Lendl–McEnroe rivalry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John McEnroe (7 Singles slams) dominated ATP in first half of 1980s.
Ivan Lendl (8 Singles slams) dominated ATP in second half of 1980s.

The Lendl–McEnroe rivalry was a tennis rivalry between Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe, who met in 36 matches between 1980 and 1992.[1][2] Their head-to-head is 21–15, favoring Lendl. It is one of the most notable tennis rivalries of the Open Era.[3] Their most memorable match was at the 1984 French Open, when Lendl came from two sets down to win the championship.[3]

Head-to-head[]

Legend Lendl McEnroe
Grand Slam 7 3
Masters Grand Prix 3 2
WCT Finals 1 2
ATP Masters Series 1 0
ATP International Series 8 8
Davis Cup 1 0
Total 21 15

Official matches[]

Lendl–McEnroe: 36 (Lendl 21 – McEnroe 15)

No. Year Tournament Surface Round Winner Score Lendl McEnroe
1. 1980 Milan Indoor Carpet Semifinals McEnroe 6–3, 1–6, 6–2 0 1
2. 1980 US Open Hard Quarterfinals McEnroe 4–6, 6–3, 6–2, 7–5 0 2
3. 1981 French Open Clay Quarterfinals Lendl 6–4, 6–4, 7–5 1 2
4. 1981 Davis Cup Hard Quarterfinals Lendl 6–4, 14–12, 7–5 2 2
5. 1981 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Semifinals Lendl 6–4, 6–2 3 2
6. 1982 WCT Finals Carpet Final Lendl 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3 4 2
7. 1982 Canadian Open Hard Semifinals Lendl 6–4, 6–4 5 2
8. 1982 US Open Hard Semifinals Lendl 6–4, 6–4, 7–6(8–6) 6 2
9. 1982 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Final Lendl 6–4, 6–4, 6–2 7 2
10. 1983 US Pro Indoor Carpet Final McEnroe 4–6, 7–6(9–7), 6–4, 6–3 7 3
11. 1983 WCT Finals Carpet Final McEnroe 6–2, 4–6, 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–0) 7 4
12. 1983 Wimbledon Grass Semifinals McEnroe 7–6(7–5), 6–4, 6–4 7 5
13. 1983 Pacific Coast Championships Carpet Final Lendl 3–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–4 8 5
14. 1983 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Final McEnroe 6–3, 6–4, 6–4 8 6
15. 1984 US Pro Indoor Carpet Final McEnroe 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 7–6(7–3) 8 7
16. 1984 Brussels Indoor Carpet Final McEnroe 6–1, 6–3 8 8
17. 1984 WCT Tournament of Champions Clay Final McEnroe 6–4, 6–2 8 9
18. 1984 World Team Cup Clay Team Final McEnroe 6–3, 6–2 8 10
19. 1984 French Open Clay Final Lendl 3–6, 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 7–5 9 10
20. 1984 US Open Hard Final McEnroe 6–3, 6–4, 6–1 9 11
21. 1984 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Final McEnroe 7–5, 6–0, 6–4 9 12
22. 1985 WCT Tournament of Champions Clay Final Lendl 6–3, 6–3 10 12
23. 1985 World Team Cup Clay Team Final Lendl 6–7(4–7), 7–6(8–6), 6–3 11 12
24. 1985 Volvo International Hard Final McEnroe 7–6(7–4), 6–2 11 13
25. 1985 Canadian Open Hard Final McEnroe 7–5, 6–3 11 14
26. 1985 US Open Hard Final Lendl 7–6(7–1), 6–3, 6–4 12 14
1987 Volvo International Hard Final (No Result) 6–7(3–7), 4–1 Abandoned due to weather 12 14
27. 1987 US Open Hard Quarterfinals Lendl 6–3, 6–3, 6–4 13 14
28. 1988 French Open Clay Last 16 Lendl 6–7(3–7), 7–6(7–3), 6–4, 6–4 14 14
29. 1989 Australian Open Hard Quarterfinals Lendl 7–6(7–0), 6–2, 7–6(7–2) 15 14
30. 1989 WCT Finals Carpet Semifinals McEnroe 6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–5), 6–2, 7–5 15 15
31. 1989 Canadian Open Hard Final Lendl 6–1, 6–3 16 15
32. 1989 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Round Robin Lendl 6–3, 6–3 17 15
33. 1990 Toronto Indoor Carpet Semifinals Lendl 6–3, 6–2 18 15
34. 1990 Queen's Club Championships Grass Semifinals Lendl 6–2, 6–4 19 15
35. 1991 ATP Long Island Hard Semifinals Lendl 6–3, 7–5 20 15
36. 1992 Canadian Open Hard Quarterfinals Lendl 6–2, 6–4 21 15
  • Note: WEA indicates a match canceled due to weather. There was no result in this final.

Breakdown of their rivalry[]

  • All matches: (36) Lendl 21–15
  • All finals: (18)* McEnroe 10–7 , *(1 No Result)
    • 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 tournament matches: Tied 8–8

Other matches[]

Invitational matches[]

Lendl–McEnroe (16–11)

No. Year Tournament Surface Round Winner Score
1. 1981 Rome Carpet Final McEnroe 7–6, 6–4
2. 1981 Suntory Cup Carpet Semifinals McEnroe 7–6, 6–4
3. 1981 Brooklyn Masters Carpet Final Lendl 6–4, 2–6, 6–4
4. 1981 Europe vs. Americas Carpet Round Robin McEnroe 4–6, 7–6, 6–1
5. 1981 Challenge of Champions Carpet Semifinals McEnroe 6–1, 7–6
6. 1982 Molson Light Challenge Carpet Final Lendl 7–5, 3–6, 7–6, 7–5
7. 1982 AKAI Gold Challenge Carpet Round Robin Lendl 7–5, 6–2, 1–6, 4–6, 6–1
8. 1982 Europe vs. Americas Carpet Round Robin Lendl 2–6, 7–5, 6–2
9. 1982 European Community Championship Carpet Final Lendl 3–6, 7–6, 6–3, 6–3
10. 1982 Challenge of Champions Carpet Round Robin McEnroe 6–3, 6–2
11. 1983 Luxembourg Carpet Final Lendl 6–4, 6–2
12. 1983 Rio Tennis Challenge Carpet Final McEnroe 6–3, 6–1
13. 1984 AKAI Gold Challenge Carpet Round Robin McEnroe 7–5, 6–2, 6–1
14. 1984 Suntory Cup Carpet Final Lendl 6–4, 3–6, 6–2
15. 1985 Forum Tennis Challenge Carpet Final McEnroe 6–4, 7–6
16. 1985 Suntory Cup Carpet Final Lendl 6–4, 6–2
17. 1985 Meadowlands Tennis Challenge Carpet Final Lendl 7–5, 6–4
18. 1985 European Community Championship Carpet Final Lendl 1–6, 7–6, 6–2, 6–2
19. 1985 Challenge of Champions Carpet Semifinals Lendl 7–6, 6–3
20. 1986 Forum Tennis Challenge Carpet Final Lendl 6–4, 3–6, 7–6
21. 1986 Norstar Bank Hamlet Challenge Cup Hard Final Lendl 6–2, 6–4
22. 1986 Challenge of Champions Carpet Semifinals McEnroe 6–4, 7–5
23. 1987 Barcelona Clay Final Lendl 6–3, 3–6, 6–2
24. 1987 Challenge of Champions Carpet Round Robin Lendl 5–7, 6–4, 7–6
25. 1988 Eurocard Classic Carpet Round Robin McEnroe 7–6, 7–6
26. 1988 Michelin Challenge Carpet Final McEnroe 7–5, 6–2
27. 1989 All Stars Tennis Classic Carpet Final Lendl 6–4, 7–5

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
Czechoslovakia/United States Ivan Lendl 74 20 6 2 3 2 3 1 1 1 2 1 3 5 8 19 54
United States John McEnroe 21 4 3 2 1 1 1 1 2 14 10 11 4 13 28 20

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "Lendl vs McEnroe Head to Head Rivalry". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
  3. ^ a b "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.
Retrieved from ""