article by Nicholas Pucci
When it appears on the green meadows shrouded in history of theAll England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Of Wimbledon for the 90th edition of the London tournament (1976)some clouds and at least a couple of question marks are gathering over Bjorn Borg.
The Swede, in fact, He is coming off a defeat in the quarter-finals of Roland-Garros at the hands of Adriano Panattawho by beating him in four sets denied him the chance to complete a hat-trick of victories after the successes of the previous two years, and Insiders are wondering whether his game of pressure and resistance from the baseline will be able to allow them to excel on a surface that is apparently not ideal for his characteristics.much more suited to serve-and-volley specialists.
Borg actually already played in the three previous years at Wimbledonshowing himself to be worthy of his very young talent in 1973, defeated in the quarterfinals 7-5 in the fifth set by the home favourite Roger Taylor, repeating that result two years later, in 1975, when he was stopped by the superfine class of Arthur Ashe, who went on to win the tournament. Of course, in 1974, a few weeks after winning, at just 18, Roland-Garros for the first time, he suffered a heavy defeat against the Egyptian Ismail El Shafei, 6-2 6-3 6-1, who eliminated him in the third round, and so, for the current year, He not only has to take revenge for the disappointment in Paris, but he also has to prove that grass can be his friend once and for all.. Will he succeed in his intent?
Borg is credited with the number 4 seed in a draw that has Ashe and Jimmy Connors, finalists of the last edition, as the two main favourites, with Ilie Nastase playing the role of the third wheel.. And if Borg has at least the semi-final in his sights to improve on the results of previous years, Panatta, number 5 in the seeding, wants to confirm the exploit of Roland-Garros, followed in the list of possible successes by Guillermo Vilas (number 6 but decidedly not suited to playing on grass) and two players, Roscoe Tanner number 7 and the Mexican Raul Ramirez number 8, who are instead particularly at ease on grass.
Effectively Borg doesn’t have too many difficulties in showing up on time for the quarter-finalsnot leaving any set on the road in the challenges with the English David Lloyd (6-3 6-3 6-1), with the American Marty Riessen (6-2 6-2 6-4), with the Australian Colin Dibley (6-4 6-4 6-4) and with Brian Gottfried, number 14 seed (6-2 6-2 7-5), preparing to face that Vilas who resembles him so much in terms of playing characteristics and mental solidity.
In the meantime, Ashe was denied an encore by Vitas Gerulaitisdefeated in the round of 16 at the end of a five-set marathon (6-4 9-8 4-6 3-6 4-6), freeing up the top half of a draw in which, in addition to the 22-year-old blond Lithuanian, instead, Nastase, Ramirez and the “old” Charlie Pasarell find spacethe architect of Panatta’s elimination in the round of 16 when the Roman, just like Ashe, let a two-set lead come back (9-8 6-4 4-6 5-7 4-6).
The lower part of the draw, the one occupied by Borg and Vilas, is instead faithful to the indications of the seeding, with the American derby between Connors and Tanner which promises to be thrilling for the contrast of styles, the ability in response and in the counterattack of Jimbo against the violence in the service and the audacity in the forays to the net of the “bomber” of Chattanooga. And Tanner didn’t really need to be asked twice before overwhelming his compatriot with a barrage of aces, winning in three sets, 6-4 6-2 8-6.and taking revenge for his 1975 semifinal defeat when Connors, in turn, had beaten him in three quick sets. And if Nastase and Ramirez leave no escape to Pasarell and Gerulaitis, Borg himself continues on his flawless path, clearly liquidating Vilas, 6-3 6-0 6-2, to complete the semi-final picture which sees, in addition to the Nastase-Ramirez challenge, the Swede opposed to Tanner.
In truth Nastase and Borg both resolve the matter in their favor in three setsleaving no escape for the two rivals and presenting themselves at the final act of the tournament, on July 3, 1976, one (the Romanian) credited with the odds, the other (the Swede) without the shame of having dropped a set on the road. And At least at the beginning, the progress of the match seems to confirm the predictions of the eve, with Nastase going up 3-0 and having three points for the double break, and Borg relying on his serve to get back into the gametrained to the point of taking to the field suffering from a slight muscle strain that was kept at bay by a dose of cortisone.
Except for that initial phase, however, Bjorn proved superior to Ilie, serving well and hitting even better with his two-handed backhand, and if he finally won the first two sets clearly, 6-4 6-2, Romanian in third placein difficulty in every area of the game (inconsistent in serving, too fragile from the back of the court and incredibly faulty in the volley), he has a surge of pride when he finds himself having to respond at 4-5. Borg serves for the title but loses his serve, the set goes on, at 7-7 the Swede makes another break and finally, 6-4 6-2 9-7, lifts the trophy.
The Borg era at Wimbledon begins like this, and for another five years, no one will be able to beat him. between Doherty Gates dell’All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
2024-07-02 12:18:00
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