Rod Laver def Pancho Gonzales on grass 4-6,6-3,7-5,6-4_ Longwood (US), summer 1964

[@sachindeshpande8923]

Thank you. Both have such great serving motions

[@vicentesala9115]

Great champs!

[@JangshinKwak]

A precious video clip!! Thank you for sharing.

[@coerfjoe1]

I've seen Gonzales play since 1955 and he's the only post-war player who, like Tilden, always trounced his younger rivals into his 40s. Like others, online he is the least represented tennis great and this is a great injustice. He sat out some years in the 50s and 60s to wait for Kramer to find competition. Trabert, Hoad, Olmedo and McKay fell to his ferocity. He won 2 national Singles titles (48-49); he won all his Davis Cup matches and he stands alone as the 8-time Pro Champion. Unlike the Ausies, Gonzales disdained the need to play the amateur ranks to collect trophies. Art Larsen would not talk about him, said Hoad's serve would knock your racket out of your hand. Larsen begrudged the guy from the other side of the tracks defeating him twice in 5 sets on grass in the semis. When Laver took his second Grand Slam in 1969, Gonzales defeated him in a $50,000 winner-take-al at Madison Square Garden. To me he was the greatest player on all surfaces pre-Open era.

[@vicentesala9115]

Many people who saw Pancho Gonzales often thinks like you; he was with no doubt one of the greatest tennis player ever. Pancho, Ken Rosewall and Roger Federer are probably the Top-3 best right handed players all time... and now let´s see what happen with Nole who seems to have a clear target to take Rafael Nadal victories on Majors first and later to push for Roger Federer impressive 20 Crowns.

[@Tinochaverry]

Viva Pancho Gonzales 🐐

[@jimsj9482]

Pancho was also self taught from modest beginnings which is amazing. On the court he was like a leopard, ultra competitive and smart. Hoad was also vastly under rated and a Legend.

[@chrismanteris9093]

​@@vicentesala9115 wouldnt pete sampras with 7 wimbledons be top 3? rosewall and gonzales with 0 wimbledons

[@RobertKekuna]

Chris Manteris Umm, pros weren't able to play Grand Slam events before 1968, so Pancho (Richard) was about 40 then. Most people did not see him in his prime, wonder how he would have done in the Open era if he was 25 in 1968.

[@Tyronepeader]

Thanks for a rare post from the mid sixties when the contest between them was at its tightest.

[@ericfreeman5795]

In an era of heavy wood racquets, Laver could really hit some serious topspin, both on the forehand and the backhand, with a continental grip! And he loved the topspin offensive lob over the net rusher's head.

[@dansmith9724]

Yes, such natural top spin. The comments in a recent Borg video, someone said how Borg introduced topspin to tennis.

[@user-jv9qz2bu1r]

@@dansmith9724 i have heard Borg was the first -layer to use topspin as the predominant shot (90% +) on both wings.

[@dansmith9724]

@user-jv9qz2bu1r watch matches of Laver and he is hitting over the ball off both sides, plenty of top spin.

[@bruceschaffer101]

Thank you for posting this amazing video.

[@vicentesala9115]

bruceschaffer101 You are welcome, we are here to share Tennis Info with fans. Certainly amazing both Legends.

[@vicentesala9115]

Yes, of course, Pete S is one of the greatest. I just want to emphasyse that Pancho was an enourmous player and that rivalry vs Rod L was a real one despite not having competed face-to-face in Majors due their profesional contracts.

[@antoniocarreras6581]

Menuda joya nos presentas! Los mejores jugadores de la Historia😮.

[@vicentesala9115]

Un documento único q al parecer alguien encontró y editó. La verdad es q es magnífico. Una pena q la imagen vaya un poco acelerada. Saludos y gracias

[@antoniocarreras6581]

@@vicentesala9115 Buenos Dias Vicente. Tienes algun documento grafico sobre la enseñanza del Tenis en España en Los años sesenta para adelante? Sobre la Escuela Nacional de Maestria. Sobre la vista de Harry Hopman o Los clinics de Lew Hoad?

[@vicentesala9115]

@@antoniocarreras6581 Tengo alguna cosa, aunque no me dedico al tenis. En el canal puede ver algo de cuando visitamos hace muchos años a Lew H. También puede ver el clinic q se montó en Valencia en 1971 con Arthur Ashe y Denis Ralston. También tengo imágenes de la Escuela q montó Juan Carlos Ovando, natural de Salta, en 1972 Y poco más puedo añadir. El centro del tenis entonces estaba en Barcelona, allí estaban los mejores jugadores y entrenadores.

[@antoniocarreras6581]

@@vicentesala9115 es para ponerte en contacto con un amigo Professor de Tenis que esta haciendo un video y esta recopilando imagenes

[@Vesterlyng]

Thanks! More, please :)

[@vicentesala9115]

Unfortunally it is not usual to see this great material from '60; it was probably recorded with 16mm camera and uploaded by experts. It is fantastic to watch both legends hitting the ball on grass and so close to the camera.

[@jackkitchen737]

This is great stuff

[@vicentesala9115]

Thanks. Info about the Court and right dates were given by KZbin watchers. It is certainly something unique with such tennis Legends face to face.

[@musicmasterplayer4532]

This is the Longwood U.S. Pro final from 1964. Rain had softened the court.

[@vicentesala9115]

Thanks a lot for the new Info, I will update the description right now.

[@تركيالحربي-ض5ص1ن]

No rallies cause they approach to the net right after serve ( I think our generation is more enjoyable because of different ply style but no doubt they were legends and they make all what we see today possible) respect ✊

[@johnrobbins917]

Play was 'continuous'. 10 seconds between points was typical. 5 sec between first and second serves. Today, Novak can spend 25 seconds between points and just as long between serves. I find it to be nearly unwatchable, and I will not indulge 3-5 hours to watch narcissists rally 'endlessly'..

[@WayneLynch69]

@@johnrobbins917 As a 72y/o I can accept the need for recuperation after the extreme length of points today. I always remember Vic Braden's endless collection of factoids. He said the average point on hard surface was 1.5 shots and 3.4 on clay. It's exponentially greater today.

[@barrieweber3048]

Pancho the greatest wood racquet. Player ever

[@MrLC1965]

Bjorn Borg would have had destroyed Gonzalez, losanga only few games

[@danguee1]

@@MrLC1965 Undoubtedly. But on slick indoor halls used for the pro circuit pre-Open era, much closer.

[@markmurray7043]

I believe this to be the US Pro Tennis Championship Final of 1964 played at the Longwood Cricket Club in which Laver defeated Gonzales 46 63 75 64.

[@vicentesala9115]

Great contribution, I will add the new info. Thanks a lot.

[@kinomusic9110]

Damn that grass was long!

[@myhakassidey5607]

Pancho Gonzalez,Rod Laver,Ken Roswell and Bill Tilden are four best players before the open era.

[@marcbrandes9682]

I think Budge Vines and Cochet should also be considered and I am a Pancho Kenny fan.

[@coerfjoe1]

Bill Tilden, Jack Kramer, Bobby Riggs are 10 years older, at least, than Laver and Rosewall. Tilden, Kramer, Gonzales, Lew Hoad and Alex Olmedo were formidable before the Open Era.

[@victorramirez5396]

Me quedo en suspenso ¿Quién ganó? Jugar en pasto es increíble, pero en verdad os digo Don Pancho que no hay nada como la arcilla. Sr. Sala, gracias por el video, y también os digo que son unos fregones los que trabajaron el video.

[@vicentesala9115]

No hemos identificado el lugar, tampoco el torneo; alguien escrbió q era Newport, otro Longwood (no recuerdo bien) El vídeo lo subieron a KZbin desde una empresa q pudo procesar las imágenes q habían sido encontradas en un mercadillo.

[@stevehughes1510]

The sandshoes(if you can call them that) that they're both wearing are unique looking things. That Pro tour was a grey area for tennis as an Amateur sport at the time, and as has been said Pancho was its leading light.......would have been great to have seen more of the top players of those days playing against each other, Roy Emerson(as an amateur) for example played Rod a few times and had at least one win against him as I recall in a major event.

[@vicentesala9115]

Steve Hughes You are certainly right, it is a pity there are not more clips recorded about that great players. You can find RodL vs RonE at Roland Garros clay on AP owned clip uploaded with very good quality & sound.

[@stevehughes1510]

@@vicentesala9115 Thanks Vincente.........will do.

[@melihue1]

Great video! Greateast players! There is a chance you have some video or photos from final at Longwood Tennis between this two in 1964? Victory of Rocket!

[@vicentesala9115]

I would like to have more, unfortunally I haven’t. This is rare movie, apparently found on a market and processed by experts... Speed is not the right one; if you have an I-phone use 0,75 instead 1,00.

[@musicmasterplayer4532]

This is the Longwood U.S. Pro final from 1964. Rain had softened the grass court.

[@marcbrandes9682]

@@vicentesala9115 Dear Vicente Thank you for your hard work in finding these gems. There was a weekly televised tennis match of the pros who played one ten game set. The winner would come back next week to play another pro. I doubt if these are available but I thought I would let you know. This was televised in the US on either CBS NBC or ABC. I do not know where these matches were held but the footage had players like Rosewall and Hoad who were in their prime.

[@vicentesala9115]

@@marcbrandes9682 Ohhh, would be great if some one can upload those pro matches or at least can allow others to do it. I have not seen footage Ken vs Lew in this period with the exception of a short clip recorded indoor at Wembley on which Lew is warming-up. Both were great champs.

[@joukohalonen7770]

Flexibility, the manoeuvres are good at Laver's that 'Pancho' to serve. The importance of great serve is in front of an opponent. On the ground play creating the right angle. chapter😁/18

[@vicentesala9115]

Rod was probably the first “all over the court” player with plenty of shots options on his portofolio.

[@Bascomblodge]

Looks like Laver wearing spikes.

[@sunilthomas8216]

Is this a regulation court size, i.e., 78'? I don't know if it's just me, but the court appears to be very small...they are able to reach the net in 5-6 steps, how is that possible?

[@vicentesala9115]

Sunil Thomas No idea, I never listened that courts were shortened. Take in account that it was usual to move forward when hitting service; nowadays player jump which is quite different.

[@sunilthomas8216]

@@vicentesala9115 Sorry, actually I looked closely their steps and movements have been quickened so it looked like 5-6 steps but was actually lot more...so its just the quality of the video

[@purveyoroffinefoodslaszlo9955]

@@sunilthomas8216 I'm still not sure about that. The court looks smaller.

[@studfinderball]

When they talk about nice guys finishing last they are referring to the passing of tennis players.

[@MrYoumitube]

The goat!

[@davidkaiser]

This appears to be either Longwood or Newport--I have been in both many times but I'm not sure which. (The Longwood stadium no longer exists, by the way.) In 1968 I saw Pancho practicing with Arthur Ashe at Queen's Club in London, preparing for the first open Wimbledon. I was standing right behind the court. I never saw anyone hit flat serves like Gonzales. From the right court, he could hit it on a perfect line right into the inside corner of the service box. Several times Ashe didn't move a muscle for those aces--there was no point. And that's when he was 40! In the fall of 1969, I believe--possibly early 1970--I saw Pancho beat Laver in five sets in Madison Square Garden.

[@vicentesala9115]

David Kaiser Thank you so much David, this is great contribution. Thank you.

[@purveyoroffinefoodslaszlo9955]

Not sure it's Longwood. Regardless, that grass played so fast back then. Are these guys wearing special shoes, so they don't lose traction or slip on the dewey grass? Anyone know about footwear back then? Today at Wimbledon, they have created grass that plays much slower, due to the speeds the rackets and strings generate. This grass reminds of paying at Essex County Club in Manchester, points end quickly.

[@frankcarbo6622]

David, those are great memories - very fortunate...

[@johnrobbins917]

january '70 at MSG

[@dansmith9724]

Head to head Laver 43, Gonzales 22. Pancho was older, born in 1928 and Laver in 1938. So at the end of their rivalry in 1970, Laver was 32 and Pancho 42. If only they were born in the same year and played Open tennis throughout their career, interesting 🤔

[@vicentesala9115]

Both players are true tennis champs, with impressive skills and charisma. Thanks a lot for watching and your post.

[@marcbrandes9682]

He is not underrated. He did not come from the wrong side of the tracks and he didnt always beat his younger opponents. Besides that your post is accurate.

[@coerfjoe1]

That is the way he was thought of by his peers (mostly white), not me. That is not the way I think of him. Sure, he did not always beat the younger players on the Kramer tour. But, he bested all up-and-coming players on the tour by the year's end tally through the 50s. This clip from '64 does not admit that Gonzales sat out '63 competition, in this footage it shows. In '74 at Vegas, Gonzales beat Smith, Connors, Ashe and Laver in a tournament.

[@johnrobbins917]

Longwood Cricket Club? Both players wearing spikes.

[@vicentesala9115]

No idea, seems to be club in the US; in case you can add precise info about the pro´s Tournament would be fine because images are certainly amazing.

[@EJP286CRSKW]

Vicente Sala I believe this is Newport RI. There is other footage of this match.

[@stevehughes1510]

Yes the grass courts were treacherous(unpredictable bounce/slippery) with the guys wearing spiked shoes to make a game of it...........who won that match??

[@vicentesala9115]

No idea Steve. I found the clip in internet and there were no #tags, difficult to find WCT circuit references. If I spent a bit of time editing is because I wanted to add slow motion as speed is faster than real; to me this clip is a gem.

[@stevehughes1510]

@@vicentesala9115 Thanks Vicente, yes these old clips are priceless and as you say, real gems. From what the older pundits say, Pancho was 'the man' back in the day and was rarely beaten in that pre professional era. Merry Christmas.

[@vicentesala9115]

This is great despite a bit faster than real game; apparently was found in a market, digitalized and uploaded by a Company. I removed something and add some images in slow motion to show their skills. Great champs!

[@IvanSanchez-mh9gu]

Did Pancho win ? 🤔

[@vicentesala9115]

Ivan Sanchez No idea Ivan. It is not easy to find info about Profesional tournaments.

[@IvanSanchez-mh9gu]

Vicente Sala, Thanks for the reply and video 😊

[@123xyzabccba]

RL style of play reminds me of Barty’s …

[@warrencundy]

This Man was a Champion couldn’t play the Slams for like 12 -14 years like Ken Rosewell they would of won every Slam 15-20 each he was the No 1 Pro 8 years in a Row which means he was the best player in the World not the Amateurs who were competing in the Slams he would of Beaten them all 2 Slams a year at least 10 years therefore 20 Slams the Service is Textbook give him Modern Racket omg it would be 130 mph plus

[@vicentesala9115]

I think you are right, PG was an impressive tennis player.

[@user-jv9qz2bu1r]

Pancho video is scarce - hence high mystique. He is 36 here., Rod 26 (or late 25).

[@coerfjoe1]

And Gonzales sat out '63 competition which shows here.