Epic, livre ebook

The epic 1980 Wimbledon final that ended with John McEnroe's defeat by his idol, Björn Borg, is considered the greatest tennis match ever. The U.S. Open final later that year, when McEnroe got his revenge, is considered the greatest U.S. Open ever. These two matches marked McEnroe's transformation from tennis player into an American icon, the high point of tennis's gigantic leap into the national consciousness, and the beginning of Borg's rapid and surprising decline. This book takes you back to that amazing summer at the height of the golden age of tennis.

• Includes fascinating details about John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg both on and off the court, from grueling practice sessions to late-night partying
• Packed with stories and anecdotes of top tennis players and coaches, including Vitas Gerulaitis, Mary Carillo, Lennart Bergelin, and others
• Highlights a pivotal moment in the evolution of the game?from quiet to loud, from wood to metal racquets, and from European to American dominance
• Written by veteran tennis writer and analyst Matthew Cronin

Whether you're a longtime tennis fan or a recent convert, Epic will give you a deeper understanding of the game and of two of the most amazing players ever to have played it.

Foreword (Tracy Austin).

Introduction: July 5, 1980.

Part One: WIMBLEDON.

1 Taming a Passionate Spirit.

2 A Losing Set Is Not So Much after All.

3 "A Little Boy or a Midget in Disguise?"

4 Better Call a Cab.

5 Th e Sport's First Rock Star.

6 "I Can Do Anything with a Tennis Ball".

7 France to Stanford.

8 A Four-Hour Match.

9 "Borg Is Borg".

10 The Battle Begins.

11 To the Ends of the Earth.

12 Both Still Alive.

13 In Search of the True Genius.

14 The War of 18-16.

15 "A Notch above Son of Sam".

16 Love and Sets.

17 Th e Genius Tested in London.

18 True Nature.

19 "Something in Me Wilted".

20 Living the Moments.

Part Two: THE U.S. OPEN.

21 Rock of Gibraltar.

22 The Cowboy Bucks Up.

23 "I Didn't Know What Was Happening".

24 The North Star of Vitas.

25 Willing and Able.

26 Among the Bad Actors.

27 Frozen in Time.

28 "You Are Not Going to See a Tougher One".

29 "Poetry Written on Water".

Epilogue: Th e End of a Great Rivalry.

Bibliography.

Index.