HT Archives: Borg wins his fifth Wimbledon title in all-time classic

 

 

 

 

 

The 1980 Wimbledon final saw Borg defeat McEnroe in a historic match, showcasing contrasting styles and a thrilling tiebreaker, solidifying their rivalry.

What ingredients could cook up a Grand Slam classic? A run-in of contrasting personalities, a clash of game styles, a riveting rivalry, the crowd picking one side, the odds stacking up against the other.

Bjorn Borg kisses the Gentlemen’s Singles Trophy after defeating John McEnroe of the United States during the Men’s Singles Final match at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship on 5th July 1980 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London, England. (Getty Images)

The table for the 1980 Wimbledon title match had it all. On July 5 on those pristine greens of the All England Club, the chefs, Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, delivered a dish that would leave a lasting taste for years to come.

Borg, a four-time defending champion, eventually wrapped his hands around a fifth straight Wimbledon title, but not before first-time finalist McEnroe gave him a mighty run for the money in a 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (16-18), 8-6 final. The battle went on for close to four hours, with the tug-of-war reaching a crescendo in the fourth set tiebreaker that whipped up 34 points – a record for a Wimbledon final.

The contest indeed had all the makings of an epic. Borg, the 24-year-old Swede, hadn’t lost at Wimbledon since his 1975 quarter-final exit. McEnroe, the 21-year-old American, was coming off the 1979 US Open triumph as a fast-rising one-handed backhand left-hander.