THE tennisreporters.net NEWSLETTER: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2
McEnroe, Wilander go head-to-head against leukemia
By Ron Cioffi
tennisreporters.net
It's been 20 years but they haven't forgotten the drama and drive of the greatest Davis Cup match ever: John McEnroe needed 6 hours and 32 minutes to eliminate Mats Wilander and Sweden from the 1982 Davis Cup competition.
So, the player with the greatest tennis touch goes mano-a-mano with the most determined brain (and some of the best passing shots) in history, it's all for charity … and bragging rights.
In a rare senior match in the US, McEnroe and Wilander will square off for the Miracle Match Foundation in its ongoing fight versus leukemia. The Hall of Fame players will play on the green clay of the Atlanta Athletic Club, Oct. 11. Mac will also face teaching pro Bill Przybysz, a leukemia victim who started the foundation.
The Swede, winner of seven Grand Slams tournaments, paused to describe how cancer has touched his life.
"My dad died 11 years ago of cancer. I found out he had it in October of 1989, only weeks after I lost to Pete Sampras at the US Open. He died in May of 1990. No smoking, no drinking, just working in the factory.
"He was always the one I called, even when I beat [Stefan] Edberg in a practice match. He was the biggest influence on my career and my life. I won only won more tennis tournament [after he died]. I just couldn't do it anymore. … I don't know why. If I knew, I would write a book," the recently named Swedish Davis Cup captain said.
Wilander's infamous descent from No. 1 to nowhere after becoming the last man to win three Slams in a year – 1981 – was colored by his father's death and the type of game he played.
"I didn't have a big serve … no big backhand. I worked two years to get to No. 1. I was even better than Ivan [Lendl] at grinding it out." He indicated that lost the ability to focus his mental determination and competitiveness.
Within recent years Wilander has grown closer to McEnroe, calling him a real friend and a more rounded tennis player. "He's better on clay today than he used to be. His strokes have gotten longer, especially his forehand," he said.
Wilander has been studying more than his game. He just put down Johnny Mac's popular autobiography, "You Cannot Be Serious."
"Playing John is a little more special" than facing other senior tour opponents. "He gives it all. I don't think it matters which match it is. I have to get a high percentage of first serves in. If you miss your hard first serve, he comes in and I have to find out quickly if my passing shots are working. … Passing shots are harder these days," Wilander conceded.
MAC TALKS ABOUT … EVERYTHING
The ever loquacious McEnroe defended his recent tennis growth. "I take pride in the effort I put into getting ready. Now, I'm not beating myself. … I liked to play people who thought I couldn't hit groundstrokes because I could hit groundstrokes. Because of the rackets, I can put more on the ball." He also reminded the media on a conference call that "if you remember all my junior national titles were on clay."
Johnny Mac noted that his role as a commentator has vastly helped him image. "I didn't show myself off well on the court. I wish I had done better." Asked if his legacy would have been hurt all we knew of his personality was from his court behavior, he answered, "That's a good point. Now I get to show my overall personality."
Here are a few of his more pointed comments:
On Pete Sampras: I talked to Pete at the Open. He said, if asked to play singles, he would have gone [to Paris]. The way he was playing and serving. We would have scared them. Maybe not beat them, but scared them.
On Davis Cup: The problem with Davis Cup was that the two people who were in the finals [of the US Open] were not in the Davis Cup. Ideally, it's best for the sport if they were there. … It's sad to see the Davis Cup has lost part of its luster. It's frustrating to see there's so little change. It doesn't make sense to have the Davis Cup in the same year as the Olympics.
On Wilander: I could always tell he was the best competitor mentally. Rarely, if ever, beat himself
On playing for charity: I hope the fact that I hit a pretty good tennis ball helps make people sit up and take notice.
On cutting prize money: Good! Doubles players sell zero tickets. At this point I don't even advocate the doubles. … I'm someone who loves doubles. I believe players can improve by playing some doubles.
On his book: [Boris] Becker said he liked it. But I think he only read the parts about himself. I didn't want to get others in trouble. I wanted to get myself in trouble.
On Williams sisters: Their final was the hardest match I've had to call. It somehow doesn't feel right. … People want them to be there [in the finals]. And then people don't want them to be there. That's just the way it is.
On Andy Roddick: With him it's all mental. His backhand is a liability, compared to his forehand. He froze up when he lost to who might be the best player of all time [Sampras at the US Open]. That's a lesson. His confidence is not what it was. It's always tougher to stay there then to get to there, no matter the level.
On playing the net: I happen to have used my hands. Guys who come to net will beat a backcourt player.
On senior tour in US: I don't want to use the term "life support." It's a difficult economy. It's good to see Becker, [Michael] Stich and Edberg playing in Europe.
On the tennis calendar: Make a nine-month schedule like other sports. The top players would be able to play at their best whenever they play.
On the 1980s: I'm biased but that was a magical time. I had two great rivals: Borg and Connors. It was about personalities.
On Arthur Ashe: He hide his rage. That's more difficult that he did than what I did [letting it all out].
On the tennis establishment: The sport's crying out for a commissioner. We need to get the players to do some of the things they might not want to do, like work with the media and charity events.
