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

[@lancemartin3351]

One of the shocking service game collapses of all time. It really was too bad because Helena had played so well up to that point. She would go on to upset Chris at Flushing Meadows later that year only to get throttled by Navratilova in the final. I still feel Helena is one of the top three players in the open era who was unable to win a major. Thank you Leo for posting this classic match.

[@christopherhammer4451]

You nailed it. Can't believe that last game was a complete shock.

[@shihlin1]

Not to take away from Sukova's upset of Evert at the U.S. Open, but Chris later admitted her mind was elsewhere during that Open bc she and John Lloyd decided they were heading for divorce in the weeks leading up to the Open. Still it was only a matter of time before Sukova would beat Evert.

[@ec5582]

Crazy. Evert was head and shoulders above Suková. Not even the same tier

[@lancemartin3351]

E C I have a feeling if you said that to Chris she would disagree. Sukova was one of the best doubles players of all time and a four time grand slam finalist. She played Chris very close on numerous occasions. Yes, Chris is an all-time great but Sukova, also in the Hall of Fame, made Chris bring her “A” game.

[@ec5582]

Lance Martin because Chrissie is classy but she owned Sukova. You grasping at straws. You’re trying to compare her to a living legend. Top 5 of all time maybe top 6... Sukova doesn’t even make the Top 20

[@BTURNER1961]

When you get to 54 quarterfinals, then 52 semifinals in slams out of 56 entries, I think we can rule out 'luck' as the most important factor. Evert just wins those big big points too often and that record weighs on the minds of her opponents when they play her.

[@mariuszmajor9552]

Chris Evert the Best, forget the rest.

[@michaelhegyan7464]

Kind of weird..I saw Connors play for the Baltimore Banners, back around, 73..? When they played the Detroit Loves, in team tennis, in Detroit..a fan yelled out..' said..'Hey Jimmy..' where's Chris..? Connors..responded..' fuck off bud..'

[@RachelDavisMatthews]

I didn't know till now - how very close this match was. I can see why Chrissie lost to Hana in the next round. She was having a hard time vs serve & volleyers. She was flat against Sukova at the USO a couple months after this

[@beaglesrfun5896]

Except that Chrissie creamed Hana at the French Open just a month prior. If you mean, she was having a hard time against S&V'ers on grass, you probably have a point.

[@zeddeka]

@@beaglesrfun5896 Hana had a hand injury in that match that she'd picked up in the previous round against Graf. It was a bit of a nothing match - the video used to be on KZbin. Might still be around.

[@beaglesrfun5896]

@@zeddeka Ah, that explains why Hana played badly vs Chris at the French in 86.

[@BTURNER1961]

I checked Evert's h to h against players who were tall (5 '9 inches or more) s/volleyers like Sukova during Everts prime ( defined as the time between her slams June 1974 RG- June 1986 RG) I checked Margaret Court 5'9, Leslie Allen 5'10, Betty Stove 5'11, Pam 6'0 , Karen Krantzcke 6'1, Helena Sukova 6'2, and Claudia Kohde Kilch 6'2. (Martina, Kathy Jordan, and Hana were an inch shorter, Wade was 5'7. Graf was 5'9 but she did not charge in) There is not a single recorded loss in those parameters. Its just a tough match up. Chris returned that big heavy first serve very well, and she knew how to exploit players who did not change directions well in the back court. Its not that there were never losses, but none of them came during her prime. Sukova got her first months after Evert's last major. Shriver had to wait until 1987 for her very first win. Court got her last in 1973, and Betty, Leslie, Karen, and Claudia never won at all. On the other hand, Martina had two losses against Claudia, three against Shriver and three against Sukova between July 1978 and July 1990.

[@franciscodeoliveira7935]

Brian Turner, another great post! Interesting point of view. Can you please explain the same with small players?

[@gregmcfarnon1140]

Sukova got her first win over Evert at the USO just a couple of months after this match.

[@BTURNER1961]

@@gregmcfarnon1140 It was really bad shocker because of the score 6-2,6-4. Evert took a 6 month-injury layoff right after that loss due to chrondomalacia patella in her knee that had been plaguing her throughout the spring and summer. Evert began to accrue a few more losses to these tall attacking women in the next few years. Shriver got a couple the next year and Sukova got another in 1987 at Eastbourne. Still, to go those 13 years between June 1974 and June 1986 without any to such dangerous players as these says something. Its definitely a match up thing. Martina did not get so lucky!

[@OCRATHLETE]

Would someone please post 1988 Lipton Int'l Players Championship Evert def Sukova 6-7, 7-5, 6-4. Quarterfinals. Tennis Magazine Bud Collins quoted this match was worthy of a Wimbledon finals

[@shihlin1]

I think both players were exhausted from this match. Sukova served those double faults in the last game probably due to tension and fatigue from the long match. Evert evidently was tired from this match as well bc against Hana in the next semifinal she didn't have enough in the tank and lost in straight sets.

[@spartansrace4293]

I've always loved helena sukova . I always felt she was one win away from being a top 3 player overall. 4 slam finals and an outstand ladies and mixed doubles champion Helena

[@zeddeka]

1986 also really the year when injuries started to creep up on Evert. Not sure what the status of her injury here was, but her 1986 ended prematurely because of knee problems a couple of months later.

[@franciscodeoliveira7935]

Avez-vous la 1/2 finale qui les oppose à Eastbourne en 1987? Par ailleurs, merci encore de la diffusion de cette vidéo tant l’opposition de styles est une pure merveille!

[@zeddeka]

One of the odd things about Sukova is that she never got past the quarter finals at wimbledon

[@lenwelch2195]

ChriS made heavy weather out of this match. ChriS had the burden of the end of her marriage to John Lloyd. After winning the French I think that part of her killing for another slam took a back seat to what to do about Lloyd. John announcedhis retirement during French open and chriS didn’t want to be with an unmotivated man who watched videos all day. Great friendship but no dying yearning for romance between the two fro what ana laird Chris’s best friend says .her mind wondered in this,at her and was up a break in both sets against Hana and the chriS we know would’ve put the screws to Hanabut she barely acted disappointed by her loss . Then her knee became a huge deficit in open loss to Sukova at 86 open and didn’t play tennis again for 6 months rehabbing the knee . ChriS played her best during first half of 86 beating Graf atlipton where she had unbelievable mobility and ball control . She was tired out at Hilton head while Graf played great tennis in her first tournament win . Grafs last was Hingis for her final French ( 6 th ) . Evert to Hingis - pretty good start to finish . For Evert is was beatingcourt at 15 and then at age 34 just 3 months from 35 beating 15 yr old Seles in her final open , final tournament win- court to Seles.

[@franciscodeoliveira7935]

Len Welch, Chris Evert’s very last win has been against Conchita Martinez in 1989 final Federation Cup.

[@lenwelch2195]

@@franciscodeoliveira7935 Tournament matches. Won or lost count toward the ranking and overall winning percentage . The Fed Cup while prestigious is not a premier one tour even5.

[@franciscodeoliveira7935]

Len Welch. Sometimes I’m not agree with you but on this point you’re right!

[@thequinnster72]

European announcers just cannot seem to shut their lips. Less is more!

[@zeddeka]

You do realise that "European" means about thirty countries, each with their own cultures and preferences. It's not a monoculture. And if we're talking about being verbose, some of the American commentators can be be pretty bad too.