Lendl–McEnroe rivalry
John McEnroe (7 Singles slams) dominated ATP in first half of 1980s.
Ivan Lendl (8 Singles slams) dominated ATP in second half of 1980s.
This was a tennis rivalry between Czech Ivan Lendl, and American John McEnroe, who met in their careers 36 times between 1980 and 1992.[1][2] They met over 60 times in total in tournament play. It is one of the most notable tennis rivalries of the open era.[3] Their most memorable match was in Roland Garros in 1984, when Lendl came from two sets down to win the final.[3]
Head to head
Official matches (Lendl 21–15 McEnroe)
Legend (Lendl – McEnroe) |
Grand Slam (7–3) |
Masters (3–2) |
WCT Finals (1–2) |
Davis Cup (1–0) |
ATP Masters Series (1–0) |
ATP International Series (8–8) |
- Note: WEA indicates a match canceled due to weather, does not count as a victory.
Year | Tournament | Surface | Round | Winner | Score |
1980 | Milan | Carpet | SF | John McEnroe | 6–3, 1–6, 6–2 |
1980 | US Open | Hard | QF | John McEnroe | 4–6, 6–3, 6–2, 7–5 |
1981 | French Open | Clay | QF | Ivan Lendl | 6–4, 6–4, 7–5 |
1981 | Davis Cup, New York City | Hard | QF | Ivan Lendl | 6–4, 14–12, 7–5 |
1981 | Masters, New York City | Carpet | SF | Ivan Lendl | 6–4, 6–2 |
1982 | WCT Finals, Dallas | Carpet | F | Ivan Lendl | 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
1982 | Canadian Open, Toronto | Hard | SF | Ivan Lendl | 6–4, 6–4 |
1982 | US Open | Hard | SF | Ivan Lendl | 6–4, 6–4, 7–6 |
1982 | Masters, New York City | Carpet | F | Ivan Lendl | 6–4, 6–4, 6–2 |
1983 | U.S. Pro Indoor, Philadelphia | Carpet | F | John McEnroe | 4–6, 7–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
1983 | WCT Finals, Dallas | Carpet | F | John McEnroe | 6–2, 4–6, 6–3, 6–7, 7–6 |
1983 | Wimbledon | Grass | SF | John McEnroe | 7–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
1983 | San Francisco | Carpet | F | Ivan Lendl | 3–6, 7–6, 6–4 |
1983 | Masters, New York City | Carpet | F | John McEnroe | 6–3, 6–4, 6–4 |
1984 | U.S. Pro Indoor, Philadelphia | Carpet | F | John McEnroe | 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
1984 | Donnay Indoor Championships, Brussels | Carpet | F | John McEnroe | 6–1, 6–3 |
1984 | WCT Tournament of Champions, Forest Hills | Clay | F | John McEnroe | 6–4, 6–2 |
1984 | World Team Cup, Düsseldorf | Clay | F | John McEnroe | 6–3, 6–2 |
1984 | French Open | Clay | F | Ivan Lendl | 3–6, 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 7–5 |
1984 | US Open | Hard | F | John McEnroe | 6–3, 6–4, 6–1 |
1984 | Masters, New York City | Carpet | F | John McEnroe | 7–5, 6–0, 6–4 |
1985 | WCT Tournament of Champions, Forest Hills | Clay | F | Ivan Lendl | 6–3, 6–3 |
1985 | World Team Cup, Düsseldorf | Clay | F | Ivan Lendl | 6–7, 7–6, 6–3 |
1985 | Volvo International, Stratton Mountain | Hard | F | John McEnroe | 7–6, 6–2 |
1985 | Canadian Open, Montreal | Hard | F | John McEnroe | 7–5, 6–3 |
1985 | US Open | Hard | F | Ivan Lendl | 7–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
1987 | Volvo International, Stratton Mountain | Hard | F | WEA | WEA |
1987 | US Open | Hard | QF | Ivan Lendl | 6–3, 6–3, 6–4 |
1988 | French Open | Clay | R16 | Ivan Lendl | 6–7, 7–6, 6–4, 6–4 [4] |
1989 | Australian Open | Hard | QF | Ivan Lendl | 7–6, 6–2, 7–6 |
1989 | WCT Finals, Dallas | Carpet | SF | John McEnroe | 6–7, 7–6, 6–2, 7–5 |
1989 | Canadian Open, Montreal | Hard | F | Ivan Lendl | 6–1, 6–3 |
1989 | Masters, New York City | Carpet | RR | Ivan Lendl | 6–3, 6–3 |
1990 | Toronto Indoor | Carpet | SF | Ivan Lendl | 6–3, 6–2 |
1990 | Queen's, London | Grass | SF | Ivan Lendl | 6–2, 6–4 |
1991 | Connecticut Open,Long Island | Hard | SF | Ivan Lendl | 6–3, 7–5 |
1992 | Canadian Open, Toronto | Hard | QF | Ivan Lendl | 6–2, 6–4 |
Invitational tournament matches (Lendl 16–11 McEnroe)
Year | Tournament | Surface | Round | Winner | Score |
1981 |
Rome |
Carpet |
F |
John McEnroe |
7–6, 6–4 |
1981 |
Suntory Cup, Tokyo |
Carpet |
SF |
John McEnroe |
7–6, 6–4 |
1981 |
Brooklyn Masters, Milan |
Carpet |
F |
Ivan Lendl |
6–4, 2–6, 6–4 |
1981 |
Europe vs. Americas, Barcelona |
Carpet |
RR |
John McEnroe |
4–6, 7–6, 6–1 |
1981 |
Challenge of Champions, Chicago |
Carpet |
SF |
John McEnroe |
6–1, 7–6 |
1982 |
Molson Light Challenge, Toronto |
Carpet |
F |
Ivan Lendl |
7–5, 3–6, 7–6, 7–5 |
1982 |
AKAI Gold Challenge, Sydney |
Carpet |
RR |
Ivan Lendl |
7–5, 6–2, 1–6, 4–6, 6–1 |
1982 |
Europe vs. Americas, Barcelona |
Carpet |
RR |
Ivan Lendl |
2–6, 7–5, 6–2 |
1982 |
European Community Championship, Antwerp |
Carpet |
F |
Ivan Lendl |
3–6, 7–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
1982 |
Challenge of Champions, Chicago |
Carpet |
RR |
John McEnroe |
6–3, 6–2 |
1983 |
Luxembourg |
Carpet |
F |
Ivan Lendl |
6–4, 6–2 |
1983 |
Rio Tennis Challenge, Canberra |
Carpet |
F |
John McEnroe |
6–3, 6–1 |
1984 |
AKAI Gold Challenge, Sydney |
Carpet |
RR |
John McEnroe |
7–5, 6–2, 6–1 |
1984 |
Suntory Cup, Tokyo |
Carpet |
F |
Ivan Lendl |
6–4, 3–6, 6–2 |
1985 |
The Forum Tennis Challenge, Inglewood |
Carpet |
F |
John McEnroe |
6–4, 7–6 |
1985 |
Suntory Cup, Tokyo |
Carpet |
F |
Ivan Lendl |
6–4, 6–2 |
1985 |
Meadowlands Tennis Challenge, East Rutherford |
Carpet |
F |
Ivan Lendl |
7–5, 6–4 |
1985 |
European Community Championship, Antwerp |
Carpet |
F |
Ivan Lendl |
1–6, 7–6, 6–2, 6–2 |
1985 |
Challenge of Champions, Atlanta |
Carpet |
SF |
Ivan Lendl |
7–6, 6–3 |
1986 |
The Forum Tennis Challenge, Inglewood |
Carpet |
F |
Ivan Lendl |
6–4, 3–6, 7–6 |
1986 |
Norstar Bank Hamlet Challenge Cup, Jericho |
Hard |
F |
Ivan Lendl |
6–2, 6–4 |
1986 |
Challenge of Champions, Atlanta |
Carpet |
SF |
John McEnroe |
6–4, 7–5 |
1987 |
Barcelona |
Clay |
F |
Ivan Lendl |
6–3, 3–6, 6–2 |
1987 |
Challenge of Champions, Atlanta |
Carpet |
RR |
Ivan Lendl |
5–7, 6–4, 7–6 |
1988 |
Eurocard Classic, Stuttgart |
Carpet |
RR |
John McEnroe |
7–6, 7–6 |
1988 |
Michelin Challenge, Inglewood |
Carpet |
F |
John McEnroe |
7–5, 6–2 |
1989 |
All Stars Tennis Classic, Bologna |
Carpet |
F |
Ivan Lendl |
6–4, 7–5 |
Breakdown of their rivalry
- All matches: Lendl, 37–26
- Official matches (ATP website): Lendl, 21–15
- Grand Slam finals: Lendl, 2–1
- Grand Slam matches: Lendl, 7–3
- Masters matches: Lendl, 3–2
- WCT Finals matches: McEnroe, 2–1
- Davis Cup matches: Lendl, 1–0
- Other official tournament matches: Lendl, 9–8
- Invitational tournament matches: Lendl, 16–11
- Tournament Finals (Overall): Lendl, 20–15
- Tournament Finals (Official): McEnroe, 11–8
- Carpet (Overall): Lendl, 20–19
- Carpet (Official): McEnroe, 8–6
- Clay (Overall): Lendl. 6–2
- Clay (Official): Lendl. 5–2
- Grass: Tied, 1–1
- Hard (Overall): Lendl, 10–4
- Hard (Official): Lendl, 9–4
ATP Rankings
Year-end ranking timeline
Player | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 |
/ Ivan Lendl |
|
74 |
20 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
8 |
19 |
54 |
John McEnroe |
21 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
14 |
10 |
11 |
4 |
13 |
28 |
20 |
|
|
See also
References
- ↑ "Ten great tennis rivalries". The Independent. July 8, 2008. Retrieved 2010-12-08.
Ivan Lendl v John McEnroe. Time span: '80–92 (36 matches) Head to head: Lendl 21 McEnroe 15. Grand Slam finals: Three; Lendl won two. Wimbledon: Never met in a final. Away from court, Lendl would shoot his mouth off on any subject, saying he was the best. On court, to Mac's Mr Gobby he played Mr Say Nothing and let his tennis talk.
- ↑ "Lendl-McEnroe Head to Head Rivalry". ATP World Tour. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- 1 2 "Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe". Boston Globe. 2006-08-25. Retrieved 2010-12-08.
They were hardly dining buddies and their 36 meetings (with the Czech winning 21) merely sharpened the animus, with Lendl winning 10 of their final 11 matches. Though they hooked up 10 times in Slams, only three came in finals, two of them at Flushing Meadow. Their most memorable meeting was at Paris in 1984, when Lendl came from two sets down to win.
- ↑ "Lendl rekindles McEnroe rivalry on Champions Tour". New York Times. August 3, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-08.
Lendl's meeting with McEnroe will revive a rivalry with the man that he beat in the 1984 Roland Garros final which was the American's best chance of lifting an elusive French Open title.