Legendary rivalry, Lendl v McEnroe returns to London – Tennis News
Former World Number 1, Ivan Lendl will return to London for the first time after his retirement from international circuit in 1994. He would feature in the AEGON Masters Tennis tournament that will be conducted from November 30
– December 4 at Royal Albert Hall, London.
Roger Federer is the only player who broke Lendl’s record of playing 19 Grand Slam singles championships. Czech grabbed nine Grand Slam titles and shares the record of reaching at least one Grand Slam final for successive 11 years
with another great and former world number 1, Pete Sampras.
Lendl is thrilled to play at Royal Albert Hall for the first time and is looking forward to recommence his all time favorite rivalry with another Former World Number 1, John McEnroe. Czech International would take on the American,
McEnroe, on Friday, December 2nd in the special one night celebration of tennis event, The Wightman Cup. This tournament was played at Royal Albert Hall for 11 years from 1978 to 1989.
Czech International is all fired up for this classic encounter and will look to enhance his head-to-head tally that currently stands at 21-15 in favour of him. The Wightman Cup trophy will return to the surface for the first time
in 22 years and will host a doubles match as well that will feature the likes of Pat Rafter, Goran Ivanisevic and Tim Henman.
Talking to the media, 51-year-old, Lendl said "This is an event I've heard so many good things about, I'm really looking forward to be playing there for the first time. The Royal Albert Hall has so much history. John and I recently
played at Madison Square Garden in New York so to have another match together in a venue with so much tradition should make for a great atmosphere for the event."
The epic rivalry between the two Former world number 1 started in 1980 when McEnroe defeated Lendl twice in the same year, firstly in the Milan tournament and secondly in the qualifying stages of US Open. Lendl took his revenge
next year by beating the 52-year-old, McEnroe, thrice in the same year. This marked the start of the grand rivalry between the two legends that continued until their retirement.
American International would never forget the 1984 French Open final that he lost from Lendl with a score of 3-6, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 and 7-5. Trailing by two sets, Lendl came back and stunned everyone by taking the last three sets and
snatching the French Open title under the nose of his arch rival. McEnroe always mentions that unlucky moment but has appreciated his rivalry with the Czech-born.
McEnroe said “There's always been a mutual respect with us even though we were fighting it out on and off the court. But as the years go by you realize that those were some of the best years of your life and we made each other
better players”.
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