Wimbledon 1980 SF McEnroe vs Connors Part.1

[@ronaldcrosby2388]

Tennis has not been the same since mcEnrore and Connors retired.

[@FrederickJohnSebastian]

I remember having to work when this match was played. For years I've been hoping it would make an appearance on KZbin and it was worth the wait. Connors had a very good Spring beating McEnroe quite handily in Dallas and was full of confidence. McEnroe saved a couple of match points in a second round match against a journeyman, Terry Rocavert I believe, so at best this was a 50-50. The quality over four sets is very high. I can only think of their '84 USOpen where these two played at such a consistently high standard. For whatever reason, when they locked horns the tennis suffered and it led to high unforced errors with points 'lost' not 'won'. Here, both are razor sharp. 'Only' four sets, but I agree with the commentator at the end who rated it as one of the best matches he had seen on Center Court. Little did he know, a day later, he would witness a better one in the Final.

[@stephanequero7677]

Great match and Great quality 👍 thx

[@russellfrancis6294]

Fan: There’s only one Jimmy Connors. Connors: Thank heavens for that.🤣 Magic !

[@jackkitchen737]

This is awesome that you included the entire prematch routine with commentary. We get to hear the umpire (I assume) ask to get "out of the way" the spin of the racket to determine who serves first, and Mac ask "M or W" like we all would before a match at the local courts lol. Plus the BBC announcers. Is that John Barret doing play by play? Or Dan Maskell? I always got them confused when I was a kid lol but they were both awesome. I'm pretty sure that's Mark Cox doing color. This was a pretty good match, featuring a confrontation mid match between Mac and Connors. I was just starting to play tennis a little at this time, and the match that took place two days after this cemented my interest in making it my game for life.

[@SouthyA]

Jack Kitchen it's John Barrett

[@jackkitchen737]

SouthyA thank you

[@th8257]

McEnroe's serve was just unreadable. He could hit any spot at will with amazing disguise.

[@starrosborne7839]

Dan Maskell used to say " Oh I say " a lot

[@anubisjudge9407]

Sadly changeovers and stuff are cut. And was 1980 year of tuberculosis? Dude the audience is CONSTANTLY coughing. Maaaan

[@misspeppermintpattie]

Ego vs. ego

[@robocop5935]

The awsome foursome. McEnroe borg Connors lendl.

[@alisterzarkar7163]

"Keep your mouth shut out here"

[@markcampbell-hd3wv]

Due to bad weather, this match was played on the Friday, preceding the ladies final.Borg had the advantage of a day's rest before facing Mcenroe...a significant advantage.

[@claradriscoll4666]

At what point does Mcenroe go off on the ump?

[@FrederickJohnSebastian]

30:23

[@jeffrey3498]

Connors is “only number 3 in the world.” 🤣

[@vccstudents]

Connors had matured as a man by this point. Fatherhood will do that to you.

[@uncletony6210]

had he?

[@vccstudents]

@@uncletony6210 More so than he was before becoming a parent.

[@uncletony6210]

@@vccstudents some of his worst antics were at 1981 Wembley, 1984 Davis Cup vs Sweden ,1988 Lipton, and even during his famous 1991 US Open semi-final run where he called the ump "an abortion."

[@vccstudents]

@@uncletony6210 I didn't say he was perfect, but he was a little more mellow than he used to be.