#2 5th straight Wimbledon for Borg: Bjorn Borg def John McEnroe – 14-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7(16-18), 8-6: 1980 final
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In what is very much the best of all time, one of the greatest tennis rivalries of all time surfaced in the 1980 final. Bjorn Borg vs John McEnroe, the Calm Swede against fiery American, righty vs lefty, four Wimbledons against first final.
This match had it all. Some fantastic tennis in the first set showed why McEnroe was so feared. Borg, a slow started, played poorly and McEnroe took advantage to romp home 6-1. But Borg, on the back of four straight Wimbledon wins, was not to be left behind. He rallied back to win the next two sets 7-5 and 6-3 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Wimbledon had installed a tie-break system in 1979 and the fourth set breaker showed just why it was one of the best decisions ever made at the All England Club.
What would be known as the War of 18-16, over 34 points, the two men produced some of the best tennis they could have ever come up with. McEnroe and Borg saved five match points and set points respectively. Brilliance upon more brilliance; approaches being defeated by crisp passing shots; it was everything a tennis fan could have asked for. At 16-17, Borg hit a drop shot into the net and one thought that match was done with the tie-breaker ending 18-16 to McEnroe.
The Swede, however, summoned all of his experience and his Ice Man status came to the fore when he fought back and produced a superb reversal in the fifth set losing just two points in seven service games.
McEnroe, so close to a win, could only admire his rival's mental strength.
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