Sport is based on great rivalries, opposing forces battling against each other for glory. In tennis, the defining duels were played out between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.
Labelled ‘fire and ice’ because of Borg’s emotionless demeanor and McEnroe’s famed court-side tantrums, the fiercest fight was played out on this day 36 years ago.
Borg emerged with an Open-era record fifth-consecutive Wimbledon title after an epic 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7, 8-6 triumph. Tennis’ ‘enfant terrible’ was booed upon entry, but McEnroe responded to take the first set.
Borg fought back, until a fourth-set tie-breaker went against him. The Swede then prevailed 8-6 in the last to lift the trophy.
Other memorable events on this day…
1919: France’s Suzanne Lenglen became first non-English-speaking women’s champion at Wimbledon.
1968: Philadelphia 76ers trade Wilt Chamberlain to LA Lakers, paying him record $250,000 wages.
1975: Arthur Ashe beat Jimmy Connors to become the first black men’s champion at Wimbledon.
2014: Marcel Kittel wins stage one of Tour de France in Yorkshire.
