

[@mddistribution30]

I remember i was at Wimbledon that day, i saw some men's doubles on court no 2.

[@christopherhammer4451]

Thank you Brad

[@lenwelch2195]

Your serving at 4-2 and you get both first serves in and watch the first two returns sail out - what a relief. Helena worked so hard to get to a third set and to not return two average serve returns in play down 4-2 is heartbreaking for Helena . Helena liked to play aggressively all the time with every stroke. It’s almost like she didn’t enjoy a rally. She worked to hard to let these points fly by. She didn’t do it on purpose. I believe Helena was the most talented woman player of her era that didn’t win Wimbledon . Shriver was an excellent volleyer and could serve well - she reached her peak in 88 with two wins over Evert- 3 total in her career, twice beat Martina at the open but the win in the garden over Graf was her most exciting win . Wished she had won over Sabatini to claim that title. She was one half of the greatest doubles partnership of all time with Martina . Helena was a great doubles partner. Her mother Vera won Wimbledon and it would’ve been sweet for Helena to have won. She had the misfortune of playing during Martina’s reign and everts era .

[@franciscodeoliveira7935]

No, Len Welch! Vera Sukova never won Wimbledon, she lost in 1962 against Susman! But yes it’s sad for Helena!

[@TIZNYC]

I believe Mandlikova was the most talented player of that era not to win Wimbledon.

[@BTURNER1961]

This represented one of Evert's toughest slam draws. She gets Kathy Jordan, a woman who beat her several times on fast surfaces in R16, to get to this match in the QF, and then Hana in the SF, if she had won that, its another final with Martina. She had already beat Sukova 3 times this year before this match, and would beat her again at Fed cup directly after. Sukova got sweet revenge at the Open in a straight set victory.

[@JSmith-zr2ve]

to be fair, Chrissie was 12-3 lifetime against Jordan. Hardly a nemesis.

[@BTURNER1961]

@@JSmith-zr2ve Not on fast surface courts. Its 8-3 which means Kathy won 27% of those meetings. On grass, they met 3 times total. This was their final meeting on grass, and it was Jordan who won the two prior! Evert never even tied up on grass. Jordan is one of three players with that distinction . Guess who didn't leave with a winning record on grass> Margaret Court, Billie Jean King, Goolagong, Casals, Mandlikova, Sukova, Shriver, Wade, Turnbull, Garrison. Evert was the one who should have been worried going into this match, not Jordan.

[@NOTHEOTHERGUY]

Chris had a buzz saw of a draw at Wimbledon in 1986!

[@shihlin1]

Three Czechs in a row: Sukova, Mandlikova and potentially Navratilova in the final. Chris couldn't get past Mandlikova in the semis. This Sukova match took a lot out of her, mentally and physically.

[@franciscodeoliveira7935]

Shihlin1: at that time Navratilova was a former citizen czech

[@shihlin1]

This was a punishing, hard-fought LONG 3 setter ! I believe the score was something like 7-6 3-6 6-4 Evert. Sukova played a smart game, mixing it up with drop shots, charging the net and hard forehands to the corners. It really wiped out Chris physically. For her next round match against Hana, Chris just didn't have enough in the tank, and Mandlikova made it to her first Wimbledon final where she lost to Navratilova in straights.

[@franciscodeoliveira7935]

Evert won 7/6(10-8),4/6,6/4. Mandlikova made 2 finals in Wimbledon: 1981 and 1986.

[@shihlin1]

@@franciscodeoliveira7935 So Evert really BARELY won. Not so surprising she lost in the next round. You're right about Hana making the 81 final where she lost to Chris. Martina just too tough 1982-87.

[@damiencampbell8320]

Hana reached the Wimbledon final in 1982, where she was defeated by Evert in straight.

[@tipthetube3219]

where is footage of Evert's EPIC match with Golarsa at Wimbledon???? ('87,'88??) On the verge of match point somehow Chris turned it around & won! I'm sure at time BBC gave special time to evening highlights viewing. Tch no iplayer then

[@franciscodeoliveira7935]

89. The last Evert’s victory match at the all England club. A gold memory!

[@lenwelch2195]

ChriS made heavy weather out of this match. Her speed of foot wasn’t there. The loss to Hana in semis signaled the end of winning slams and running out of inspired days having won the French weeks earlier.

[@burninglightfire]

Funny you point that out because in this match and in the semifinal with hanna she had amazing winners with her running forehand down the line and all in all moved way better than she ever did after her knee injury and issues with her heel. Altough the knee already gave her some problems before the french open she was still being more atheltic and agressive here than she probably ever was but also moved quite well. But you are right that she never got the inspiration and intensity back that was required for her to win one more slam. She slowed down significantly after her longer lay off at the end of the season.

[@lenwelch2195]

She led 4-2 the next year at Wimbledon playing Martina in SF and held and broke for a 6-2 victory in third set against Martina . She came back in 80 after taking 3 months off and won French , beat Goolagong at Eastborne , beat Martina in SF at Wimbledon. Then Goolagong played best pressure match of her career to beat Evert 80 W crown. Then evert beat Jesger at clay court championships in Indianapolis in 95 degree heat with 85 percent humidity plus a grain silo next to the stadium court was burning pollution out of the stack- it could’ve been just steam but it smelled awful. I was in front row in the stadium behind Evert as she watched Andreas return of her serve landed out for the first set. It took an hour and ten minutes with long rallies and lobs . I had watched Austin beat a listless EVERY GOINGVTHRU THE MOTIONS IN HER 5 th straight loss in Cincinnati Avon that January 6-1,6-2.and this was a totally different Evert in Indianapolis. I knew Chrissie was ready and eager to beat Tracy at the Open and she did . After 86 French Chris seldom was as eager but who could blame her. She had won at least one slam each year for 13 consecutive years winning 86 French .

[@jamesdavidkmoss]

the days

[@franciscodeoliveira7935]

Malgré un jeu typique de gazon, Helena Sukova ne parviendra jamais à faire mieux que 1/4 de finaliste à Wimbledon. À l’issue de la rencontre Chris Evert semble s’excuser de l’avoir remportée, consciente d’avoir bénéficié d’un relâchement de la tchèque!

[@jpeyton62]

Oui, Mais Evert a su que Sukova n'était pas très dure. Il y avait une chance de fatiguer Sukova, et elle n'était jamais assez vite. Malgré d'avoir les compétences de faire bien à Wimbledon, ses faiblesses étaient trop difficiles de surmonter.

[@franciscodeoliveira7935]

I understand what you mean and agree with you. Thanks jpeyton62 to answer in french because I have to improve my english

[@jpeyton62]

@@franciscodeoliveira7935 I am trying to do the same with my French.

[@franciscodeoliveira7935]

So keep learn because it quiet good, congrats

[@jpeyton62]

Merci beaucoup! J'essaye d'améliorer mon français chaque jour, mais ce n'est pas facile pour moi. Merci encore.

[@zeddeka]

Chris's stroke production very much from a different era. You'd never teach anyone to hit the ball like that now. Very little topspin, and letting the ball drop (rather than taking it on the rise), which is one of the reasons she struggled in her later years against people who could hit with heavy topspin. Because she let the ball bounce up, she could be pushed allover the court.

[@leolight5369]

Racquet technology wasn't as elaborate as it is these days. Plus racquets were much heavier. Plus you should never compare eras. Hence what you said.

[@zeddeka]

@@leolight5369 I was thinking specifically of how she could struggle in later years against the likes of Sabatini. Watching her match against Gabi in the 1989 Lipton final is painful at times. Gabi's topspin really had Chris either a long way behind the baseline or dragged way, way off court. And Chris just could not step in to cut the ball off before it bounced so high. There was also a point in Chris's match against Monica Seles at the 1989 US Open when Monica hit a really heavy topspin moonball and Chris moved so far back that she ended up against the stands and the ball bounced over her head. When Chris was growing up, nobody hit with topspin like that at all - physical impossibility with the equipment they had.