Synopses & Reviews
From the moment that normally staid British tennis fans began booing like soccer hooligans as the brash and abrasive John McEnroe entered Wimbledon's Centre Court to face off against the revered, number-one-ranked Björn Borg, it was clear that something was changing. In fact, almost everything was changing.
In Epic, tennis writer Matthew Cronin takes you on an unforgettable journey back to the pivotal year of 1980 and the two landmark matches that transformed tennis from a quiet sport to a loud one, from a mostly European pastime to an American obsession, from the exclusive preserve of the country club elite to an everyman and everywoman's game. They also marked McEnroe's emergence as a superstar and the beginning of Borg's precipitous decline.
Cronin alternates crisp, thrilling accounts of the 1980 Borg/McEnroe showdowns at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, widely considered the two greatest tennis matches in history, with insightful excursions into the lives of these two great champions both on and off the court. You'll discover how Borg's long-time coach Lennart Bergelin cured the teenage Björn of some surprisingly McEnroe-like behavior and why McEnroe's coach Harry Hopman's attempt to tame his star pupil backfired completely. You'll also witness the serious locker-room consequences of McEnroe's on-court tantrums and find out why Borg sometimes felt that he had sacrificed too much in his quest for greatness.
Apart from their mutual love of tennis, the two men emerge as polar opposites: Borg, the "Ice Man," was a pure, vintage baseliner famous for the machinelike consistency of his game. His reserved, polite, and even modest behavior epitomized what many viewed as the finest traditions of tennis. "McBrat" was a slightly crazed serve-and-volleyer whose blistering outbursts against court officials offended traditionalists but whose passion for the game attracted millions of new fans to the sport.
Complete with a touching portrait of the friendship that developed between Borg and McEnroe and a heart-stopping re-creation of their unforgettable fourth-set tiebreaker at Wimbledon, Epic is must reading for anyone old enough to remember one of the greatest rivalries in sports history or young enough to have missed it.
Review
* In the late 1970s, professional tennis held a firm grip on the United States, and no two players better personified the sport's growth than cool-as-ice Swede Borg and brash New Yorker McEnroe. In his first book, Fox Sports tennis columnist Cronin captures a series of pivotal events in the evolution of the sport from European to American dominance, from wood to metal racquets, and from staid players to a colorful cast of supporting characters including Ilie Nastase, Vitas Gerulaitis, Jimmy Connors, and Guillermo Vilas. Despite its misleading subtitle, Epic recounts much than that magical 1980 season, with the marathon 1980 Wimbledon final serving as Cronin's hook. In that match, the veteran Borg (en route to his record fifth consecutive Wimbledon title) outlasted the upstart Mac (who grew up with a Borg poster on his bedroom wall) in a five-set showdown. Chapters containing point-by-point analysis of that match take advantage of the author's seasoned knowledge of the game, and a lengthy denouement recounts Mac's revenge against Borg at the 1980 U.S. Open. Although it appears he didn't have personal access to his protagonists, Cronin gets to the heart of Borg's genius and explores the catalyst for McEnroe's ugly on-court temperament, while providing context with historical and pop-culture references and mostly avoiding melodramatic play-by-play prose. (Apr.) (PublishersWeekly.com, 16 May 2011)
Review
In the late 1970s, professional tennis held a firm grip on the United States, and no two players better personified the sport's growth than cool-as-ice Swede Borg and brash New Yorker McEnroe. In his first book, Fox Sports tennis columnist Cronin captures a series of pivotal events in the evolution of the sport from European to American dominance, from wood to metal racquets, and from staid players to a colorful cast of supporting characters including Ilie Nastase, Vitas Gerulaitis, Jimmy Connors, and Guillermo Vilas. Despite its misleading subtitle, Epic recounts much than that magical 1980 season, with the marathon 1980 Wimbledon final serving as Cronin's hook. In that match, the veteran Borg (en route to his record fifth consecutive Wimbledon title) outlasted the upstart Mac (who grew up with a Borg poster on his bedroom wall) in a five-set showdown. Chapters containing point-by-point analysis of that match take advantage of the author's seasoned knowledge of the game, and a lengthy denouement recounts Mac's revenge against Borg at the 1980 U.S. Open. Although it appears he didn't have personal access to his protagonists, Cronin gets to the heart of Borg's genius and explores the catalyst for McEnroe's ugly on-court temperament, while providing context with historical and pop-culture references and mostly avoiding melodramatic play-by-play prose. (Apr.) (PublishersWeekly.com, 16 May 2011)
Synopsis
A top tennis writer tells the story of the greatest Wimbledon, the greatest U.S. Open, and the greatest rivalry in the history of the gameThe epic 1980 Wimbledon final that ended with John McEnroe's defeat by his idol, Bjorn Borg, is considered the greatest tennis match ever. The U.S. Open final later that year, when McEnroe got his revenge, is considered the greatest U.S. Open ever. These two matches marked McEnroe's transformation from tennis player into an American icon, the high point of tennis's gigantic leap into the national consciousness, and the beginning of Borg's rapid and surprising decline. This book takes you back to that amazing summer at the height of the golden age of tennis.
- Includes fascinating details about John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg both on and off the court, from grueling practice sessions to late-night partying
- Packed with stories and anecdotes of top tennis players and coaches, including Vitas Gerulaitis, Mary Carillo, Lennart Bergelin, and others
- Highlights a pivotal moment in the evolution of the game?from quiet to loud, from wood to metal racquets, and from European to American dominance
- Written by veteran tennis writer and analyst Matthew Cronin
Whether you're a longtime tennis fan or a recent convert, Epic will give you a deeper understanding of the game and of two of the most amazing players ever to have played it.
Synopsis
"Includes fascinating details about John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg both on and off the court, from grueling practice sessions to late-night partying. Packed with stories and anecdotes of top tennis players and coaches, including Vitas Gerulaitis, Mary Carillo, Lennart Bergelin, and others. Highlights a pivotal moment in the evolution of the game--from quiet to loud, from wood to metal racquets, and from European to American dominance. Written by veteran tennis writer and analyst Matthew Cronin"--
Synopsis
Advance Praise for EPIC"Like the subjects he so deftly profiles, Matt Cronin brings his A-game to bear. Alternately a dual biography, a riveting account, a psychological profile, and a compelling study in contrasts, Cronin's book shows why McEnroe-Borg lives as one of sport's enduring rivalries. Tennis writing at its best."
—Jon Wertheim, Sports Illustrated, author of Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal, and the Greatest Match Ever Played
"Epic is an appropriate title indeed. 1980 was a resplendent season in the history of the sport, and Matt Cronin brings it all back to us in these entertaining pages. Many of the game's most notable names weigh in with memories and insight that explain and explore a truly remarkable time in tennis."
—Mary Carillo
"As much as anyone in tennis, Matt Cronin has his finger on the pulse of the game. In Epic, he uses his vast insider's knowledge to capture the seminal moment of the seminal rivalry in the booming post-amateur era."
—Doug Robson, lead tennis writer, USA Today
"Thirty years later, John and Björn still captivate us. Matt Cronin takes us from their beginnings through the magic summer of 1980. Rivals then and great friends now, John and Björn crafted a story for the ages which Matt captures brilliantly."
—Ted Robinson, NBC Sports/Tennis Channel
Synopsis
A top tennis writer tells the story of the greatest Wimbledon, the greatest U.S. Open, and the greatest rivalry in the history of the gameThe epic 1980 Wimbledon final that ended with John McEnroe's defeat by his idol, Bjorn Borg, is considered the greatest tennis match ever. The U.S. Open final later that year, when McEnroe got his revenge, is considered the greatest U.S. Open ever. These two matches marked McEnroe's transformation from tennis player into an American icon, the high point of tennis's gigantic leap into the national consciousness, and the beginning of Borg's rapid and surprising decline. This book takes you back to that amazing summer at the height of the golden age of tennis.
- Includes fascinating details about John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg both on and off the court, from grueling practice sessions to late-night partying
- Packed with stories and anecdotes of top tennis players and coaches, including Vitas Gerulaitis, Mary Carillo, Lennart Bergelin, and others
- Highlights a pivotal moment in the evolution of the game?from quiet to loud, from wood to metal racquets, and from European to American dominance
- Written by veteran tennis writer and analyst Matthew Cronin
Whether you're a longtime tennis fan or a recent convert, Epic will give you a deeper understanding of the game and of two of the most amazing players ever to have played it.
About the Author
Matthew Cronin is the main tennis columnist for Fox Sports and a senior writer for Inside Tennis magazine. He contributes regularly to Reuters and USTA.com and appears fre-quently as a tennis analyst on radio and television stations throughout the United States and abroad. He is the main writer for TennisReporters.net, the award-winning, second-largest pro tennis site in the United States, and is a radio analyst at all the Grand Slams: the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open.
Table of Contents
Foreword.
Introduction.
Chapter 1. Borg: Beginnings.
Chapter 2. Wimbledon 1st Set: A Losing Set Is Not So Much At All.
Chapter 3. McEnroe: Beginnings.
Chapter 4. Wimbledon 2nd Set: Better Call A Cab.
Chapter 5. Borg: The Sport’s First Rock Star.
Chapter 6. Wimbledon 3rd Set: I Can Do Anything With A Tennis Ball.
Chapter 7. McEnroe: France To Stanford.
Chapter 8. Wimbledon 4th Set: A Four-Hour Match.
Chapter 9. 1978: Borg I s Borg.
Chapter 10. Wimbledon 4th Set Tiebreaker: The Battle Begins.
Chapter 11. Borg, Connors, And McEnroe: To The Ends Of The Earth.
Chapter 12. Wimbledon 4th Set Tiebreaker: Both Still Alive.
Chapter 13. In Search Of The True Genius.
Chapter 14. Wimbledon Breaker: The War OF 18-16.
Chapter 15. A Notch Above Son Of Sam.
Chapter 16. Love And Sets.
Chapter 17. The Genius Tested In London.
Chapter 18. An Angel Or A Dickhead?
Chapter 19. Wimbledon Fifth Set: “Something In Me Wilted.”
Chapter 20. Borg And McEnroe In Their Time: Living The Moments.
Chapter 21. U.S. Open 1st Set: Rock Of Gibraltar.
Chapter 22. McEnroe: The Cowboy Bucks Up.
Chapter 23. U.S. Open 2nd Set: I Didn’t Know What Was Happening.
Chapter 24. The North Star OF Vitas.
Chapter 25. U.S. Open 3rd Set: Willing And Able.
Chapter 26. 1980 U.S. Open : Amongst The Bad Actors.
Chapter 27. U. S. Open 4th Set: Frozen In Time.
Chapter 28. U.S. Open: Connors V. Mac, You’re Not Going To See A Tougher One.
Chapter 29. U.S. Open 5th Set: Poetry Written On Water.
Epilogue: The End Of A Great Rivalry.
Index.