Best of Jimmy Connors vs John McEnroe at the US Open

Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe met four times in the semifinals of the US Open - 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1984. Come with us as we revisit those epic and explosive encounters!
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[@brysonstevens1431]

This is way more fun to watch as opposed to everybody playing the same way today.

[@estudio12carlosg.16]

I was on the stadium at the 1980 U.S. Open Semifinal between these 2 legends!; I will never forget that match 40 years ago!

[@pierrechevalier8282]

This mythic match has generated my passion for this game...

[@humanbeing2420]

The number of incredible, near-impossible shots from both guys in '78 is remarkable...

[@kevinpowers9024]

Connors vs McEnroe back in the early 1980's. Pure magic. I'm so glad I was alive to watch this era of tennis. So many superstars in tennis back then. Jimmy and john didnt particularly like eachother and that made for great tennis. Both had such outgoing personalities. Racket technology hadnt taken over the game yet and the tennis was much better. IMO anyway. I played USTA tennis locally for ten years starting in the early 1990's. I rarely watch tennis anymore. I couldnt name 5 pro players now. For me, the mid 1970's to the early 1990's was the best years for tennis.

[@nuftis]

You couldn't name 5 top players now. Talk about living in the past 😂

[@kevinpowers9024]

@@nuftis I know, I'm old. Things were better back then. 75 cent a gallon gas, 10 dollar concert tickets to the biggest bands around, no inflation or all the social justice unrest we have now. No transgender insanity and the tennis was better lol. Imo anyway.

[@WobblinGoblin1]

@@kevinpowers9024 We live in clown world now, where a world class athlete wasn't allowed to enter the country to compete in a world class tournament and then leave again, but millions of people from 3rd world countries are encouraged to infiltrate our borders and we have no idea who they are, where they came from, or what diseases they might have. Sure, that makes sense...in clown world.

[@craigcockram-id3pk]

Wonderful time for tennis great personalities 😊😊😊

[@bradchang5076]

This was the best era for men's tennis.... great memories of great rivalries and battles. The quality an depth of the competition was amazing!

[@markwhitman9029]

I agree this was the best era of tennis for both men and women specifically because this time was the real start of the public interest. IMO I like some of today's men but not the women and I'm not sexist. Women just slam the ball and shriek. Boring. Men a little more versatile

[@ckobo84]

You can tell by looking at them they're both on steroids, it's so obvious. The big pecs and biceps 💪

[@Londonvoicecoaching1]

@@ckobo84 Jimmy was only on talent and passion!

[@uffel66]

Amazing to se how much McEnroe evolved between 78 and 79 in confidence and the way he played to become a super star

[@sebbytennis4298]

johnny_mac1959 you watch my Macenroe page on Instagram where I post great points and interesting comments and commentaries

[@bradhuskers]

LMFAO Mccenroe never won another major after 84 because the bigger, stronger and faster athletes came on the scene. Connors and mccenroe were built like skinny toothpick girls.

[@robertsmith9149]

@@bradhuskers its way more complicated than that. Dint insult the best all around player in history with ur smirky attitude..im talking singles and doubles. Take ur lmfao and stick it. U r ignorant.

[@nikitacalvus]

@@bradhuskers Stupidity really runs deep online...

[@aaronaragon7838]

Sports have always been that way...players get bigger, equipment changes, new coaching techniques, and PEDs, contribute to the game's evolution.

[@ranchump]

This tennis, with the ball hit fairly flat and little topspin, and a lot of serve and volley, is just so much more fun and interesting than today. I miss this tennis a lot

[@bradhuskers]

Actually? Borg, becker, edberg, etc....hit with A LOT of topspin.

[@sevaraalimova4706]

Yeah, but today’s tennis is still great

[@allez625]

👴🏼

[@lloydkline1518]

Golden age of tennis

[@jean-emile5004]

@@lloydkline1518 Oui, Oui, Ai vu jouer, Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Arthur Ashe, Connors, C' était bien l' âge d' or. Pas seulement du tennis 🎾. Mais aussi, De la Vie. RESPECT, Merci

[@mirazusta2002]

How good these guys were. It brings me good memories of that era in tennis. Quality of image is awesome, too. Thank you very much for posting.

[@rboltt]

I’ve waited decades to see footage of their first meeting at US Open. Finally! :)

[@uncletony6210]

I was beginning to think it didn't exist!

[@lancer3412]

@@uncletony6210 This was late enough that I figured it existed, but I was beginning to wonder if we'd ever see any of it.

[@simonguevara5747]

He hadn’t perfected that sideways serve yet.

[@sebbytennis4298]

johnny_mac1959 you watch my Macenroe page on Instagram where I post great points and interesting comments and commentaries

[@uncletony6210]

@@lancer3412 I think Lendl - Mac 1980 USO doesn't exist.

[@traciebolton1951]

I love this era of tennis.

[@egdfbznz]

Interesting to see the evolution of McEnroe's service motion in this best of. His motion between '83-'85 was his best.

[@fundhund62]

His motion in 1979 and 1980 looked the most natural to me. That Jack Kramer Wilson almost felt like an extension of his arm..

[@egdfbznz]

@@fundhund62 I can see that. The changes from '79 to '80 are really noticeable, too, moving his feet to his trademark parallel-to- the-baseline stance. To me, especially in '84, when McEnroe's serve was flowing, he had service games that remind me of Federer's service games where it would take him 60 to 70 seconds to hold serve.

[@fundhund62]

@@egdfbznz Sure. He had much more power with a graphite racket, of course. I really like his 84 motion, too. It's just that his talent was even more noticeable with a wooden racket. Everybody can look smooth using modern frames, but to make it look easy using wood one had to be supremely talented.

[@egdfbznz]

@@fundhund62 Absolutely agree that his talent was made obvious when using the Jack Kramer and the Dunlop Maxply. Hitting with a 65 sq. in. head is definitely more challenging (esp. with the amount of flex wood racquets had) than with the 85 sq. in. he had with the Dunlop 200g. I guess if Patrick hadn't introduced the 200g to John in 1983, John's 1984 campaign would've been different while still using the Maxply.

[@fundhund62]

@@egdfbznz The change in racket technology was a big equalizer. John, while definitely benefiting from the added touch and power of a midsize frame, didn't actually need it. He was already awesome using wood. When everybody started using graphite, the gap between John and his peers narrowed. People who couldn't ever outplay him were suddenly able to overpower him. Curren at Wimbledon is a good example. He destroyed John in 85, but in 80 with wooden rackets he did not win a set. If the racket revolution had never happened, we might be looking back on McEnroe's 15+ slams today. But whatever 😎

[@pccoder]

This is when tennis was truly hard. You try playing at this level with a Wilson T-2000 and having this level of success.

[@sayresrudy2644]

to hit that clean with a T-2000 is simply breathtaking.

[@simonguevara5747]

Sayres Rudy no kidding! I have one. It weighs like a lb!

[@sayresrudy2644]

simon guevara museum piece! i tried hitting with one years ago (& stringing one) ~ impossible task. sweetspot like 2x2 inches.

[@simonguevara5747]

Sayres Rudy I’m also an exp stringer. I have never tried to string any of those T models!

[@sayresrudy2644]

simon guevara you’re really fun. it apparently took two hours to do one. and a phd. 😂

[@tennsmoothie]

I don't know how he hit that thing under extreme pressure. It's like a sandpaper ping-pong paddle. Ever try to hit a T-2000, very difficult. Also, McEnroe still drilled some 1st serves in the '78 match and Connors just nailed a return many players wouldn't even get to. Still say the best return in history.

[@mickymalibu]

The fact that they’ve managed to remaster the video to such good quality shows how great these guys really were and playing with old tech absolutely awesome…..

[@JohnnyKonoko]

How I enjoy watching these older matches....I was a Borg, then Lendl guy...but these 2 produced some phenomenal stuff!!!

[@jackkitchen737]

I remember watching the 1978 semifinal as a 12 yr old and being amazed at the great shot making by both players. I never thought I'd see any of that action ever again. Thank you for this. And the 1980 semifinal was always one of my favorite matches of all time.

[@sebbytennis4298]

johnny_mac1959 you watch my Macenroe page on Instagram where I post great points and interesting comments and commentaries

[@russellfrancis6294]

This is great ! Thank you. Hi from Britain. 🇬🇧

[@Perebynis]

Interesting to see how Mac improved from year to year, inventing his trademark disguised serve. His backhand seems to have been great in every stage of his career, though. Connors, on the other hand, ever the fighter and consistency itself. Great upload!

[@tiaremaui]

Love the 70’s/8-‘s era of tennis, such great personalities.

[@davenc8527]

If you ever played tennis with a T-2000 racquet, you'd appreciate the skill of Jimmy Connors.

[@ToddHurney]

I did and I do and always have. Jimmy was the reason I taught myself the game! Loved his fire and tenacity for every single point of the match.

[@zjelkof]

Super exciting match! Some amazing shots and points - tennis at its best!

[@FrederickJohnSebastian]

Both these players were shotmakers who stayed faithful to trying to win points with outright winners not through mistakes or wearing their opponents out through attrition. Always made their matches great value. They were fierce competitors and loved the psychological warfare of top flight tennis. When they squared off, you always expected the match might end in an altercation on the court which was thrilling too.

[@lucalimontini5213]

John Mcenroe is a legend. I miss his tennis everyday.

[@KingCast65]

It's something fucking Other-Worldly and everyone knows it. And honestly his wood-frame days are kinda the best because more body language is involved. I'm 57 so I remember. Ciao.

[@alexandersimpson3638]

@@KingCast65I loved how John would lift his whole body off the floor, contorting his body and stroke a ball to the line. Jimmy was intense, like every shot was life or death not just a game. Best tennis era by far, serve and volley not monotonous base line like today. The men's game has ended up like the women's game.

[@KingCast65]

@@alexandersimpson3638 Yeah but at least the drop shot has created some tension in the past couple years. Bublick is fun.

[@gmr7494]

I think everyone on the tour today should play with the small rackets like these and we'll see how good they are

[@Vipa567]

Berdych played with a wooden racquet and still destroyed Kvitova playing with a modern raquet. Top players would still be great.

[@AndrewDCDrummond]

Give them all Wilson t2000s, that would be funny 🤣

[@nordna]

@@Vipa567 um... Berdych is a man and Kvitova is a woman... when did they play each other?

[@Jack1843]

id love to see a wood raquet tourney

[@rizwanramzan5729]

Connors is a 70's version of Agassi. Mcenroe is a 70's version of Sampras..

[@charlieknoch5502]

I absolutely love the way Connors hits the ball, flat and dead on in the sweet spot

[@colinglen4505]

Simply beautiful tennis by these legends.

[@ericfreeman5795]

For us gear geeks. In the 1984 semifinal, McEnroe was using the iconic Dunlop Max 200G, and Connors was using, for a brief period, the original Wilson ProStaff, with what looks like lead tape on the head. This was the period (early 80s) when graphite replaced wood and metal in racquet construction.

[@russellfrancis6294]

I'd like to see that match !😀

[@g.sakhalin1587]

Connors was amazing warrior and player never beaten in his mind

[@MrCWL]

Truly AMAZING bunt lob hit from behind moving backwards from Connors, incredible control to place that to perfection

[@ericfreeman5795]

This brings back memories. Connors, my idol growing up, always played so compact, and straight foreward. McEnroe was always so loose, and always looked like he played with a loose wrist. Contrasting styles, but similar attitudes on court. No love lost between these two.

[@bestpossibleworld2091]

The cat-like quickness of both of these guys at the net is remarkable. I agree with another comment here; I would love to see contemporary tennis pros play with the small racquet heads and take on these guys in their prime. Another amazing lefty was "Rocket" Rod Laver.

[@johnny-r]

I watched all these matches during this era but I never realized how phenomenally good these two were at simply hitting the ball the right way. I also played tennis during this period and I'd be lucky to hit two decent shots during a game.

[@kenarthur6253]

Man we need some US men's talent like Connors and McEnroe in the 2020s.

[@yangchen7521]

Wish another Pete Sampras graces his presence on the circuit again.

[@fundhund62]

First we need a couple of coaches who allow for personal style, again. Not your run-of-the-mill big serve - semi-western forehand - two-handed backand package.. We got those guys a dime a dozen. Time for something more interesting!

[@sebbytennis4298]

johnny_mac1959 you watch my Macenroe page on Instagram where I post great points and interesting comments and commentaries

[@sebbytennis4298]

@Jom James until a new genius comes along

[@sebbytennis4298]

@Jom James I love your passion for certainty plus if you read my reply I never mentioned serve and volley . In the 80’s and early 90’s there were talks about that the slice and the one handed backhand would disappear in 2012 most were certain that Federer would never win another grand slam, I agree with the odds that power tennis tends to back up your rather bold statement but a genius is a genius, no?

[@andrewg9998]

Very well done… Two of my all-time favorites… Thanks!

[@thomasmedeiros5722]

I had the pleasure of watching both of these tennis legends play live and up close on many occasions. During his early years no one pounded from the ground harder than Conners. You could feel his intensity in the stands. He could dig shots out of corners or rip a winner down the line as he was running at full speed. I noticed he constructed his points and created opportunities. If you watched McEnroe live and in person you notice his change and use of spin and pace. No one had more feel and touch on the half volley and volley. His was a game of relentless attack. He was a great at switching from counter punching to attack and advance.

[@sebbytennis4298]

johnny_mac1959 you can watch my Macenroe page on Instagram where I post great points and interesting comments and commentaries

[@TheBent139]

I had a Wilson T2000, a couple of them. and a T3000. You had to hit the ball so dead on with those rackets and their tiny heads and sweet spots. Early on I also had Dunlop Fort's and Wilson Pro Staff's like McEnroe played with in those years. You really had to maneuver the racquet because even with the best string job you could not get anywhere near the pace of today. I hit with a wood racket not so long ago. It's an interesting experience. Watching McEnroe and Connors is a beautiful thing. As great as Nadal, Djoker and Fed are, the pace of the game was better in those days. And they had some very intense personalities.

[@niev3006]

So glad I got to see this generation of players live at the Volvo Masters in NYC in the 80s. Very little interests in seeing today's players live.

[@sizeman007]

God when tennis was tennis...come on more Connors matches please...against Panatta in 1978 and Gomez in 1981 plus the 1982 and 1983 triumphs...

[@robbysteve644]

or his 91 run to the semis

[@tenniscollector]

McEnroe vs Lendl 1980 QF... to be followed by McEnroe vs Connors SF... to be followed by McEnroe vs Borg Final - . All 40th anniversary editions , full replays and to be uploaded this september PA-A-LEEZE !!! In defending and winning his 2nd USO , McEnroe put up an extraordinary effort outlasting and defeating his three greatest ever rivals. I don't know how many times that has been done.

[@patrickkelly9110]

Any match with panatta !

[@lancer3412]

@@patrickkelly9110 The Panatta match from 1978 was not shown in the US. The tv coverage was a fraction of what it is now. Outside of Labor Day, there was no weekday coverage outside of a nightly highlight show fro CBS. IIRC, 30 minutes. Hell, this match was not shown in it's entirety. It was the first match and it started at 11. CBS came on at 12. It was that way into the 80s. You always missed some of te first match. I don't need to see the same matches that have been replayed numerous times or you could find online. This is the first I've seen of this match since I saw it on tv in 1978. I'd rather they give me all they have of this match than Connors other 3 matches with Mcenroe. I've seen them. Granted, though, the 80 and 84 matches are classics. This was hardly that although Connors did come from 5-1 to win the 3rd set. However, if they somehow did have the Panatta match, sign me up for that. Same with the Borg/Tanner matches from 79-81. None of them were televised here, but if they were shown elsewhere, or CBS taped them anyway(maybe for the highlight show), I'd love to see them.

[@sebbytennis4298]

johnny_mac1959 you watch my Macenroe page on Instagram where I post great points and interesting comments and commentaries

[@lloydkimmen3251]

So cool to have watched what has to be the greatest decade in professional tennis 1974-1984 Connors McEnroe , Borg , and a whole host of others , ...... I just wish they had HD cameras back then ...... and using the those racquets , Generating that kind of power ...... awesome

[@Aman-nk5uq]

Greatest decade might be 2004 to 2014.

[@arindambanerjee3326]

​@@Aman-nk5uqWeakest

[@fraerithlelfe6027]

2 titans of tennis. Probably the best ever, with few others.

[@sebbytennis4298]

johnny_mac1959 you watch my Macenroe page on Instagram where I post great points and interesting comments and commentaries

[@dylanhanson6819]

Now we need the Wimbledon Semifinal 1977. McEnroe vs Connors

[@sebbytennis4298]

johnny_mac1959 you can watch my Macenroe page on Instagram where I post great points and interesting comments and commentaries

[@stevenyanchak549]

McEnroe was my favorite. I love serve & volley because I played basketball & that's was the most fun way to play.

[@surfshack2]

This is gold! Best upload on the Tube!

[@billphilips8522]

one of the best rivalries of any sport. the true winners were the spectators.

[@ollipolli6325]

McEnroe was my heroe ! Thanks for posting this, that's so fantastic tennis !❤❤❤🤩🤩🤩I regret this time so much ! 😭😭😭

[@marcusbales6455]

Learned to play tennis watching Connors. Now 72, have a match today and watching this for inspiration.

[@dimeshgujadhur210]

Super. Very rare footage !

[@nashbridges120]

Great video, great match selections. They played some very competitive Champions’ Tour matches, too. They were not “exhibition matches.” They went at each other. I’d recommend including some of those! Anyway, thanks again.

[@lapierrelapierre7255]

Great memories back in the days where players where artists

[@kennethbrady]

Amen.

[@lapierrelapierre7255]

@the supernatural yeah ,imagine if Federer would have played in that era ever better with a wooden racquet

[@lapierrelapierre7255]

@the supernatural Fed yes he used to play with a pstaff 85,Nadal...not so sure maybe i mean probably with an old prince oversise but not like Roger and not Wimbledon

[@ridinrancher9443]

A rarity to see 2 lefties play each other. Also a time when strategy trumped power. I miss these days of tennis. Nothing like a good rivalry

[@robmagu65]

Great moment with Brett and Jimmy right at the end

[@vinylrulesok8470]

The artistry of these two legends of tennis is awesome. Shame today’s game is so power dominated

[@andrehalim469]

Zero creativity thus boring is today's game.

[@bb1111116]

Modern rackets and strings have greatly changed the game.

[@seltaeb3302]

@@bb1111116 I watched tennis from 1970s & only when Connors & Nastase appeared did it get really interesting. Connors in is my fav player in that era & it hotted up in the 1980s. Sampras bored me to tears as we now had the composite rackets & we could barely get beyond a 4 hit rally! The players hadn't learnt yet how to use this in eye body & mind. Federer Nadal Djokovic Murray et al 20-40 rallies & fine net work & do for 4-6hrs. When they've retired tennis will go over a cliff & it's about 3yrs away. Thankgod we can see these great players battling on KZbin & the Slams let us see it for free. The Borg era is slim pickin' to view sadly.

[@jackkitchen737]

@@seltaeb3302 Well said

[@malbourne805]

I grew up watching these two and Bjorn Borg on TV in the late 70's/early 80's. I developed a love for the sport after my dad taught me how to play when I was about 7 years old. I enjoy these old matches, but today's version is more about power, prestige, and money than love of the game. I miss these old matches.

[@vittoriocascone8528]

McEnroe Vs Connors =Michelangelo Vs Leonardo.... The best!!!!!

[@sebbytennis4298]

johnny_mac1959 you can watch my Macenroe page on Instagram where I post great points and interesting comments and commentaries

[@sachsgs2509]

Legends🎾🎾🎾

[@nybcbuildingmanager6770]

Damn they hit pretty hard despite the racquet technology. Who was the umpire in the first match? They replicated his voice very well for the Jimmy Connors Pro Tennis Tour SNES game.

[@SuperJackson4]

A big Mac and an " America great again ", that's all I need...

[@thebadguyswon-w7n]

Two great competitors that really didn’t like each other very much. I know this video focused on US Open but they also faced off in an epic Wimbledon final in ‘82. Connors won that one in five sets I remember Mc Enroe telling Bud Collins to talk to the champ and refused to be interviewed. Connors could be a jerk but the moment he had with his son after losing the 84 match was touching.

[@datasilv]

Jimmy was the best! ... not only played tennis but also played fun like a rock star!

[@KingCast65]

Thanks!

[@sebbytennis4298]

johnny_mac1959 you watch my Macenroe page on Instagram where I post great points and interesting comments and commentaries

[@KingCast65]

@@sebbytennis4298 Cool. I will look just for that but I support the Facebook empire as lightly as possible. Can't fucking stand them. Am in fact, suing them: www.scribd.com/document/392343705/KingCast-v-Facebook-Censorship-9th-Circuit-Court-of-Appeals-Brief

[@MargauxMachek]

McEnroe was so naturally talented. It's like he's not even trying out there.

[@sepp540]

What a pleasure to watch!!!

[@shelleywarkentin9656]

I was glad to see that first meeting, with Mac using a different service style.

[@sebbytennis4298]

johnny_mac1959 you watch my Macenroe page on Instagram where I post great points and interesting comments and commentaries

[@fvni]

Wilson T-2000! (67 Sq Inches). Connors has to be the best serve returner ever.

[@prw8004]

This footage has shocked me seeing McEnroe’s service technique back in his younger days 😮 He changed his pre-service stance and action at some point to the unorthodox and effective serve the tennis world has known through his long and outstanding professional career and to present day.

[@syl812577]

Used to love watching CBS coverage. Miss those days. Also like Trabert and Summerall

[@tennsmoothie]

Absolutely - And they didn't constantly talk, talk, talk. They let the tennis be the show, not them.

[@A.R.-mk1lq]

With Ivan Lendl, the beauty in men's tennis ended.

[@bravobravoh1344]

Them boys were in excellent physical condition to be able to play like that.

[@marcelomolina2280]

Jimmy Connor The Best!! talented!!

[@davidr2802]

JC lost 3 of 4 of these.

[@downtherabbithole1353]

Miss those days when McEnroe, Connors and Borg ruled the tennis world.

[@1lefty123]

Amazing to see the one arm come off the 2 handed backhand between Connors and Borg. Today Im not sure anyone hits that way now.

[@joeljoulin925]

A pleasure👍👍👍👍

[@inakibadiolamoreno8546]

Mac Enroe cuando Borg se retiro apenas solo Dos años estuvo motivado ..luego se tomó el tenis cómo algo secundario..y Connors tuvo la mala suerte de coincidir con Dos genios. ESTE. BIG 3 es casi tan bueno como el famoso ..BIG3..pero ahora juegan hasta los 38 ..y antes en forma más de los 32 era difícil.

[@marcthompson3665]

Always a joy to watch John before his strokes became all compact and funky.

[@sebbytennis4298]

Marc Thompson Funky indeed but if you watch carefully his swing shape varies with his intentions when he stays back he keeps a reasonable length of swing. In 1984 Mac no longer felt it was perhaps possible to win trading with longer swings from the back of the court and the low string tension plus his unique continental forehand grip only proved to be the perfect fit for attacking tennis with as you say funky short back swings and follow throughs. Mad really as he has been the only one in history. Occasionally do we see Roger use that same strategy with the SABR and other times using a chopper grip on the forehand to outsmart his opponent at the net. God wasn’t busy when he created those two

[@sebbytennis4298]

johnny_mac1959 you watch my Macenroe page on Instagram where I post great points and interesting comments and commentaries

[@elvisparker4691]

Jimmy Connors was the Most Exciting Player in Tennis History. Period. 🎾

[@michaelireland7239]

wow those were the days

[@anibalargentina3991]

John McEnroe the wizard of tennis

[@dks13827]

That is great stuff. Great great American players.

[@tomloft2000]

footage of the 78 match is rare.i've hardly seen any of it.

[@sebbytennis4298]

johnny_mac1959 you watch my Macenroe page on Instagram where I post great points and interesting comments and commentaries

[@GMiltown]

And they were one match away from playing against each other at 1977, 1981, 1982, 1985, and 1987 US Opens.

[@capalasker]

Besides the great tennis, I like the final scene where Jimmy Connors gives his son, who looks like a miniature Jimmy, a hug.

[@sevaraalimova4706]

What surprises me about Connors, and McEnroe, is for their height, 5’10 Connors, and 5’11 McEnroe, they came to net a lot

[@gnuttz1972]

McEnroes got a conventional serve motion ! Great quality video

[@vickicarpenter8481]

Fabulous tennis! What a treat. Oh but look at Jimmy's son Brett coming on right at the very end (32.21) to console Jimmy. With such a wistful look on his face. Beautiful little boy with the same hairstyle as Jimmy. Takes the edge of losing!

[@JB-by8tw]

Great footage! I've been playing tennis for about 40 years and I never knew McEnroe didn't have that deep bend in his service motion early on in his career! I wonder when he started that different service motion?

[@FrederickJohnSebastian]

Apparently, he was experiencing back strain and began that 'drinking bird' /bobbing motion as a way to stretch his back mucles prior to serving. It had an additional bonus effect: opponents found it hard to read his serve so he kept doing it.

[@thaumaturge47]

'Boom-Boom' Becker at Wimbledon '85 gave birth to a new era in mens tennis. The power game. Legends like McEnroe & Connors were passed by.......

[@Nocturnbandofficial]

Please upload the full 1978 semifinal!! Good video quality in these excerpts here, makes me want to see more! Also the Panatta match before..

[@lancer3412]

Panatta match was definitely not televised in the US. CBS had no weekday coverage, Labor Day aside, back then. And this was several years before cable. CBS had a half hour highlights program every night. There were some highlights shown there of the Panatta match. Unless someone in Europe televised it? Maybe Italian tv for Panatta. All speculation, I have zero knowledge that they did.

[@Nocturnbandofficial]

@@lancer3412, yeah, maybe Italian TV for the Panatta match, I don't know... but it doesn't hurt to ask, right? ;-)

[@HerrEngels]

He wasnt my favorite player back then but in hindsight there is no player I love to watch more than Jonny Mac

[@jean-emile5004]

Ce tennis 🎾 Nous manque. Ces joueurs, Ce Climat. Tout était AUTHENTIQUE.

[@carlosfredericomeiracordeiro]

Que coisa maravilhosa! Dois dos maiores gênios do tênis. Também gostava muito do Borg.

[@jasonbrooks6562]

Great memories. Speaking from London, l was so fortunate to see these two warriors go head to head 3 times live. 1st Wimbledon S/f 1980. What a feisty match!. I think Mac during the match, was the first ever player to get an official warning from the chair at Wimbledon. I maybe wrong. I also recall, in one game Mac had 8 break points on jimbo's serve in one game, and still lost it!. He did however recover to go on to win 4 sets.( though Connors, had a lot of chances in the fourth) 2. Wembley 1981. Mac was cruising 2 sets up, playing within himself and Connors was below par, then inexplicably Mcenroe lost the plot over a poor line call, was called out for racket abuse, umpire was an idiot(both players wanted him removed), Connors played to the crowd- as he did, it was a hostile crowd for Mcenroe and he lost in 5.

[@jasonbrooks6562]

Oh,at Wembley 83'. Mcenroe was approaching his peak. It was a fast indoor court, and Mac was devastating, something like 18 aces in 3 sets. Jimmy tried his usual tricks, but to no avail. I always remember how great Mcenroe was with his low volleys. Great days.

[@philiprausch4590]

@@jasonbrooks6562 sew] Rdd

[@kephas7772]

The racket in the 70s and 80s was really heavy. If you look at them now, they're really incredible...

[@chard404]

These guys were so great..they smashed those balls

[@rboltt]

We need a “Best of Jimmy Connors vs Bjorn Borg at the US Open” please.

[@OfficialWorldChampion]

Jimmy Connors is like if Jack Black played a tennis player

[@debbied.1682]

Amazing. They both look like they're pushing the ball instead of simply striking it. McEnroe leans backwards when he strikes the ball instead of leaning forward? It's like going back in time. Thanks for the upload.

[@patrickkelly9110]

Love the green tacchini macs wearing

[@eze6285]

18:45 😂 This is the perfect reaction to lob/dropshot😂😂

[@danpiedra3910]

Playing this attacking format of serve and volley was more exciting.

[@tommykaira8775]

I’m amazed how they can produce this level of tennis with ancient gear

[@rboltt]

USTA, can you do the same for Connors vs Borg, and possibly retrieve footage from Vilas/Orantes 1975 SF?

[@sebbytennis4298]

johnny_mac1959 you watch my Macenroe page on Instagram where I post great points and interesting comments and commentaries