McEnroe 1, Cameraman, 0.
Thus was the score for the fiery three time champion in the US Open semifinals of 1982. John had won this even, his event, the last two years. Beating Bjorn Borg back-to-back made John feel good. But losing to Ivan Lendl so soon afters? Must of left a bad taste in his mouth. He'd beaten Ivan in four sets two years earlier. However, it wasn't like this was the first defeat that the American had suffered in a Grand Slam at the hands of the Czech. Indeed, a quick check of the record books shows that McEnroe had lost in the 1981 French Open quarterfinals in straight sets.
But the 1982 loss was painful. It was again straight sets, but McEnroe had to endure it in front of his fans. But, of course, this is McEnroe we are talking about! Are there any theatrics from him we've never seen before? Or up to this point?
I remember John giving the camera a nudge late in his career, circa 1991 or 1992. But in this match with Ivan a decade earlier, John saved a match point with the easy volley in the tiebreaker, tying the score 6-6 (The same score in the games' column). However...Well...Watch what happens!
That little mental lapse proved costly.
Johnny Mac had been a little ruffled earlier. See @ 7:44. And he was playing slow, which was probably to his advantage.
But from the shot of his father @ 11:11, watch!
As you can see starting @ 11:16, he's not happy! Something has to be done!
Granted, I thought McEnroe was right in the sense that the cameraman shouldn't have been so close to either player (In this case, Lendl). However, McEnroe lost all his momentum there, and the next two points. And the match!
McEnroe needed a net cord, not a camera cord in this contest!
John
McEnroe Channel. "Lendl vs McEnroe Semi Final - US Open 1982 -
12/12." YouTube. 01 Apr. 2011. Web. 07 Feb. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-EYkuNBtgs>
Thus was the score for the fiery three time champion in the US Open semifinals of 1982. John had won this even, his event, the last two years. Beating Bjorn Borg back-to-back made John feel good. But losing to Ivan Lendl so soon afters? Must of left a bad taste in his mouth. He'd beaten Ivan in four sets two years earlier. However, it wasn't like this was the first defeat that the American had suffered in a Grand Slam at the hands of the Czech. Indeed, a quick check of the record books shows that McEnroe had lost in the 1981 French Open quarterfinals in straight sets.
But the 1982 loss was painful. It was again straight sets, but McEnroe had to endure it in front of his fans. But, of course, this is McEnroe we are talking about! Are there any theatrics from him we've never seen before? Or up to this point?
I remember John giving the camera a nudge late in his career, circa 1991 or 1992. But in this match with Ivan a decade earlier, John saved a match point with the easy volley in the tiebreaker, tying the score 6-6 (The same score in the games' column). However...Well...Watch what happens!
That little mental lapse proved costly.
Things To Watch For
Johnny Mac had been a little ruffled earlier. See @ 7:44. And he was playing slow, which was probably to his advantage.
But from the shot of his father @ 11:11, watch!
As you can see starting @ 11:16, he's not happy! Something has to be done!
Granted, I thought McEnroe was right in the sense that the cameraman shouldn't have been so close to either player (In this case, Lendl). However, McEnroe lost all his momentum there, and the next two points. And the match!
McEnroe needed a net cord, not a camera cord in this contest!
References
Feinstein,
John. Hard Courts. New York: Villard, 1991. Print.
Collins,
Bud. The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia
and Record Book. Washington, D.C.: New Chapter, 2010. Print.
Haylett,
John, and Richard Evans. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of World Tennis.
New York: Exeter, 1989. Print.
Callery,
Sean. The Pictorial History of Tennis. New York: Gallery, 1990.
Print.
Amdur, Neil. "MRS. LLOYD WINS SIXTH OPEN TITLE;
LENDL OUSTS MCENROE, GAINS FINAL." The New York Times. 11 Sept.
1982. Web. 07 Feb. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/12/sports/mrs-lloyd-wins-sixth-open-title-lendl-ousts-mcenroe-gains-final.html>
