Chris Evert d. Pam Shriver - 1978 US Open final

[@eastfiftyseven]

We who started with wood are reminded what a game of art and craft it was - before the boom-boom sweet spots and space strings changed it all.

[@pawshands9706]

I just love revisiting Chris's matches. Reminds me of just how beautiful and deadly the game can be. LUV YA CHRISSIE!

[@craigwilliams516]

Chris plays so effortlessly and what accuracy, consistency and depth

[@yussepig6629]

Evert’s balance on the run always beautiful to watch. And then those incredible angles.

[@iang8169]

Yes , her balance on the run was incredible. It seemed like she was never rushed. But rhe funny thing was that shes 23 here, an age when most woman are at their peak . But when Martina started dominating her , she trained so hard physically that by 33 and 34 her movement was even better than it is here

[@DomenicoG1953]

This match is a tennis anthology. Two great players. And Evert amazing, as always till now.

[@4jrgolf]

Thanks! Really enjoyed it. Such variety in style of both players clashing in this match. Very hard to find these days.

[@casheasy]

This was entertaining to watch. Pam Shriver was a game opponent in this final and I liked watching her play. Chrissy was too tough, but it was fun nonetheless. Great upload.

[@SyncopateTheShot]

Evert had an underrated forehand. Everyone always talked about her killer two-handed backhand, but the sidespin she put on her forehand pass was deadly. Exhibit A 11:17

[@cityhulltiger]

Thanks for posting - never seen Shriver play so well, but all credit ( as always) to the the great Chris Evert for toughing it out.

[@randoir]

Thanks for posting. Awesome match, and so many spectacular shots. Pam was quite impressive here; and had she developed her ground game to go with the big serve, biting slice and net coverage, she could have possibly been a powerhouse. Chris is always a treat to watch. Why current players aren't lining up at her door is beyond me. Fabulous movement, great anticipation, a general's instincts (truly a cerebral player) and nimble hands. She can play from anywhere.

[@mark1968]

I have never seen this match before ... many thanks for uploading it chrisevertdotnet.

[@scottqualls7690]

Gone are the days of finesse and strategy...now its just a boxing match from the baseline!

[@joeyconvery2055]

And a screaming match.

[@td866]

i thought the same!! this is 100 x more enjoyable to watch. I'd rather watch this than Nadal or whoever else grunting constantly.or wasting time between points!!!

[@gvivo2120]

Scott, i agree... and sometimes, more than a baseline "boxing" match, it's becoming like a BAR BRAWL (in a cowboy movie) from the baseline nowadays. All power with much less of the old, scheming, tactical approach. Many have lost the TOUCH.

[@gvivo2120]

@@joeyconvery2055 I totally agree... perhaps even a yelling exchange. It has ceased to be a gentlemanly sport... and even the women players nowadays, less and less ladylike🙁

[@maestrodimente]

Thank you so much for posting this match! I've never before seen it, and have always wished to do so. The level of skill evidenced is nothing short of a revelation, and I thank the Lord that I was born in and able to enjoy an era of women's tennis that puts today's on-court protagonists very much in the shade. A real treat! ;-)

[@gandolph7poet]

As others have commented on here, Pam Shriver played a great match. She gave Chris a tough match by making some unbelievable shots. but it is also true that this was the greatest Pam ever played. No one knew it then, but this match must have taken something psychologically out of Pam. I think this match haunted her for the rest of her career because she believed she was going to win and that she was a better player. Sort of like the first time a boxer gets knocked out. They are never the same.

[@stevebbuk]

I don't think Pam was the greatest tactician, either on the court or in life in general.

[@drewhendley]

Chris was a smart tennis player Every shot had its purpose 🎾

[@sedonars1]

And her anticipation of the next shot was always uncanny! She was the ultimate % player, and her foot speed is excellent; ie: always in position for a well controlled reply.

[@kljMN2]

I've been wanting to see highlights of this match for a long time!! Thanks.... It's a shame that this was Shriver's only singles Grand Slam final....

[@davidw5731]

There has never been a player on the women's side before or after Chris that was as consistent in the majors. From day one, she was a given to be in the semis or finals of every event she played. You always knew she would be there at the end of the tournament. In some ways she reminds me of Nadal in terms of how much was needed to beat her. No wonder Nadal and Evert are probably the best male and female clay court players we have seen so far.

[@cynthiarusso5967]

I remember this match... Pam really gave it a go!🎾

[@poussinhamzah4013]

Pam had a brilliant career in doubles but I can't help thinking that she never fulfilled her potential in singles. She never got to another GS final in singles. 10 years later she beat both Evert and Graf in the WTA championships to reach the final and I was hoping she would take the title but she lost in straight sets to Sabatini. She had such a great serve and volley game.

[@ralphbourgeois5875]

I think that was ultimately her potential. Maybe another slam final or two, she sort of got a bit unlucky to not reach another. I am not one bit surprised she never won a singles slam or got to higher than 3rd or 4th in the rankings. As you can see by the clips she had a great serve, but her groundstrokes were limited to say the least, and movement was clunky at best.

[@FlabbyTitmuss]

@@ralphbourgeois5875 yes, agree with this. Shriver worked very hard and was very clear minded in what she did well, but she had some serious weaknesses as well. Perhaps one more Slam final would have been fair, but that's it.

[@td866]

@@ralphbourgeois5875 Exactly this. Clunky movement and her groundstrokes left much to be desired.

[@drewdeflon4497]

Evert was a shot maker. The best drop shot, lob, & that mind that the game has ever seen. And that devastating 2 handed backhand that was copied for generations to come. And God she was Pretty

[@JBlue761982]

The depth of Evert's shots is unreal!

[@theexmann]

And he touch for both the drop shot and lob were even better. No one in today's game can hit lobs and dropshots like Chris.

[@lenwelch2195]

theexmann if your over you played with a wood racket and let me tell you for evert to have such touch with that bat is amazing

[@johnblacklovesmar]

Thanks for posting. I have long wanted to see highlights of this match. Shriver played some great serve and volley tennis, but as King said in the commentary, Evert lifted her game at the opportune moments. This is the last year that she is quite "chubby" for an athlete. She started going to the net when the match got tight. She usually hit such a great approach shot that the volley was academic.

[@Ariamaluum]

Her shot-making reminds me of Drew Bress quick-angeled passes to the corner and the side. If you ever got into a crossing pattern game with Chris, you were done.

[@syrinx9196]

Don't forget the lob. If you tried to own the center of the court she always had that shot to get you pinned to a corner. She also had a good drop shot.

[@merseymain]

Why are you all talking about Shriver ffs!!Just seen Chris interviewed on tv,before the Men's French Open Final.God i loved her as a kid.I loved two sports ladies;~)as a youngster,Chris & Nadia Comaneci (gymnastics:~)

[@msims1250]

I have had a crush on Chris Evert since the early ‘80s, when I first started watching tennis.

[@gandolph7poet]

Chris Evert had the best lob in the history of the game. And I felt it was the stroke that won her this match. There are many great victories that Evert had , but this one must be one she treasures because this was Shriver at her very best.

[@lenwelch2195]

Pam hurt her shoulder 6 months after this. Match and never served as well since - that’s why she never played another slam final

[@jm7804]

Pam had that strange slice forehand, which basically went the way of the dodo. It gave her time to get into the net. If she stayed back, she was dead in the water. She's also playing with that old prince classic racquet, and proves you can actually serve well with the old racquet technology. If Pam could've moved well side to side and could've hit a topspin forehand, then she would've won a couple of grand slams.

[@racketlord64]

This match really showed off Shriver's talent, I feel bad for Pam cause of all the ridicule she got because people didn't think she had game. She had an awesome volley and a solid serve, and she could stay with you on the ground until she could play her game at the net, totally different time back then. Though in this match she seemed to have a more potent first serve than later in her career, her service motion seems a bit different. Great match from Chris too, she made tennis look so easy.

[@FlabbyTitmuss]

Matthew Buck Totally agree. Shriver's serve lost its bite over the years. Always a tactically astute player though.

[@shihlin1]

Who knew a 16-yr old Shriver's first grand slam final would also be her only slam final. Evert looked in danger losing that tight first set, but she held on. You can tell by her facial expression she was determined to win this U.S. Open after blowing the Wimbledon final two months earlier to Navratilova. A year later on this same court it would be a different Evert as she looked confused and clearly unnerved against another 16-yr old, Tracy Austin, losing to Tracy in straight sets.

[@hotblonddude]

shihlin1 your years are wrong. Every lost to Wade in 77 Wimbledon semi and to Austin in 79 US final.

[@vosharap]

This commentator said something about this being the only tournament with equal prize money for the winner, followed by how incredible that was.

[@amb817]

Shriver had a great serve and volleys. I can now see why she won so many doubles titles. It's annoying though how the chair umpire calls the score haha it sounds like they're always yelling into the microphone back then

[@tadawoosh]

She did come to the net infinitely more often than Evert did. Evert in this match (and others) was glued to the baseline.

[@kljMN2]

Even though this was her only Slam final in singles (sadly), Pam really played very well and made Chrissie work for it.

[@spacecolt]

Evert was a blistering hard hitter, who entirely controlled movement all around the court -- rather than just up the middle as wozniacki often does. Chris never hits slice (Pam does, yes...) -- those are 'flat' shots Chris is hitting, which require more timing & precision than topspin. But the rackets now do so much work for you & add so much power, you have to hit topspin to keep the ball in play. Don't mistake wood racket speed for 'pushing' though... she hit harder than Navratilova.

[@syrinx9196]

Depends on the shot. Martina served harder, had a harder overhead, and a volley with more punch. She used a lot of finesse shots, though. I wouldn't call Evert a hard hitter. That would be someone like Jaeger, although Jaeger did have a stiff graphite racquet. Evert was a precision hitter. She did get a good amount of pace, though, because of the weight of her racquet and her efficient stroke production. Her serve was clearly all about precision not power.

[@theexmann]

However, her backhand was powerful when she needed it even with a wood racquet. You can see on passing shots how hard she would hit her backhand when she wanted. Even more impressive today when you consider she used a wood racquet for so long.

[@chrisnieto5547]

Great to watch. Shriver has an under spin forehand which is effective.

[@shihlin1]

I don't ever recall seeing Chris having to hit so many passing shots in a major final up to that point (1978). Her later matches with Martina were classic, but here "Young Pammy" really gives Chris all she could handle, coming in shot after shot. No wonder she was exhausted by the 2nd set, but Chris was under a lot of pressure (even though she wouldn't show it). Chris was prob amazed at how a teenager could rush the net like that. Too bad Pam never made it to another major slam final again.

[@buschovski1]

evert was so graceful and brilliant. and damn sexy

[@MoeMuzic13]

@coffeeinthemorning YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES, I know I did for 10 years or more, especially the look she had during these days, so cute! The other athlete that was so adorable was Dorothy Hamel, but Chrissie was seen so much more given her sport and success.....

[@philippe51916]

tres grande joueuse chris !!

[@inveritas3]

That was the first Final for Pam, but also her last one at a major tournament. (except the Master´s in 1988). Some Quarter - or Semifinals, but during following years there were always players wich were stronger. In 1987 she has beaten Chris for the first time. She has also beaten Martina, Steffi and Gabi -but she never won a Grand Slam Tournament. It´s unbelievable!

[@johniii8147]

Good run by Pam. She never made a grand slam final again where she excelled was in doubles with Martina the team was legendary

[@gvivo2120]

Chrissie had this classic, tender femininity about her that never hardened with the years of tough playing... How i wish there are still women like her on the tour. Nowadays, the top women are like gladiators pounding and grunting loudly on the ball... lots of power, minus the finesse.

[@tomgraves3581]

Wow..the dynamics of this matcha are insane... shrivel was magnificent.. just not good enough

[@pjesf]

The umpire for this match (Flo Blanchard, I believe) always called the game score as if she were president of the Evert fan club - esp in Chrissie's 1980 semifinal victory over Tracy. I've always been a huge Evert fan so I found it amusing but I always wondered what other players thought

[@Northymark2]

Did you see Pam play at Wimbledon in the Invitational Doubles? Her shoulder is still a problem now, but she got on with it, occasional glimpse of what she was and is capable of.

[@craigferris1]

This was the highlight of Pam's career in singles She had greater success in doubles but she never had the game to consistently challenge Chris or Martina (or oddly enough even Hana, whom I think she only beat one or two times).

[@johnblacklovesmar]

Good point about the Williams sisters vs Evert

[@RachelDavisMatthews]

Pam is a character, hysterical.

[@cynthiarusso5967]

Chris took on all comers and never wavered!! With Billie Jean, Steffi, Martina, Serena.. the best modern players!

[@faltio69]

Oh really Serena? Every retired in 89 before Serena got started.

[@kljMN2]

Pam played very well considering it was her first major final. Just a damn shame she couldn't get back to another singles final.

[@kljMN2]

Around 4:20 - what a point!!

[@MrJeepsters]

Evert était très douée pour épuiser ses adversaires (utilisation du lob) et, quels passing !

[@rlopen13]

I used to hate Pam for all those mean comments that she said on ESPN, but I never saw her play before. Now I don't hate her as much.

[@TomRipley7350]

Come on, Pam!

[@ricobhi]

It's hard to tell for sure, but that ball at 14:05 probably would've been challenged if Hawkeye was around back then.

[@Head318Hunter]

And 14:17 was waaaay out by 12inches

[@lenwelch2195]

SinkHollyWood I have a very clear video of this match and both lobs were definitely in. Second one on the line. This is a blurry version of the match

[@circuitdesign]

@kimskis I noticed that too! Slices from both sides. Man, you really don't see the forehand slice used too much anymore, do you? LOL!

[@preciousjey]

Just watching and realized why it is pronounced EHvert not Eevert. Just wondering.

[@DeltaSixDJ]

Amazing point 13:52.

[@mbblover]

pam looked tough in this match... movement good and even her so called "weak groundstrokes" looked tough with all that slice and how she angled them short in the corners to move the player around.... hard to believe that she at this time HAD NOT once beaten tracy austin? if she could compete with chrissie in this match who at the time of this match in 1978 was a notch or two above austin still... perhaps more a mental block than a physical/talent one with shriver vs austin during this time?

[@keithsmith4780]

This might be the first time anybody used a Prince racket in a grand slam final.

[@syrinx9196]

The poster of this video got it wrong, too. Her racquet was an aluminum oversize, not a wood racquet.

[@noobzrule]

Syrinx it has a green cheap plastic bridge lol which is why she lost

[@circuitdesign]

I never saw Shriver play before, just saw her commenting on TV. And did I hear correctly that she was just 16 in this match? Wow! Well, it was clear her strategy was to get into net at all costs. In the first set, her approach shots were way too weak, especially against someone who had world class groundies like Evert. Shriver had a good serve and great volley. She tried to maximize her strengths here, but Evert was too mentally tough and was so effective from the back of the court.

[@8sabu1982]

Impresionante punto en el minuto 13:52 de este video

[@john-boy4283]

In your notes you say "how about those wood rackets?" Chris' was wood, Pam had a Prince that I think was aluminum or graphite. Pam could have done better I feel if she had topspin shots to go with the slice

[@johniii8147]

Great match by Pam.. esp at 16 Ironically, only time she reached a GS final. She had the game, lacked the mental in the singles game to challenge the top players.

[@Ariamaluum]

I believe she the physical gifts like upper body strength. She wished she could of done some weightlifting program like Margaret Court or Martina. She was skinny and it couldn't up to the rigors of a WTA schedule.

[@bsnguy12k]

Wood racket, singular. Shriver was one of the first top players to use an over-sized metal, non-wood racket. Shriver certainly made the most out of her skills, and her brain was as big a weapon as her serve. She lacked agility and finesse but fought for every point.

[@tomschmitz5745]

MAKES ONE WONDER how shriver lost to barker a couple of months earlier at wimbledon especially the 1978 version of barker or that she had NEVER beaten tracy austin juniors or pros by the time of this 1978 u..s open final..

[@reparata11]

Wow! She almost looked like the next Margaret Court without the forhand drive!

[@spacecolt]

...wearing that 'Babe' necklace that Burt Reynolds gave her. ;)

[@Gedeminful]

Крис великолепная женщина

[@iwnunn7999]

Does Pam slice her forehand? Odd looking shot.

[@syrinx9196]

The slice forehand was a viable tool back when the game had different equipment, balls, and courts. A sliced forehand on a fast low-bouncing court can be very useful.

[@IAMMOVIN4WARD]

Let me find out Pam (annoying as a commentator lol) ushered in the power serve on the women's tour.

[@ramonalejandrosuare]

When people doubt evolution all they have to do is watch this match and then go and see a WTA tournament today. Bigger, stronger, faster, thicker women using more advanced equipment with a more aggressive attitude. Don't get me wrong. These women were great in their day and deserve all the respect for what they accomplished in developing this great sport. But the change in this game during the span of 37 years is incredible to the point of being unrecognizable.

[@ramonalejandrosuare]

True, there isn't the same subtlety. But not a one of these women would rank in the top 20 today playing this way.

[@ipiap]

If Navratilova, beaten in the semis here, still had played 15 years later, she would not have reached the top 1000. Or ...

[@ramonalejandrosuare]

Navratilova is a great example of a player whose game sykyrocketed in the 1980s with better tennis equipment.

[@ipiap]

Thanks to better equipment and training facilities the game has been evolving naturally. These players were part of this evolution too, so it's no use beliitling the accomplishments of fomer players in any kind of form. Serena surely would hammer them, but certainly not with the wooden racket they were using here.

[@ramonalejandrosuare]

Who's belittling their accomplishments? If you actually read my original post you'd see that I said "these women were great in their day and deserve all the respect for what they accomplished in developing this great sport."

[@olaraay]

all slice

[@vught2011]

Chris Evert ? style before Ellesse epoch

[@jonnythemann]

Why did someone dislike this video? LOL

[@Head318Hunter]

14:04 Evert lob is OUT by 4 to 6 inches 14:17 Evert lob is out 12 to 14 inches WTF???

[@yussepig6629]

Get your eyes tested

[@robertbrown7917]

excuse me..did it say....38,000 US DOLLARS to the champion.........WOWWEEEE....what an incentive.?

[@johnblacklovesmar]

That is undoubtedly true yet as Tony Trabert commented in the 80 Open Evert had gotten quicker around the court because she had lost weight.

[@binkyxz3]

At the time, Shriver was the spittin' image of Geoge HW Bush. Scary. xD

[@jasonbrooks6562]

binkyxz3. She's a republican as well.

[@kljMN2]

I would like to see Shriver's upset of Navratilova in 1982 (USO quarters) when Martina said she got her illness from a cat or something...

[@hotblonddude]

kljMN2 toxoplasmosis.

[@MrJeepsters]

How did Schriver reach the final ? What happenned to Navratilova ?

[@fitgraphisva]

Emmanuel C. Pam upset Martina 7-6, 7-6 in the semifinals.

[@kelvinpyaeko]

pam was such a baseliner! didn't even come to net that often

[@jonathankieranwriter]

Awesome. Kermit the Frog vs. Chris Piggy.

[@preciousjey]

I give prop to Pammy though serve and volley at 16. Today if you are 16 smoking these E Cigs come first than going to net.

[@olaraay]

so wozniaki is called a pusher... so wha is evert ?

[@johnblacklovesmar]

For a world class athlete evert wasn't as fit as she was only a few years later. Serena at her best is very fit too

[@manueljorge8961]

The strokes look so weird!!! Specially Pam's FH

[@spacecolt]

@johnblacklovesmar How can you say she looks chubby? ...she looks hot. She's less than half the size of Serena here.. There was a program on yesterday with this anorexic who was all bones and said she looked fat. That's how I feel about someone seeing this woman & thinking 'chubby'...especially when she's mad at 4:48!!!!! :-) The hottest champion in history.

[@MarioStahl1983]

I think it was a huge mistake by Shriver to lay down on the ground sybolicly ( 14:25 ). Sure, she meant it humorously, but it looked very submissive and like gesture of total surrender.

[@sharpasaneraser]

Is that Tom Hanks aka Buffy Wilson? I thought he was a couple of years from transvestism at this point in his career.