No falling down on the ground after match point, just a man's handshake. No stupid fist pumping. No grunting. A great era for tennis.

@arnoldallen3276

3 ай бұрын

Wtf are you talking about? The level of play is horrendous, I played up until I was 16 years old and would beat the breaks off of both these old timers. I think if they played any pro today it would be 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-0 to infinity

@arnoldallen3276

3 ай бұрын

They absolutely suck

@datacipher

2 ай бұрын

@@arnoldallen3276 McEnroe over Lendl 6-1 6-3 Brussels 84, Lendl over Agassi 6-2 6-3 Forest Hills 89, Agassi over Federer 6-1 6-2 6-4 US Open 2001, but YEAH...you'd KILL McEnroe - with laughter.

@arnoldallen3276

2 ай бұрын

@@datacipher prime mcenroe beat baby lendl, prime lends beat baby agassi, prime agassi beat baby federer. Maaan you must’ve worked your ass off to find those matches well done bookworm

@arnoldallen3276

2 ай бұрын

@@datacipher you’re a real student of the game congrats

Man, Nike had the coolest clothes back then. If only I could’ve had that McEnroe jacket

@Turbominchia2

Жыл бұрын

If only I could've had that McEnroe serve

You can see a little bit of Pete’s game in Paul.

@HeeJunFan

Жыл бұрын

Had the same thought

Why only the highlights?! These matches of the 80s are far better than what we see today in tennis.

I grew up watching this tennis, so many great points.

I saw Annacone play on an outside court at Wimbledon one year. He charged the net at every opportunity he could. He was like a cat at the net.

@mweymar

Жыл бұрын

(Didn't want to hit too many groundstrokes...)

@CJZM7777

5 ай бұрын

I saw Annacone play McEnroe in an indoor exhibition. It was a race to see who could get to the net first. Annacone was coming in on all of Mc's 2nd serves and even some of the first serves too.

Of course not the power of todays tennis, but much more variety of styles , personalities and entertainment!

Alternative title: How the mighty have fallen. Btw., USTA, could you feed us some matches of Mac in his prime?

Pat Cash said there has never been a player further ahead of the field than McEnroe in 1984.

Paul Annacone. Very underrated net rusher, one of the best.

Beginning of the end in 1986; he was never the same player after his break in early 1986

During this period McEnroe looked like a scarecrow skeleton, lost power, and wasn’t as sharp. He claimed after that he had thought losing weight would be good to regain his awesome quickness and be easier on knees. I do wonder if the reputed partying and drug use during this time played a part however.

@leecodd6857

Жыл бұрын

tatum and coke ruined mac

@vijaynarsapur147

Жыл бұрын

He had no concept of training... None of the new guys that came after him had his cat like quickness, or stamina, or imagination. But his self abuse did him in...what a tragedy for our sport...

@TennisOnAction

Жыл бұрын

@@leecodd6857 is that true he does drugs?

@sco3putt

Жыл бұрын

@@TennisOnAction He admitted to coke.

@TennisOnAction

Жыл бұрын

@@sco3putt wow he still good player.

This match tells me it wasn’t just the power game that chased McEnroe out, but rather he lost sharpness and quickness. Annacone was hardly a power player, but rather charged the net as much as he could. But Mac looks frail and thin here. Also, his 2nd serve was never the same.

@KingCast65

Жыл бұрын

Kinda... and the fact that he returned more focused much later in '92 supports your position but believe me all the power all the time was gonna be rough for even Mac to deal with in the new era.

@SuperHammaren

Жыл бұрын

@@KingCast65 This is Mcenroe after a long absence from tennis right? Or I remember wrong?

@KingCast65

Жыл бұрын

@@SuperHammaren It was like a year IIRC quite some time plus his other demons and distractions at the time.

@smftrsddvjiou6443

Жыл бұрын

@@SuperHammaren Yes, almost a year, during which he became a junkie.

@MichaelJamesLorinReviews-wg8br

2 ай бұрын

It looks drug use had taken over his life. He was half athlete and half drug user during this time. That was the big distraction. His talent did not abandon him.

JOHN had the best Volleys of all time.

@uncletony6210

Жыл бұрын

I think Rafter and Edberg had better.

@uncletony6210

Жыл бұрын

He lost this match on the exact same high/sitter volley that he hit to lose the 84 FO.

@richcampbell6808

Жыл бұрын

@@uncletony6210 Lol. Not

@uncletony6210

Жыл бұрын

@@richcampbell6808 Mac had better touch and possibly quicker hands but he couldn't handle pace like Rafter and Edberg. Also, they were able to generate more pace off they're volleys. This is why John had little to no success against the likes of Courier, Andre, and Pete; whereas Rafter and Edberg could hold their own against those guys. *There's the Truth you were seeking.

@richcampbell6808

Жыл бұрын

@@uncletony6210 Because Edberg and Rafter used newer better technology racket. Mac just came off wood so he used a very weak racket. Rafter won hardly anything and not close .

MASSIVE CHOKE on match point...that's the EXACT same shot he missed against Lendl at the French Open in '84

Remember watching this match in the middle of the day on USA. It was highly anticipated due to Mac’s return. Back then, six months layoff was noticeable and people realized how boring tennis was without Mac.

@mrbungle7586

9 ай бұрын

Same. Mac looked good for a set. After loosing, I thought at the time, he'll never get back to 84 form.

@drewdewolf7817

3 ай бұрын

​@@mrbungle7586and he didn't

QUE MARAVILLA TODO TALENTO

This had to be the dullest US Open ever. McEnroe loses 1st Round, Connors out in 3rd round. Just one 5 set match in the 15 matches from 4th round to finals. Brutal.

@hangarby10

11 ай бұрын

Yes! I thought the same! First USO final since ‘73 and no Connors/Mac! Lendl vs Mecir? Zzzzz

... much more entertaing than contamporary tennis!

@patoconnor9600

Жыл бұрын

Could not agree more!

@Wheredyougoimissyouso

Жыл бұрын

This is real tennis. Nadal and Djokovic are Drug Cheats

@tennnis498

Жыл бұрын

They both would pull up their chin when hitting a backhand or volley. Nobody does that anymore, they keep the head and chin still.

@hotstixx

Жыл бұрын

It's patty cake compared to today..women today hit much harder than that.

@tennnis498

Жыл бұрын

@@hotstixx 💯

そーなんだよねー マックはサーブ＆ボレーのプレーヤーなのにパッシングが抜群に上手いんだよなー

Anche quando perdeva John dava sempre spettacolo.

Mac looks fine, a little less power, like 1981 with Dunlop Maxply Fort. Annacone played very well and it's a first-round match. Mac went on a winning tear after the Open and remember he played well against Becker in August. It's a myth that the layoff hurt him; took more time for his game to deteriorate

@fundhund62

Жыл бұрын

Not a myth at all. In the words of Wally Masur, after his six month hiatus "he was the same person but not the same player".

Mac had a beautiful tennis game to watch!

OK, so this was not McEnroe at his best, but as far as volleying goes he remains the champ

At this point, the power game began to take shape: powerful serves and groundstrokes. It began with Lendl and his power game when he broke through for his first GS title at the 84 French Open (ironically over McEnroe) and has evolved into today's game. McEnroe couldn't handle the power game that was evolving; his last great stand was in the 1990 US Open when he reached the semis at 31 (which back then was old) but lost to Pete Sampras in straight sets.

@nickmandis6513

Жыл бұрын

He did struggle with power. However I think he had a hamstring injury in late 84 which he never rehabilitated properly. This affected his speed going into 85 and he was never the same. In that 1990 semi he did manage to take a set off Sampras.

@smftrsddvjiou6443

Жыл бұрын

Yes, however actually McEnroe won the third set against Sampras.

@olivernorth1993

Жыл бұрын

Could not agree with you more! Super insight Jon

@Silk1970

10 ай бұрын

The last great stand was the Australian open in 1992, where he produced a vintage performance to defuse defending champion Boris Becker in straight sets and won a classic encounter against Emilio Sanchez in 5 sets.

Fast forwarded it to the end and I was right. I remember this match, because McEnroe does not push a sitter-volley wide at a crucial time. I was a kid when I watched this, and I remember chuckling to myself about how angry he would be, although I wanted McEnroe to win. McEnroe loses in the first round. The air is out of the balloon, as far as excitement.

@guardiancarthur

Жыл бұрын

French Open 1984, match point down: misses forehand volley wide, off Lendl's return of serve. Not exactly a trope, but it's easily done.

mac took 6 mos off and it showed: his serve lost some pop, which is death for volleyer

Loved the game back then. Much more fun watching serve volleyers playing. Now it's just bigger rackets and slamming the ball back and forth like robots. 1...2...3......

Annacone way less effective on the touch volleys / drops around the net - but very effective everywhere else

I love McEnroe but he never adjusted to the modern player during each year of the tennis era. No weight lifting, no training and no adjustment to his game. Yes, the hamstring injury and the time off did not serve him well, but to rely on his past talents is what did him in. Man! I suffered every time he lost. Especially to Edberg in the Wimbledon semifinals in 89 and 91. He will always be my favorite along with Novak, Pat Cash and Goran.

I had exactly the same hairstyle in 1986.

exciting bang bang attacking tennis from both sides of the net - love this match

Mac was done The weed and lifestyle finished after 84

Sampras chosen coach 👍.

Another one of those clips that should come with a warning: Keep away from the comment section. At your own risk. We decline all responsibilities.

This match was unfortunately an example of Mac's career during his later years. He flattered to deceive but was just a shadow of the player he had been in the early 80s

McEnroe on his way towards regaining shape, there. Spectacular tennis player, all in all

the 2nd round match annacone played against krickstein was even better than this one, it went to a 5th set tiebreak with krickstein winning the match.

Folks busting Mac but the prodigious talent is still clearly visible. The mind and heart simply weren’t there anymore. A skinny, focused Mac would have mopped the floor with Annacone.

Annecone hit 23 aces, and they show only the last one lol

Annacone had a superb backhand and could mix up his game with his approaches to the net. It was always an interesting game when Mac was on the court, whoever he was playing against...

That was a real turning point of McEnroe's professional career. That was the beginning of his declining. At least from my point of view, he already lost a step and will power for seeking a victory. No one ever doubt for McEnroe's talent, and Paul Annacone was not especially strong opponent for McEnroe when he was at his prime because Annacone does not especially obtain fast step on the court nor sharp angle of his 1st serve. Annacone never won, but McEnroe lost a match. He should have retired from professional of the tennis in the end of 1985.

@smftrsddvjiou6443

Жыл бұрын

Yes, just look at his first volley position after his serve. Almost a step behind the T-line. So he was forced to take a lot of half volleys, what is always a bad idea, or he could not reach the return at all.

McEnroe didn’t transition from wood to graphite rackets well. He couldn’t handle the power players were now getting.

@capricornmagic63

Жыл бұрын

With all due respect, you have no idea what you're talking about.

@michaelgarza8271

Жыл бұрын

82-3 in 1984... I think that idea is a misconception. There were other factors.

@tennnis498

Жыл бұрын

@@michaelgarza8271 Must have made Annacone proud. I believe Mac set a record that year that remains unbroken. Highest winning %.

@michaelgarza8271

Жыл бұрын

@@tennnis498 The difference between the McEnroe of 84 and the McEnroe of this match is utterly shocking.

@michaelgarza8271

Жыл бұрын

@@tennnis498 McEnroe was otherworldly great that year. He is my favorite tennis player of all time. The footage of him closing in on the net in 1984...Even for him, that was such a crazy level...to be destroying Lendl on the clay of Roland Garros for 2 sets... I started watching him after his prime and was astounded when I saw what he had been before. This footage here is disturbing. Something went so terribly, tragically wrong. No player captures my imagination like him. No one.

Tennis has obviously evolved. They have become too obvious with too frequent going to the net. Their talent is visible, but the style of play from the modern perspective is very naive.

Tennis became a burden for Mac

McEnroe already looked so slow.

Mac looking like a homeless guy here!

So sad to see

I’m laughing . Mac was such a brat…

Thank you Tatum O’Neal ...🙂

Annacone still holds the record for being the nerdiest-looking tennis player on tour.

@alanchong7513

9 ай бұрын

He's has good enough intellect and coaching ability to coach Sampras and Federer. The old adage 'never judge a book by its cover.'

Gosh, that was such bad tennis. How in the world did McEnroe lose to him?

@rjamesyork

Жыл бұрын

I don’t know, but I bet it was your fault

@datacipher

Жыл бұрын

Look at mcenroe’s body here.

@Mangoshake2021

Жыл бұрын

Coked out with Tatum the night before

@silviosarunic3234

Жыл бұрын

Learn who Paul was!

@datacipher

Жыл бұрын

@@silviosarunic3234 a fine coach who had an ok singles career with 3 titles and 1 slam quarterfinal and a fine doubles career? Lol. You’re comparing him to one of the all time greats and arguably the most talented player in many areas to ever play. A man who was unbeatable only 2 years before. It’s a fair question. Not sure why you’d think it not so.

John best him 6 times. Obviously John had his number

Very different from what Tennis is today… Which is good, I don’t like watching net play

Crackenroe