The Legends Behind the Laver Cup

In 1962, he won the Grand Slam at just 24 years of age. Up until that momentous feat, the last male to win a Grand Slam was Don Budge in 1938. Three of the four majors that year came at the expense of fellow Aussie Roy Emerson – at the Australian (8-6, 0-6, 6-4, 6-4), the French (3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 9-7, 6-2), and the clincher on September 1- at the U.S. Nationals (6-2, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4). Wimbledon was earned over Aussie Marty Mulligan in straight sets (6-2, 6-2, 6-1).

When the Open Era began in 1968, he competed against the best players in the world – amateur and pro – and won five of the first seven majors contested, including his second Grand Slam in 1969 at age 31.

He began 1969 by winning his third Australian title defeating Spain’s Andres Gimeno, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5, but the semifinal against fellow Aussie Tony Roche was his finest match at the Australian Open. Playing under the brutal Australian sun for more than four hours, Laver played 90 games to defeat Roche, 7-5, 22-20, 9-11, 1-6, 6-3. In what Laver called the “best clay court match of my life,” he routinely defeated Rosewall at the French Open.

Fellow Aussie John Newcombe suffered a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 setback at Wimbledon. The US Open final was delayed several days because of rain storms and when play commenced, Laver was sliding all over the grass court, allowing Roche to take the first set, 9-7. At a changeover, Laver put on a pair of spiked shoes which he said made him feel more comfortable and led him to winning, 7-9, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 for the clinching Grand Slam victory.

Borg polarized tennis in the 1970s. Known as the “ice man” for his frosty temperament on court – never, ever letting his opponent get a hint of what was boiling inside him – Borg was the epitome of cool.

Borg was the epitome of cool. Everything from the way he walked onto the court, to his long hair that flowed to his shoulders, to the headbands he always wore, to his Donnay racquet that featured a longer leather handle to accommodate his two-handed backhand, created hysteria.

He won six French Open championships and he dominated Wimbledon like no other player capturing five consecutive titles from 1976 to 1980. His five-set marathon victory over John McEnroe in 1980 is still considered one of the greatest tennis matches in history. In 1975, he led Sweden to the Davis Cup championship.

The 1980 Wimbledon final, McEnroe’s first-ever Wimbledon final, is considered one of the finest matches in history, won by Borg, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (16-18), 8-6. The 34-point tiebreaker that decided the fourth set saw McEnroe thwart off five match points and Borg stave off six set points himself before McEnroe prevailed to force a fifth set.