Björn Borg vs Ivan Lendl Masters F 1981 

What a match by Borg, my favorite athlete ever and the guy who made me take up the game seriously. Seeing from this low angle really shows that even with the old wood rackets and gut strings these two guys CRUSHED the ball (much harder than it appears from the high angled camera shots we usually get). If Borg played today with all of the latest gear and training, I feel sure he would have held his own against the big three. His court coverage is stunning! And he hits so well from both sides and he literally never fatigues even after these brutally long rallies with Ivan. He was a one-of-a- kind. I saw this live on CBS and was so worried the new phenom Lendl would beat my guy and as you can hear the announcers were sort of favoring Ivan but Borg won in straights, and I was thrilled that not even the young phenom was going to surpass him any time soon. It was really only McEnroe's serve and volley that gave Borg trouble back then and probably made Borg lose interest. I was so sad when he left the game at only 26. 26!! My second favorite player Djokovic was just getting started at 26, or so it seemed, and he's still dominating ten years later. How many slams might Borg have won if he had sustained his interest another five years or so, and if he had bothered to go down under more than the one time?

If Bjorn Borg stayed on tour till at least majority of the 80s, borg v lendl could have had an epic rivalry. There was glimpses of that.

They are ripping the ball! Today these guys with modern equipment, training, medicine, food, etc.. would be right on the top.

Wow, I needed this to remember how hard Borg hit his forehand, Lendl trying to keep to Borg’s backhand. And Borg’s speed is incredible!

I have NEVER seen a player in all my years of watching tennis, who was as mentally strong as Borg....his groundstroke consistency is unparalleled and he is probably the fastest tennis player in the history of the sport.....He is absolutely the greatest player of all time

Borg won 6 French and 5 Wimbledons before he turned 26. He was a way, way, better athlete than he gets credit for. It's impossible to compare eras with the change in technology but had he played with Fed, Nadal, and Djoker he would have given them all they could handle. He was faster than all of them, had s complete game, and was clutch as hell. He also cracked the ball with a Donnay wood racket strung at 80. If you think Fed, Nadal and Djokovic would have overpowered him think again. You can easily argue Bjorn was better than all of them. Remember he 3 peated the French and Wimbledon and two weeks apart. That's insane.

They are pounding the crap out of the ball.....those were the greatest times of tennis....two of the greatest champions of all time....amazing display

IceBorg was like a god, without doubt the greatest tennis palyer ever, forever

I just love how Borg glides at the baseline, getting to impossible balls and in such an elegant manner, wonderful. the best mover ever.

borg is just the most incredible mover, i never realised how good he was, i was young, but now can appreciate it! fantastic tennis from these 2

IMO this was the best match Borg ever played indoors.

Borg's groundstrokes are a thing of beauty. His backhand was not a 2-hander or a 1-hander...it was something in between. He started with 2 hands and ended with one. You'll never see another player produce a backhand in quite the same way. His game was as smooth as his unassuming demeanor and good looks. That's why nearly everyone loved him.

I have been lucky and old enough to have watched Borg live (2 exhibitions in Mexico City) and Roger, Rafa and Novak at Cincinnati. Bjorn was my teenage idol and still is my favorite player, followed by Roger. This video will help me backup my preferences when I discuss them with others. He was fast, smooth and lethal...and clutch!

The sound coming off of Borg’a wooden racquet was unique and special.

Borgs "first step to the ball" speed is just incredible. His movement around the court is legendary. What a shock to the sport to have him retire so early.

I agree with the vast majority of comments here. Not sure I ever saw Borg play better. Exceptional quickness, anticipation, placement and overall strategy. And it is devastating to think after that years' US Open he would retire. From 8:50 to 9:20 he takes the best pounding Lendl can possibly offer and wins both rallies on passing shots; first a backhand down the line, then on the next rally with a running forehand crosscourt. Tremendous stuff. Just a sight to behold.

Contrary to popular belief, This leading into 1982 was Lendls best form regarding level of play, win loss record and tournament victories for the year. He just had no slam to show for it. Lendl actually looks like he hits a bit more freely and with more explosive power here than mid to late eighties. Yet he is being crushed by Borg. It's astonishing to witness the two players. Everything lendl can do borg can do with an extra 20%.

Looking back on this now, it is incredible what Borg was able to do with a tiny wooden racquet. I wonder how Federer and Nadal would do playing with a 80s era wood racquet.

This is the craziest effin' tennis I've ever seen. This is tennis played at its top level with two of the all-time greats at their peak and in their prime both playing well, feeling it, and crushing the ball consistently on every shot. Something to behold that very few people can do.

Watching Borg move around the court is just poetry in motion. Unsurpassed until this day.

Borg's backhand is the greatest stroke in tennis history. The man was a machine!

This is the best I’ve ever seen Borg play. Insane to think he quit soon after this.

Two of the top 5 greatest players of all time consistently crushing the ball with very few errors. I played fairly high level competitive tennis and this is some of the best tennis I have ever seen.

Borg is poetry in motion

For anyone who thinks Borg would be overpowered by today’s big hitters, I would direct you to this match which took place on a fast indoor surface. Lendl is hitting it absolutely huge even by today’s standards and Borg - with a wooden racket! - was matching him stroke for stroke and ultimately prevailed not only in this match but again against Lendl later that year in the French Open finals. After watching this match, my only doubt about Borg being able to be a top-level player in today’s game vanished. Armed with today’s technology, Borg would have won his fair share of majors no doubt. Borg’s anticipation, speed, patience, and stamina are unmatched. I think Rafa still beats him more often than not on clay, but Borg would give him a hellacious time of it.

Este Borg de 1981 juega a un nivel altísimo, es una pena que se retirara

I always watch this video; for me it will remain the Everest of the tennis all time. Djokovic, Federer, Nadal would have had the same end of the poor Lendl. Bjorn Borg was absolutely unbeateble, he reached the perfection in this final. He will be forever the no 1 all time. He is the Highlander Viking. Thank you, King Bjorn

Watching this makes me happy and sad in equal parts. I still can't believe he would be retired within 2 years of this match. Borg is my favorite player of all time, right in front of Federer. And I truly think his talent was underrated. He was seen only as a baseliner but even in this match you could see how decently he played at the net. He was no McEnroe, mind you, but he was willing to get up there and end the points at the net. His movement was superb as well.

...thanks so much for this upload...I think it's easy to forget how great Borg really was ....those are some of the most amazing passing shots ...worthy of Rafa! ...watching this I don't think the game has changed that much ...its the technology that's tweeked the game ...remember, Borg is playing with a wooden Donnay racket ....(three o f which I have in my closet and which are still playable, but I prefer my Babolat!)....long live BORG!

Borg is doing it all here and even Lendl has no answer for him. He is playing a complete game and is even volleying well. See the Akai Open where he demolishes Mac in '82, if memory serves.

Borg was incredible (in this match).

Very interesting to watch Borg's technique. His backhand is one of a kind!

B.Borg was really, REALLY good. he's playing with his Donnay black woodie, right ? add 10 -15 % for a modern frame/ strings, he's easily in the current ' big 3' class, I think better.

This was Masters 1980 (played in Jan 1981)

Lendl plays like a demigod here but Borg is playing like a god. Lendl is punishing the ball and Borg chases everything down, making some passing shots that are miraculous. I think he is playing better than ever and it is a shame that he quit so young. His footwork is remarkable. There was nobody who was so fluid and beautiful to watch. I still feel sad when i think about that early retirement. Today's players are wonderful, but Borg, Conners, and Mac inspired everyone to take to the court for a time.

Que maravilla, puse el volumen alto para escuchar los impactos, que tecnica por favor!!!!!!!!!!!

Super, super, super, Superman !! Bjorn will be forever the no 1 !!

They both played amazing, shocked at the level of play and how hard they are thumping it from the baseline with these old shitty rackets with hardly any unforced errors, probably the oldest most ferocious game I've seen, very intense for its year.

Les tics de Lendl étaient légendaires,remettre son épaule en place après un passing-shot,la poignée de sciure de bois dont il remplissait sa poche ,la façon dont il ajustait son manche et bloquait avant de servir ...ou essayer sa raquettes avec sa serviette...sans parler des ses mouvements d assouplissement,droite gauche de la tête...génial ce joueur

It's interesting to to that people talk about how the game has changed, how it's quicker, etc. but watching this would lead one to doubt. Sure, Borg vs.Johhny Mac appeared slower, but I think it was mainly due to Mac's serve/volley, and precise placement, but these to are crushing the ball. It's not that far removed from today's game. Lendl hits like Tsonga, and look at Bjorn's "Carriage Whip", and those running forehand winners, switching defense to offense. He was the Nadal prototype.. Way, way better than the equipment available at the time..n( including the shoes.. Just watching him run like that in those basic sneakers makes my 42 y.o. body ache, lol)

He was a really incredible player and athlete. Far ahead of his time.

I think these few matches that Lindl had with Borg, are at least part of the reason why he decided to increase his level of fitness...

..in my dream I see Bjorn and Rafa trading eccentric heavy top spin ground strokes forever ....many thanks for this lengthy video ...

Ivan’s like a fluid machine! He moves around the court with such grace and effortless power! Prob the pioneer of the power game!!

This match reinforces the sadness I feel about Borg's early retirement. I think in '81 Borg was at the top of his game. Both in this match and in the 1981 us open semis against Connors, Borg is seen with a more aggressive, faster game, a forehand that beyond being the "king of topsin" seems to me even flatter and faster than in previous years. I think that despite the disappointments he suffered against Mcenroe in '81, he should have waited a little longer and most likely would have found the mental strength to defeat him again. I know it's strange to say that about Borg, but watching the matches against Mcenroe in '81 I feel that with him the only thing that happened was that he didn't know how to sustain the advantages he gained in the match, losing break points or important chances to win sets, regardless of the good match that Mcenroe played

I remember this match very well it's actually the only time I saw Borg so angry and willing to punish his opponent hitting the ball like he was using his fists. Wfy? Because a few weeks before in Basel, Switzerland Lendl beat him in 5 sets behaving like an a* and cheating as much as he could. The funny thing is Lendl was a huge Borg fan but that day he acted like an idiot and in NYC he got what he deserved. Nobody ever moved as well as Borg did on a court and he really was one of the greatest of all time and a legend in his time. Thanks for sharing this video!

Borg was so incredibly fast and his timing with that wood racket was unbelievable....I'm surprised Lendl's arm didn't fall off after the match, those were some fantastic rallies...

Darn! Borg played so good

Semi Open Stance in almost all forehand by Borg, this is what I call Modern Tennis !

Borg = The Tennis God of fitness

At the time tennis experts said that Borg had the ability to anticipate where the opponent was going to hit. At 3:58 he demonstrates that.

Pretty ruthless hitting by both these great players, at least as good as anything you’ll see in today’s game…. And Borg, what an Amazing Athletic player he was, almost impossible to get the ball past him!!

It's interesting how many 1st volley winners Borg hit off decent shots.

7:15 : i've never seen a shot like IceBorg made. No other tennis player in the history would made a shot like it; phisically impossibile !!!!! Borg at His best - like in the Master 1980 final - would have easily destroyed Federer, Nadal, Djokovic; they would have had the same end of the poor Lendl, who was reduced to a sparring partner role. In the same tournament IceBorg won against McEnroe,Connors, Lendl: impossible to any other no 1 in era open !!! Highlander Viking will be forever the no 1

I saw Bjorn playing. Incredible speed and smooth moving. Really not a dream this guy was a animal on court like a guepard or something approach.

My two favorites of all time🎾👍 Wow what rally’s 💪

That running pass by Borg at 9:20 wow!

The greatest of the great - Ivan Lendl. Pity that he played during probably the toughest era of male tennis as he would have otherwise won way more than 8 slams. He certainly deserved to win more.

Borg a été plus complet comparé à un joueur comme Lendl... Il a réussi à adapter son jeu sur gazon...Et pas le gazon actuel qui a été "ralenti"...réussir à battre un joueur comme Mcenroe ( mon modèle ) il fallait le faire ! Il perd en 81 mais normal le coeur n'y était plus... Borg était un joueur exeptionnel...Il ne se déplacer pas sur le cour..c'était majestueux !

The Best tennis Player ever ; nobody like BJORN ; THE KING OF HIS ERA

Borg is the best of all time. If you look at his ground strokes, they are pinpoint accurate. He's using a heavy tiny head racquet that today's players couldn't use. In fact, none of today's players would stand a chance against Borg if they had to use the same tiny heavy racquets. Borg also retired at age 26. Stop and think about that fact.

Absolutely Borg's athleticism is overlooked. I think it has to with his demeanor. He is so laid back it almost comes across as passive. Even his body is deceptive. He has those hunched over shoulders which also play into a closed look. Looks stiff when he walks around but so agile when in action. He is anything but passive and closed when moving laterally and preparing by quick foot work to the ball. Just not your typical athletic upper body type. I think is a great thinker also. Strategist. Always thinking about how the point is going and how to set it up a couple of shots ahead. Always on the move with anticipation. Great footwork technique. Lots to still learn from the man if one really watches.

I enjoyed all ten pixels of this

Incredible that Bjorn Borg is playing Ivan Lendl with a wood racket, Awesome❗

"What a terrific point"!❤

Borgs backhand is so unique wow

You can get a feel for it here, namely Borg's outrageously fast and smooth movement. I was lucky enough to see him play and although only a kid I even then knew I was watching a truly unique player as his speed of movement and accuracy of same was beyond incredible. Here it is as if he says 'I know I am in great shape and can run down any ball you send but I will also use the game to work on my fitness, too'. He just never looks in danger of losing, even though Lendl is hitting shots few other players back than and maybe even now would be able to get to.

That 48 stroke rally...wow...

Incredible how they hit the ball so hard with those old racquets.

I have never really seen Borg play like this (I haven’t been watching) and I’m impressed. He’s very fast and good. Lendl seemed to have some options and chances he didn’t take advantage of like going down the line a little when borg was running around his backhand.

I actually admired the player Lendl became. What I wrote about Borg being the greatest player of all time is of course only my personal opinion. You make an interesting observation about Lendl not yet having his devastating backhand and I'm so/so on the issue, because this match isn't too far away from their French final where Lendl's backhand was well on display. I could easily say that the Lendl backhand would be nullified by Borg switching to a graphite racket himself. To each his own....

Borg was on a completely different level to lendl. The master giving a tennis lesson to a student.

Only two words...Bjorn Borg....a real gentleman ...no shout...respect Vs everyone on court....

What a favor Bjorn Borg did all of the players in the 80's. Imagine how much trouble Bjorn could have caused these guys if he hadn't have retired in 81?

@kchuk1965 Thanks for the answer. It sounds like a step forward and step back and not having watched that much tennis in recent years I can't tell if the overall effect is that the game and points are longer or shorter. To me a longer rally is always far more interesting than a short one. I did watch highlights from the 2011 U.S. Open final and it's definitely more of what I enjoy about the game.

imagine to see bjorn play at his best in HD televisions ! will fantastic ... today the players not such talent :( like connors mac enroe borg nastase panatta etc etc etc ...

que gran competidor Ivan Lendl, siempre saludando cordialmente al rival a pesar de haber perdido.... a pesar de ser medio parco en cancha..

Borg didn't look tired of tennis! Technically is best match ever. His balance was from another planet!

Impressionante!

Ive never seen borg better than this! What he would have accomplished the following years with a graphite racket we will never know, but I’m pretty sure he would won some more GS. Unbelievable he won as many GS without competing in AO

Do you guys think the level at the top has increased at all since this time? Especially considering the racket and the strings they were using, I don't think it has.

To this day I still feel a little anger towards Borg with him retiring and depriving us of at least 5 more years of us having him, McEnroe, Connors, and an ascendant Lendl at the top of their games.

This is probably the best of Borg. It is heartbreaking to watch this in a way. Tennis lost so much when he retired early, a great athlete and a great human being. His modesty is remarkable, especially in contrast to Lendl who was known to be disrespectful to his opponents. For example, he once told Brad Gilbert that he could beat him if he was on his deathbed. He made similar comments to Michael Chang. Lendl was no gentleman but he was a great palyer.

hey, its just HARD to beat a guy on a regular basis, who positioned himself the way Borg did....he was like the immovable object, so to speak..which just means, it was damn hard to get him off balance. Ivan actually had more power than Borg..and he could smack a backhand harder than Borg could with two hands. But again, no matter how hard Ivan struck the ball, he just could not get Borg off balance, to keep him off balance. And that nightmare, started with Bjorn's footwork...which to my mind, as many times as I watched him play the game, was his best weapon

Views from Amit Kamdar - i saw the match first on video casette in 1989.i borrowed it frm sanjay israni. we dint get to c masters finals on doordarshan if u remember. they only showed grand slams semis and finals.having said that u know who my number one and 2 r on goat list.incidently its these 2 only.look ive already made my thoughts clear and am sure bout them.the thing was very few on this chat hv seen both these generations and played with wooden racquets ti understand wat was gng on there.and outside of the chat the media had got the general public absolutely occupied in the goat debate between todays 3 based on stats alone.and most of this public is new kids who havent seen or heard of lendl or borg.cnt say dnt blame them bt they fell trapped in the hype created by media itf commentators with vested interests.yje whole commercial juggernaut.u gt to c the skill level of borg and lendl to knw these guys r as good if not better than roger rafa novak.except roger the other two r playing this level 15 years after they started and lucky to hv the backing if 12 grands slams each for confidence.so wat was the level when they won those titles.these questioms ive raised since 4 to 5 years when the goat debate started based on slams stats.if connors has win 108 titles and lendl 96 they must hv done smthing rite.how come they werent even shortlisted for it.therein lies the answer it was all a bubble hype to just promote tennis by creating this exciting narrative of goat.the second comment is apt.most r delusional and ive observed that in their choices most r nursing their insecurity that if their theory is rejected they know less.maybe most cldnt play so the leasr they cld do was play this rubbish game called goat and try to do their oneupmanship.for me it was difficult to relate as im in a minority in my sport with laymen who habe never held a racquet arguing and trying to teach us.i can name many bt let it be.anyways it doesnt mean my choices r rite bt to qualify to make a call u gt to hv seen all 3 generations which most hv not.i keep putting this analogy which need not be the truth bt smwhere its saying wat im trying to say.show me a single very good competitive player who can stil beat mayur vasant in singles tday when he is 60 years old.u gt to understand why.maybe this video u sent explains everything.il be frank.i was shocked to hear the observations of most on this group who r all tennis players for decades and knw wat it takes.i never gave any mileage or marks to non tennis players comments anyways especialy those pretending to tell us sm basic techniques in order to claim he is qualified to comment.joke.try playing pete sampras at wimbledon in a final or lendl in flinders park in 40 degrees heat best of 5 or the great andre on arthur ashe.u need to hv serious skill to get past these guys there in their peaks. Lendls forehand is the most solid forehand in history of tennis.solid meaning controlled agression over 20 years.most difficult to excute.federers is the best attacking forehand in history over 20 years.i personsaly feel the lemdl bkhand is tecnicaly superior.rogers serve is better.volley both r good and it only mattered as much as both ended up gng that much only.reasonable times.positioning both r kings hvin been taught by the same master tony roche.both had incredinle foot speed.lendl looks less rushed and is the most organised champion in history which is a huge huge huge thing in matches.half the battle is won.and lendl has one more weapon when smbodys trying to blow him off with attacking play on a fast crt(imagine)the best passing shots in the history of tennis.on these slow surfaces imagine wat he wld hv done.and he us the fittest tennis player in the history of the game.how many wimbledons wld he hv had and how many more hatd crt titles wld he have had.temperamentaly frm a wreck he became the strongest in the history of the game.i dnt blame him for being a wreck.mcenroe cld make u that.he made borg quit.lendl cld hot 30 ball rallies constantly.it was taught to us.consistency won u points just like attacking.its like a,slot machine.it cms later in the match and suddenly when u c ur nt misding gives u points like a slot machine as the opponent who was technicaly avg has broken dwn.nw imagine after all these ticks in the boxes he stil is my 2nd best of all time Imagine how much more time lendl wld hv in tdays slow surfaces and the power of his forehand with tdays racquets.he changed to a ridiculously good serve and volleyer to win one wimbledon as playing frm the back and beating becker and edberg on fast grass to win was virtualy impossible(a feat only accomplished by andre)and he sacrificed another 2 or 3 french opens to prepare .he cld hv win 6 frenchs easily.and to nw see guys like nadal and noval winning frm the back must be heart breaking and then acclaimed as goat for the same titles is absolutely blasphemy.atleast i cnt allow that insult to my intelligence and to the game.thats why goat is not only bout slam numbers.its just one component and that heavily dependant on the level of play at the time meaning the quality of opposition.

Bjorn Borg was also known never to care about temperature. Usually he never needed to change shirt although playing hot days in Paris or Rome.

@kchuk1965 How did Wimbledon slow down their surface? I'm also confused as to how heavier balls are faster?

So these are supposed to be the boring servefest matches which encouraged the heavy slowing down of surfaces today ?

It is an interesting fact that Borg in this match showed better skill than Mats Wilander ever had and he was in the top until 89, so no doubt Borg had the ability to win many more titles.

Borg is incredible! Playing with a wooden racquet while lendl playing with an aluminum racquet, the start of racquet composition materials making incredible low percenrage shots very possible reducing unforced errors allowing players to smash the balls at will for current players. I don't think players like Nadal, Federer, Djokovic and Alcaraz can play with players in the 1970s

There are three masters and they are Lever, Borg and Federer.

@pedroV2003 In fact I'd say that I saw points in the U.S. Open highlights that simply are the best tennis points I've ever seen.

Titani del palleggio.

Borg never gets credit for being a good volleyer. To the contrary, he was often tagged as "not a great volleyer." He had his own style and flair and may not have volleyed exactly the way a textbbook would tell you, but he was actually excellent at net and won way more points at net than he lost.

This is amazing tennis. Using garbage racquets they arent that far behind the top 3 today fed, Nadal and joka and thats 40 years ago. But this match in 81 is light years ahead of just 10 years before in 1971 ,let alone 1941 . The jump in standard in just 10 years is incredible and to be only a bit behind the top players 40 years later is incredible too

Borg was so fast!

The way Borg keeps his feet and legs so far apart is very distinctive. Stefanos Tsitsipas is one of the few others who do it now.

Borg's level is very high then ! So fast and solid

Anybody who just counts slams doesn't really know much about how tennis was in the old days. Why did Borg only play the Australian Open just once? Also, todays top players plan their year around slams, not so in Borg's day. Borg won 6 French but he couldn't play in 77 as he was contracted to play Team Tennis. I say to some do your research, please. For me Borg was something else

Arthur Ashe spotted at 9:59 reading a newspaper. (!)