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- Jul 7, 2013
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It should be Wimbledon season right now over in UK, however, thanks to Covid-19, it has been cancelled.
However, all is not lost, as the TV schedulers managed to line up some vintage games, and I am watching the film Borg vs. McEnroe on TV in the background as I type, which prompted me to start this thread.
Mine is John McEnroe, the Superbrat, ever since I watched him on TV at school during Wimbledon 1980, my first Wimbledon season since coming over to UK to study.
It was love at first sight, a real crush. I just thought he was wonderful, very talented, and his anger was due to frustration in not being able to do his best or better. And, don't laugh, he is also an Aquarian like me!
The house I was in (I went to a boarding school) had over 50 girls, and nearly everyone watched the 1980 Final between Borg and McEnroe, and I was one of a handful of girls who wanted him to win. Sadly, he lost, and I was gutted.
I probably did not do as well in my exams the following year as I could have done because I was watching so much tennis. And I was very ecstatic when McEnroe won the following year!
I tried getting into Wimbledon that year by queuing (exams finished by then, hence I was able to go), however, I only managed to get into one of the smaller courts, standing room only, did not manage to watch any of the top seeds, and did not enjoy the experience.
A few months after his 1981 Wimbledon victory, he played in a small indoor tournament in London, and I was able to get tickets for the final day, and a good seat too, very close to the front.
It was a great experience, to see him play live, to watch him dance across the court, taking chances close to the net, and most importantly, not a boring baseline player.
He was even more watchable when he played double with Peter Fleming. There was a saying at the time, in that the World's No. 2 Doubles Pairing was John McEnroe with anyone; and the No. 1 spot was John McEnroe with Peter Fleming. I was fortunate to watch them play live at the same indoor tournament after McEnroe had won his single's match, and of course, they won.
1981 was a great year for me, and I am not ashamed to admit I used to carry a photo cut out of a smiling John McEnroe holding the Wimbledon trophy after his win in 1981 for years!
I lost interest in tennis after he retired from the game, as no one else was as exciting and watchable after him, IMHO.
He is still great at 60, very funny and humble as a commentator and person, with a great sense of humour, as demonstrated in a recent TV documentary. He spoke fondly of Borg and is good friends with him.
As I said, 1981 was a very good year with lots of happy and fond memories!
Care to share your favourite tennis player and memories?
And thanks for reading my rambling.
DK
However, all is not lost, as the TV schedulers managed to line up some vintage games, and I am watching the film Borg vs. McEnroe on TV in the background as I type, which prompted me to start this thread.
Mine is John McEnroe, the Superbrat, ever since I watched him on TV at school during Wimbledon 1980, my first Wimbledon season since coming over to UK to study.
It was love at first sight, a real crush. I just thought he was wonderful, very talented, and his anger was due to frustration in not being able to do his best or better. And, don't laugh, he is also an Aquarian like me!
The house I was in (I went to a boarding school) had over 50 girls, and nearly everyone watched the 1980 Final between Borg and McEnroe, and I was one of a handful of girls who wanted him to win. Sadly, he lost, and I was gutted.
I probably did not do as well in my exams the following year as I could have done because I was watching so much tennis. And I was very ecstatic when McEnroe won the following year!
I tried getting into Wimbledon that year by queuing (exams finished by then, hence I was able to go), however, I only managed to get into one of the smaller courts, standing room only, did not manage to watch any of the top seeds, and did not enjoy the experience.
A few months after his 1981 Wimbledon victory, he played in a small indoor tournament in London, and I was able to get tickets for the final day, and a good seat too, very close to the front.
It was a great experience, to see him play live, to watch him dance across the court, taking chances close to the net, and most importantly, not a boring baseline player.
He was even more watchable when he played double with Peter Fleming. There was a saying at the time, in that the World's No. 2 Doubles Pairing was John McEnroe with anyone; and the No. 1 spot was John McEnroe with Peter Fleming. I was fortunate to watch them play live at the same indoor tournament after McEnroe had won his single's match, and of course, they won.
1981 was a great year for me, and I am not ashamed to admit I used to carry a photo cut out of a smiling John McEnroe holding the Wimbledon trophy after his win in 1981 for years!
I lost interest in tennis after he retired from the game, as no one else was as exciting and watchable after him, IMHO.
He is still great at 60, very funny and humble as a commentator and person, with a great sense of humour, as demonstrated in a recent TV documentary. He spoke fondly of Borg and is good friends with him.
As I said, 1981 was a very good year with lots of happy and fond memories!
Care to share your favourite tennis player and memories?
And thanks for reading my rambling.
DK
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