2. 1984 – Ivan Lendl (Czechoslovakia) defeated John McEnroe (USA) 3-6 2-6 6-4 7-5 7-5
Lendl came into the final having lost all four of his previous Grand Slam finals. McEnroe came in as a two-time Wimbledon and three-time US Open winner. Lendl was the ultimate choker, a workhorse who never seemed to have enough when it mattered.
McEnroe had his eyes set on winning at more Grand Slam venues than both Borg and Connors. And yet, when the chips were down, first in the third set having lost the first two sets, and then again in the fourth down 2-4 and game point on McEnroe’s serve, somehow it was the Czech man that kept his calm.
Maybe it was the squeaking of a headset near the court, maybe it was the crowd that wanted to see a longer match – we will never know. McEnroe allowed Lendl back in the match and ultimately folded in the fifth to hand Lendl his first Grand Slam crown.
This is what McEnroe had to say about this loss in his autobiography: “It was the worst loss of my life: sometimes it still keeps me up nights. It is even tough for me to do commentary at the French.”
Taking over the choker tag from another player will do that to you, Mac.
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