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16 GREATEST MATCHES - VOTING UNDERWAY!
Sixteen matches (including the late addition of the 2003 US Open semifinal between Justine Henin-Hardenne and Jennifer Capriati) have been shortlisted for “greatest match” honors. Over the next seven weeks we’ll be asking you to make your selections. The selection process will be as follows:
Four matches will be up for selection each week in the four-week First Round, starting with the earlier matches (1970-1985) and finishing with the most recent (2000-2003); the Top 2 selections from each week will advance to the next round of voting, so after four weeks we’ll have narrowed the 16 matches down to eight
The eight matches selected from the First Round will be randomly placed into one of two groups for the Second Round; four matches will again be up for selection each week, with the Top 2 from each of the two weeks progressing to the Final Round
The Final Round will feature the Top 4 selections, with the most votes received in this round declared the Fans’ Choice for “Greatest Match In Women’s Tennis”; the winning match will be announced during the WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles, 5-10 November 2003
VOTING PERIODS
First Round: Weeks of 15 September, 22 September, 29 September, 6 October
Second Round: Weeks of 13 October, 20 October
Final Round: Week of 27 October
Voting periods will typically switch over the Sunday evening (EST) before the dates listed above
Click here for a complete list of the 16 nominated matches.
Here are the matches up for selection this week:
FIRST ROUND – WEEK 1
1970 WIMBLEDONFINAL
Margaret Court d. Billie Jean King 14-12, 11-9
Perhaps the best Wimbledon final to date featured the No. 1 seed Margaret Court going for the third leg of her calendar year ‘Grand Slam’ (which she duly attained) against her primary challenger and the No. 2 seed Billie Jean King, the champion of three of the previous four years. Both players were in considerable pain playing the final - Court had a sprained ankle which required four injections and King had a bad knee, which later required surgery. King served for the first set three consecutive times, only to be denied by Court finally claiming it 14-12. The second set was equally close, with King having to serve five straight times to stay in the second set (saving a match point at 6-7), before capitulating in the 20th game, saving four more match points. After two hours and 27 minutes, it was all over, the longest-ever women’s final at Wimbledon with 46 games (two more than the 1919 final). Court was just one more Slam away from replicating Maureen Connolly’s 1953 feat. Overall, Court led King 12-8 in their meetings during the Open Era.
1976 WIMBLEDONFINAL
Chris Evert d. Evonne Goolagong 6-3, 4-6, 8-6
This was the most memorable meeting between the popular American and the Australian. The top two seeds were pitted against each other, and the winner would also take the world No. 1 ranking along with the Wimbledon title. Goolagong, the Australian Open champion, was the favorite coming into this match, as she was on a four-tournament winning streak that included two victories over the top-seeded Evert. The American meanwhile was looking for her second Wimbledon title and first-ever victory over Goolagong on grass. The Australian had the upper hand during the latter stages of the match, leading 2-0 and 6-5 in the deciding stages, but in the end it was Evert’s steadier nerve that carried her through. Overall, Evert led 26-13 in their meetings.
1981 US OPEN FINAL
Tracy Austin d. Martina Navratilova 1-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(1)
The New York crowd didn’t know who to cheer for – Austin, the 18-year-old former champion, whose career was in jeopardy after a back injury kept her out for the first five months of the year, or Navratilova, the emotional, net-rushing style of the former Czech player, just recently a naturalized American. Navratilova continued where she left off after dethroning the world No. 1 Evert in a dramatic semifinal and quickly established a point for a 6-1, 5-4 lead. Austin’s only thought was her high school friends watching at home and how embarrassing it all was, so she hit back in dramatic fashion, winning the second set in a tiebreak. The final set was equally close, with Austin holding three match points at 6-5 before Navratilova broke back. In the tiebreak (the first ever major championship to be decided in such a fashion), Austin suddenly switched tactics, hitting her forehands down the line rather than cross court. The change caught Navratilova completely off guard and Austin won her second and last Grand Slam title. Afterwards, the overwhelming support of the crowd moved Navratilova to tears.
1985 FRENCH OPEN FINAL
Chris Evert d. Martina Navratilova 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-5
Eighty matches to choose from, 14 in Grand Slam finals, but this one had to be the most dramatic and compelling of the most enduring rivalry in sport’s history. Navratilova had beaten Evert 15 out of 16 matches coming into this French Open final, including a 6-3, 6-1 thrashing on the same court a year earlier. But from the outset, Evert’s tactics were clear - to attack the Navratilova backhand, and it payed dividends as she led 6-3, 4-2, 40-15. This was Navratilova’s chance to come back, claws flashing, and won the second set in a tiebreak. Evert didn’t give up and in the third set established leads of 3-1 and 5-3, only for Navratilova to dig even deeper. The match seemed to be headed Navratilova’s way as she claimed 12 of 13 points before she missed a backhand volley. That was Evert’s reprieve and with Navratilova serving at 5-6, ad against her, Chris sent a backhand pass down the line, a shot that will linger long in her memory. She had won her 17th Grand Slam singles title at the age of 30 and the bonus for doing so was briefly wrestling the No. 1 ranking away from Navratilova. That victory kept Evert going for another four years until she hung up her racquets, following a win for the US Federation Cup team in October 1989. In the end, Evert won 37 out of 80 encounters against Navratilova.
Cast your vote below..
1970 WIMBLEDON FINAL
Court d. King 14-12, 11-9
1976 WIMBLEDON FINAL
Evert d. Goolagong 63, 46, 86
1981 US OPEN FINAL
Austin d. Navratilova 16, 76(4), 76(1)
1985 FRENCH OPEN FINAL
Evert d. Navratilova 63, 67(4), 75
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16 GREATEST MATCHES - VOTING UNDERWAY!
Sixteen matches (including the late addition of the 2003 US Open semifinal between Justine Henin-Hardenne and Jennifer Capriati) have been shortlisted for “greatest match” honors. Over the next seven weeks we’ll be asking you to make your selections. The selection process will be as follows:
Four matches will be up for selection each week in the four-week First Round, starting with the earlier matches (1970-1985) and finishing with the most recent (2000-2003); the Top 2 selections from each week will advance to the next round of voting, so after four weeks we’ll have narrowed the 16 matches down to eight
The eight matches selected from the First Round will be randomly placed into one of two groups for the Second Round; four matches will again be up for selection each week, with the Top 2 from each of the two weeks progressing to the Final Round
The Final Round will feature the Top 4 selections, with the most votes received in this round declared the Fans’ Choice for “Greatest Match In Women’s Tennis”; the winning match will be announced during the WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles, 5-10 November 2003
VOTING PERIODS
First Round: Weeks of 15 September, 22 September, 29 September, 6 October
Second Round: Weeks of 13 October, 20 October
Final Round: Week of 27 October
Voting periods will typically switch over the Sunday evening (EST) before the dates listed above
Click here for a complete list of the 16 nominated matches.
Here are the matches up for selection this week:
FIRST ROUND – WEEK 1
1970 WIMBLEDONFINAL
Margaret Court d. Billie Jean King 14-12, 11-9
Perhaps the best Wimbledon final to date featured the No. 1 seed Margaret Court going for the third leg of her calendar year ‘Grand Slam’ (which she duly attained) against her primary challenger and the No. 2 seed Billie Jean King, the champion of three of the previous four years. Both players were in considerable pain playing the final - Court had a sprained ankle which required four injections and King had a bad knee, which later required surgery. King served for the first set three consecutive times, only to be denied by Court finally claiming it 14-12. The second set was equally close, with King having to serve five straight times to stay in the second set (saving a match point at 6-7), before capitulating in the 20th game, saving four more match points. After two hours and 27 minutes, it was all over, the longest-ever women’s final at Wimbledon with 46 games (two more than the 1919 final). Court was just one more Slam away from replicating Maureen Connolly’s 1953 feat. Overall, Court led King 12-8 in their meetings during the Open Era.
1976 WIMBLEDONFINAL
Chris Evert d. Evonne Goolagong 6-3, 4-6, 8-6
This was the most memorable meeting between the popular American and the Australian. The top two seeds were pitted against each other, and the winner would also take the world No. 1 ranking along with the Wimbledon title. Goolagong, the Australian Open champion, was the favorite coming into this match, as she was on a four-tournament winning streak that included two victories over the top-seeded Evert. The American meanwhile was looking for her second Wimbledon title and first-ever victory over Goolagong on grass. The Australian had the upper hand during the latter stages of the match, leading 2-0 and 6-5 in the deciding stages, but in the end it was Evert’s steadier nerve that carried her through. Overall, Evert led 26-13 in their meetings.
1981 US OPEN FINAL
Tracy Austin d. Martina Navratilova 1-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(1)
The New York crowd didn’t know who to cheer for – Austin, the 18-year-old former champion, whose career was in jeopardy after a back injury kept her out for the first five months of the year, or Navratilova, the emotional, net-rushing style of the former Czech player, just recently a naturalized American. Navratilova continued where she left off after dethroning the world No. 1 Evert in a dramatic semifinal and quickly established a point for a 6-1, 5-4 lead. Austin’s only thought was her high school friends watching at home and how embarrassing it all was, so she hit back in dramatic fashion, winning the second set in a tiebreak. The final set was equally close, with Austin holding three match points at 6-5 before Navratilova broke back. In the tiebreak (the first ever major championship to be decided in such a fashion), Austin suddenly switched tactics, hitting her forehands down the line rather than cross court. The change caught Navratilova completely off guard and Austin won her second and last Grand Slam title. Afterwards, the overwhelming support of the crowd moved Navratilova to tears.
1985 FRENCH OPEN FINAL
Chris Evert d. Martina Navratilova 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-5
Eighty matches to choose from, 14 in Grand Slam finals, but this one had to be the most dramatic and compelling of the most enduring rivalry in sport’s history. Navratilova had beaten Evert 15 out of 16 matches coming into this French Open final, including a 6-3, 6-1 thrashing on the same court a year earlier. But from the outset, Evert’s tactics were clear - to attack the Navratilova backhand, and it payed dividends as she led 6-3, 4-2, 40-15. This was Navratilova’s chance to come back, claws flashing, and won the second set in a tiebreak. Evert didn’t give up and in the third set established leads of 3-1 and 5-3, only for Navratilova to dig even deeper. The match seemed to be headed Navratilova’s way as she claimed 12 of 13 points before she missed a backhand volley. That was Evert’s reprieve and with Navratilova serving at 5-6, ad against her, Chris sent a backhand pass down the line, a shot that will linger long in her memory. She had won her 17th Grand Slam singles title at the age of 30 and the bonus for doing so was briefly wrestling the No. 1 ranking away from Navratilova. That victory kept Evert going for another four years until she hung up her racquets, following a win for the US Federation Cup team in October 1989. In the end, Evert won 37 out of 80 encounters against Navratilova.
Cast your vote below..
1970 WIMBLEDON FINAL
Court d. King 14-12, 11-9
1976 WIMBLEDON FINAL
Evert d. Goolagong 63, 46, 86
1981 US OPEN FINAL
Austin d. Navratilova 16, 76(4), 76(1)
1985 FRENCH OPEN FINAL
Evert d. Navratilova 63, 67(4), 75
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