Watch extended highlights as Vitas Gerulaitis takes on Stan Smith in Round 3 of the 1979 US Open. Click here to subscribe: / usta Twitter: / usta Facebook: / usta Instagram: / usta Website: www.usta.com
Пікірлер: 117
@ericw3229 Жыл бұрын
That is the tennis I loved.
@paulluk75152 жыл бұрын
The pace of the rallies here is not slow considering using the racquets of less advanced technology, truly amazing!
@JD-jc8gp20 күн бұрын
Today's racquets aren't advanced. What's advanced about a bigger head on a racquet. It's like something you'd give to a child.
@gomezaddams4347 Жыл бұрын
I know it will never happen, but I wish pro tennis would adopt a rule limiting racquet head size to 90 sq. in. That would at least inspire a bit of a return of the all-court game. Tennis like this match is so much more enjoyable than watching endless baseline bashing.
@user-uz8nz3uz7v7 ай бұрын
Fed played 90 so what? The problem is in balls not raquets
@MarcoSolidx7 ай бұрын
Do you really think these short points more enjoyable than today’s rallies?
@user-uz8nz3uz7v7 ай бұрын
@@MarcoSolidx sure.
@wallacemckinney35446 ай бұрын
Agreed! So much more entertaining. Standardizing the racquet would level the playing field, particularly on the ATP Tour, to where true athleticism and skill would be the difference between victory and defeat. Slowing the game down a bit would make it more watchable altogether. 160mph aces?…BOOOORIIIIIIING!!! :)
@jl33222 жыл бұрын
Talented Vitas. You are missed. RIP
@emin7540 Жыл бұрын
And a very nice guy!
@jackkitchen7372 жыл бұрын
I watched a little of this US Open as a 13 year old. I wish I'd have watched this match. I would have appreciated Stan Smith's game a little more. I liked both players. I just never really saw much of Smith's matches, since he was not a contender at this time. But he definitely had game.
@johncasey9966 Жыл бұрын
Stan Smith at the net so calm and relaxed but deadly.... poetry
@ArthurVerhulst2 жыл бұрын
Fantastic camera angle. This should come back: I'm sure it would attract more viewers
@alanchong75132 жыл бұрын
Exactly! This is the most attractive angle for TV coverage. Makes you feel close to the action!
@uncletony62102 жыл бұрын
@@alanchong7513 I agree.
@TheMightySandow2 жыл бұрын
VG must be one of the quickest tennis players ever. Not just court coverage but blistering hand eye speed
@simonerastelli58742 жыл бұрын
Stan Smith won almost everything in the early 70's, Wimbledon, US Open, Master, WCT Finals, Davis Cups... Later he had some elbow problems, I guess starting in 1974, and then he wasn't that top contender anymore...
@teddymikefunk2 жыл бұрын
They are much better at the net than this next gen. I am seeing more technique, touch and finesse, no doubt about that.
@Summon256 Жыл бұрын
It’s easier to have more control over the net coverage using wooden racquet, rather than modern one or even graphite ones, they have been using since mid 80’s till early 00’s! Wooden racquet didn’t generate enough speed after groundstroke, so there were plenty of time for an effective volley of any kind! Not to take away anything from all these technical giants from 70’s and early 80’s off course, but that needed to be said…
@Summon256 Жыл бұрын
With that said i’m actually curious how big-3 would do if they had to use wooden racquets like back in the day, would they adapt their game accordingly to become much more proficient and consistent volleyers, like Edberg, McEnroe and the rest of that era or would they fail to adapt like Mac or Jimbo in the 2nd half of 80’s when switching gears drastically like that?!…
@ivobaes5 күн бұрын
2 de los mejores 10 tenistas masculinos de la historia de los USA 🇺🇲. Aunque Gerulaitis es de origen Lituano 🇱🇹. 2 of the best 10 male tennis players in US history 🇺🇲. Although Gerulaitis is of Lithuanian origin.🇱🇹
@mauroc47412 жыл бұрын
Tennis used to be beautiful...
@6792pk52 жыл бұрын
I know he lost this match ,but Stan Smith was one of the most natural,gifted and smartest players in tennis.Obviously not a power hitter or server but definitely poetry in motion.
@MrPernell272 жыл бұрын
He had a huge serve and forehand for his day. Given today’s racquets he would have been serving in the 130’s easily
@tomschmitz2612 жыл бұрын
stan smith was WAY past his prime in 1979... at his best, he was simply better than Vitas...
@Provemewrongwithfacts2 жыл бұрын
Not a power hitter or server?? Are you kidding me? Smith wasn't no dinker from the backcourt. At 6'4, his game was all power! One of the biggest servers of the era!
@th82572 жыл бұрын
He was the absolute definition of the power "serve bot" in his day. Way past his prime here.
@frankcarbo66222 жыл бұрын
Superb - thank you - two greats with varied shotmaking...
@seveglider84062 жыл бұрын
Tennis use to be a much more enjoyable sport to watch!
@BasementTracks7 ай бұрын
Not really
@seveglider84067 ай бұрын
@@BasementTracks Today's tennis is BORING! Every player plays the same way on every surface. You can't distinguish 1 player from another. All of them stay 12 feet behind the base line and trade groundstrokes. Very few know how to volley properly. Modern racquet technology is a reason why players don't have complete games. They're only good at hitting groundstrokes. BORING!!!!!!!
@khedsmann5 ай бұрын
@@seveglider8406same can be said here, coming to the net every point? that's boring
@seveglider84065 ай бұрын
@@khedsmann There aren't any players who come to the net on every point. However, today's players are afraid to come to the net because they can't volley to save their lives! Serve and volley tennis is more fun and exciting to watch than baseline tennis. Doubles is more fun than singles because there is more variety of shots and strategy. Virtually every modern tennis player plays the same style on every surface. You can't distinguish 1 player from another. BORING!!!
@cyrilbrocard2 ай бұрын
I liked tennis then; I like it now. To each their own. I sure would like to see a few more one handed backhands and more serve and volley than we do now. For a bit of variety. But the current combo of racket frames, strings, surfaces and balls make it impossible.
@JD-jc8gp2 жыл бұрын
Brilliant upload, thank you!
@ThePapawhisky7 ай бұрын
I started playing tennis in 1971. Stan Smith was my hero. So cool to see this video!
@VegasPlayah Жыл бұрын
I find these older tennis matches more entertaining. There's so much more shot variety, as opposed to today's game of nothing but baseline topspin bashing.
@romcallis2 жыл бұрын
Vitas and Andy Murray unbelievable movement skills
@AG-js1bl9 ай бұрын
Murray is too much different to vitas.
@williewasahippie2 ай бұрын
My buddy played Smith when he was #1. Lost something like 6-4, 7-5. Pretty close sets. Just a couple of breaks of serve difference. Another friend worked with Vitas in Socal. Said he was a great guy & she was very sad when he passed.
@seand672 жыл бұрын
Great video quality
@erikshen11072 жыл бұрын
Stan did ok in the SNEAKER BUSINESS DIDN'T HE??
@MrPernell272 жыл бұрын
I’m a coach and I still have kids wearing his shoes. I have to take them to KZbin to understand who he was;but he did extremely well in the shoe department
@ajwasp36422 жыл бұрын
Yup, I wore out many a pair. They were comfortable too.
@davidchang4559 Жыл бұрын
So marvelous!!
@lenwelch219510 ай бұрын
Stan has the perfect tennis body, tall lean, strong. So graceful and I’m happy he won all the major titles but suffered elbow issues in late73. His reign at the top was brief , even briefer than McEnroe. Connors had a lot to do with that.
@drobson80046 ай бұрын
He never won all the majors
@miskwaad6 ай бұрын
They weren't that important until the late 80's. Until 68 the best players won a major or two, then turned pro and were banned. An example is Laver; after his first Grand Slam as an amateur he turned pro and had his ass kicked for a year and a half. He didn't get to play what we call the majors again until 1968. He Grand Slams in 1969. In the 70's there were boycotts of Wimbledon and Connors was forbidden from the French for playing World Team Tennis. Borg had 5 Wimbledons and 6 French while losing 4 US Open titles. He went to the Australian Open once when he was 17 and never again. The Australian was skipped all the time through the late 80's because of the timing and facility. Players skipped majors all the time and Emerson sat with the record of 12 for years and no one thought he was the greatest as he won them all without facing the best players. He never won after the open tournaments in 68. It was really with Sampras people started paying attention when he passed Emerson. Since then of course we have the big three, but honestly we've no idea what Laver or Gonzales might've done.
@drobson80046 ай бұрын
Well said@@miskwaad
@Provemewrongwithfacts2 жыл бұрын
It's funny, Vitas is using a "Stan Smith autograph" tennis racket, and Smith is using some other racket! So you can look at it like this: Gerulaitis beat Smith with Smith's racket.
@uncletony62102 жыл бұрын
Vitas was using the "Jack Kramer Autograph"...
@Provemewrongwithfacts2 жыл бұрын
@@uncletony6210 Nope, you're wrong.
@migelowsky2 жыл бұрын
Stan's racquet is a Fischer 🎾
@jeffg490 Жыл бұрын
Vitas used the Stan Smith Autograph earlier in his career then switched to the Kramer Autograph here!
@Provemewrongwithfacts Жыл бұрын
@@jeffg490 At this point in his career, Vitas was using a SS autograph. Later he switched to a composite. Why would he switch from a SS to a Kramer? They're virtually the same racket.
@jmiller052 жыл бұрын
Vitas was a trip. So talented and athletic as well as streaky and mystifying.
@leliondescavernes17472 жыл бұрын
Match exceptionnel !!!!!
@emin7540 Жыл бұрын
When Smith took a little longer to serve 2:56 due to the plane noise you can hear Trabert at 3:31 say it was not done as a strategy but many Djokovic's 15 ball bounce is a joke and an embarrassment to the game.
@rafapazos064 ай бұрын
How the game changed. Unbelievable.
@watchalay74 Жыл бұрын
Vitas=Golden Lion God of Tennis
@rootdoc1997 Жыл бұрын
Vitas is awesome. This is high quality tennis. It is ridiculous that he is not in the Hall of Fame. All these guys back in the days were talented. You take these modern day players make them play with this equipment, take away their personal trainers, nutritionists, massage therapists, life coaches, and their entourages telling them how great they are would not survive. Oh forgot the performance enhacing drugs that are not detected hardly ever on the top male players
@johngriffin69908 ай бұрын
Stan had a beautiful game, as did Vitas. It was a different game back then in a lot of ways. The racquets and strings were so different than today. Great players in any era are worth watching and learning from.
@dap7777544 ай бұрын
Stan had a rather poor, or sketchy, backhand. I didn't realize this deficit until watching this tape. No topspin and not a great looking technique, I would say. That said, he was one of my favorites as a kid.
@peterbedford26108 ай бұрын
Such precision
@Yorgos200711 ай бұрын
Fun fact: Stan Smith was 33 years old at that time. On this video looks 60 🙂
@user-uz8nz3uz7v7 ай бұрын
may be 45)
@jwfmsu199011 ай бұрын
Stan Smith looks like he could be Hulk Hogan's uncle.
@angelorosati7232 Жыл бұрын
Penso che sia un estratto del tennis, un concentrato di purezza stilistica
@vitaliecires12393 ай бұрын
The Big Match between Vitas Gerulaitis vs Stan Smith in 1979 U S Open Round 3 !!!
@dogbombballet Жыл бұрын
Vitas used to use the Stan Smith Autograph tennis racquet that used to be the Tony Trabert used by Arthur Ashe...
@maks88916 ай бұрын
Smith really an old turkey💯💯
@drobson80046 ай бұрын
Smith; great hands.
@alanchong75132 жыл бұрын
I actually think Vitas has a better serve than Smith. Vitas' motion is more fluid. His take back is fully, more circular. He has a fuller swing at the ball.
@toddcrickmore7196 Жыл бұрын
Smith had a “pulverizing” serve during his prime years when he was #1 in the world as a result of the leverage generated from his height. Here he is older and less flexible, whereas Gerulaitus was 25 and in his prime. Gerulaitus did have an excellent serve though.
@Andy_XT9 ай бұрын
What a pleasure to watch! Tennis was so pure, back then. Strategy: get to the net as soon as possible and try to win the point.
@user-uz8nz3uz7v7 ай бұрын
tell it to Lendl)
@henryfong34712 жыл бұрын
great match. Today's players should learn from.
@KingCast652 ай бұрын
2:18 No way was Vitas' ball landing.
@marianpalko25312 жыл бұрын
2:29 VG bh
@nuffzed2001 Жыл бұрын
Ooh!
@michelez7152 жыл бұрын
Why no on score shown on screen? Not very helpful for viewers.
@cyrilbrocard2 ай бұрын
I know I was 10 yo in 79, but my recollection (or imagination?) was that Stan had a big, power serve while Vitas had a soft one. Well, watching this footage, it seems that neither holds particularly true...
@RAYMO5817 ай бұрын
Concept of lobs was lost to these people those days. The guy as at the next and they just try and hit through them rather than lob them
@jeromelevillain93012 жыл бұрын
Great. Why it's not a complete match ?
@vanlendl12 жыл бұрын
Because your uploads are 240p.
@tennislegendsonlineretrotennis Жыл бұрын
Always complaining!!!
@bradleysmall2230 Жыл бұрын
because it was a cbs weekend telecast where rgey moved ro diff matches
@jeromelevillain9301 Жыл бұрын
@@bradleysmall2230 Thank you for the information. I'm looking for old matches at the US open, especially the borg-tanner (79,80 and 81)
@bradleysmall2230 Жыл бұрын
@@jeromelevillain9301 did they play all 3 years
@erikshen11072 жыл бұрын
VG PAINTING THE LINES.....
@alanchong75132 жыл бұрын
Cryptic comment?
@SuperHammaren2 жыл бұрын
I like Smith's textbook technique, but ha has not the fire to put the ball away here.
@th82572 жыл бұрын
He was way past his prime here.
@SuperHammaren2 жыл бұрын
@@th8257 Yes, but some of his old skill could still be seen. Just not as sharp.
@mitchlc4252 жыл бұрын
@@th8257 Smith was only 33 in 1979, which is the same age as when Raffa, Djoko and Roger are or were still winning majors and ranked number one.
@drobson800410 ай бұрын
@@mitchlc425Very different training methods
@markplumb39684 ай бұрын
As everyone has stated, different racquets, different strings, ( probably faster surface ) so a very different game, ( young people in general would probably be bored watching this, young tennis players too, but give them a wooden racquet like VG is using and they would probably miss hit the ball on every shot…. The two sports that technology has changed and helped the most would be Tennis and Golf ( some say not for the better ) ( Golf is starting to limit technology) I guess you could add cycling to the list but it hasn’t really changed the sport
@robertgeyer5535 Жыл бұрын
Vitas beat Stan 7-6 7-6 6-3
@bobdobalina8383 ай бұрын
Back when real men played tennis, men who didn't need two hands to hit A backhand like little girls.
@pietropaolofabbri9595 Жыл бұрын
stan smith he was born with that face, at 20 the same face, at 40 as well, and today it is always the same. Fantastic.
@NicksonianАй бұрын
Enjoyable tennis to watch. But I don’t think these guys have the skills of players like Federer, Nadal, or Djokovic.
@gingerbladebl2 жыл бұрын
Who’s watching this during pandemic? Can I assume almost half of the live spectators already died? 😅
@vanlendl12 жыл бұрын
Not a nice thing to say.
@perjordeus92652 жыл бұрын
Not even close to being funny
@mitchlc4252 жыл бұрын
I was there and I'm still very much alive.
@aemiliadelroba40229 ай бұрын
Tennis today is boring ! all players grunting and all that noise …. No fun 😮
@pallavchoudhary86362 жыл бұрын
Tennis coaches back then...just run forward after hitting the serve..boring
@charlesvorones36122 жыл бұрын
Tennis TODAY is boring (except for a few all-court players like Federer)... These players had complete games-- they could hit every shot in the book! Just because they didn't crush the ball with run-around forehands and over-sized racquets doesn't mean they didn't know how to play. Oh, and you don't need coaches... ever. "Most over-coached sport in the world." -- Bud Collins