Great post - thank you USTA - waited for years to see this match up. Both Wheaton and Mac were having hot runs at the Open. Two great players - with varied shotmaking on display - something called variety, volleys and forecourt skills (now long gone from the game - hello baseline bashing). And Vitas ... that voice and enthusiasm - those were the days for tennis... And Mac was on quite a run in the 90 USO. A feast for true tennis lovers...
they were good days for US tennis,( strong vets and strong "up and comers") but many of David's volleys were really lame here, he was just setting john up for a lot of short put-aways.
I wouldn't call David Wheaton a "great" player. He was solid. But I do miss these days of tennis when players had variety. Even the players that weren't serve and volleyers could volley, unlike today.
Only thing happened to McEnroe at USO '90 was Sampras. Only thing happened to McEnroe at Wimby '92 was Andre. Formidable foes and much younger. I've seen him play met him a few times. Just incredible.
@@robbie192 Dude. Andre, Pete (and Courier and Edberg) were the top guys so what's your point exactly? Not exactly some also-rans right? And I have a signed poster from a picture I took of him winning at GTE/Indy in '89, which was a bit past his prime last time I checked. And oh, BB was still winning tournaments well into the 90's and Mac beat him in '92, just the facts mate. Sure the pace and power of the game moved on to make his style of tennis obsolete. He's still a fucking badass. Just the facts.
@@robbie192 Yes of course. Actually he was awesome '78 to '85. We're not saying radically different things. To me the fact that he went through his personal thangs too that we don't need publicly discuss and the technology and power shift as a touch player and remained somewhat competitive is a testament to superior ability and a bit of determination. Edberg was similar but different, he certainly hit a heavier ball most of the time and of course was a bit younger.
@@robbie192 what have you been looking at? McEnroe beat most of his opponents at some point in the 80s and 90s. His head to heads do not favour him against Becker, Edberg and Stich but he had wins against them. Samprass and Agassi were both much younger than he and outgunned him in slams. Watch McEnroe's UA-cam channel to see the range of these matches rather than making dogmatically ill-informed claims.
He was the only one with a very low chord's stretching: 19 kg while the average of the other players was about 27 kg, that means to have a incredible sense of touch.. McEnroe on the top and little behind Lecombe
@@shapursasan9019 And you're telling me the 'Trotters can't ball? Focus on what I'm saying: His hand-eye and touch are amazing, and he was totally self-taught. BTW my friend is sending me my signed blow-up poster size photo of Mac hitting a FH feet off the ground in Indy '89 GTE finals.
@@KingCast65 That’s a great poster. Bahrami never even cracked the 100 ranking so his so-called ‘hand-eye coordination’ was worthless as far as helping him win matches as a professional. It only helped him amuse people as a silly entertainer; that was it.
@@maxbowie6074 Johnny Mac has a continental grip which is very hard to hit consistent top spins with. However, he has a solid game from the baseline which shows his amazing racquet skills and talent with touch.
John had such a great run in this tournament. I really wanted to see him win it, but Sampras handled him pretty easily in the semis, before routing Agassi in the Final.
Whatever happened to David Wheaton? He never really progressed after 1991. I remember there being some controversy during the Miami tournament in 1991. Wheaton made a point of conspicuously wearing a stars and stripes bandana because the tournament was taking place during the Gulf War. A lot of the other American players were very critical, saying that he was being egotistical and trying to appropriate the American flag for himself. Of course, there was also the famous tussle with Brad Gilbert at the Grand Slam cup. I'm not sure he was hugely popular with the other make players, but he was close friends with Mary Joe Fernandez for a while.
That continental grip of McEnroe's on the forehand is something else. I think Wheaton looks a little limited here in terms of ability. A solid player, not elite level. I supposed proved by the fact we never really heard of him after his early years.
McEnroe is my favorite player of all time. He had success with strategy, angles and accuracy NOT racket technology. Watching two baseliners going back and forth... waiting on the other to make a mistake is like watching paint dry or grass grow 💤 😴 💤💤😴💤💤 Todays 150 mph baseline play is BOOOORIIIING AF Racket Technology and slow courts KILLED the serve and volley game. Killed the sport for me 🎾🪦
@@alanchong7513 exactly true, but more strategy can be visualized from higher up but still behind the player. On the other hand the side view shows power and spin, but impossible to see strategy. That's just for tennis. For baseball the batter or umpires view is the best. For football much prefer from the goal field view. Hockey is also like football.
There is nothing easier than playing with today's huge Rolls Royce rackets, who do all the work for you. Back in the day, playing top level tennis took actual talent and skill.
Great post - thank you USTA - waited for years to see this match up. Both Wheaton and Mac were having hot runs at the Open. Two great players - with varied shotmaking on display - something called variety, volleys and forecourt skills (now long gone from the game - hello baseline bashing). And Vitas ... that voice and enthusiasm - those were the days for tennis...
And Mac was on quite a run in the 90 USO. A feast for true tennis lovers...
they were good days for US tennis,( strong vets and strong "up and comers") but many of David's volleys were really lame here, he was just setting john up for a lot of short put-aways.
I wouldn't call David Wheaton a "great" player. He was solid. But I do miss these days of tennis when players had variety. Even the players that weren't serve and volleyers could volley, unlike today.
Thank you for these great classic matches!! Please keep doing it, thank you
Only thing happened to McEnroe at USO '90 was Sampras. Only thing happened to McEnroe at Wimby '92 was Andre. Formidable foes and much younger. I've seen him play met him a few times. Just incredible.
Dude.. Mc didn't beat anyone post prime and the top guys blew him away
@@robbie192 Dude. Andre, Pete (and Courier and Edberg) were the top guys so what's your point exactly? Not exactly some also-rans right? And I have a signed poster from a picture I took of him winning at GTE/Indy in '89, which was a bit past his prime last time I checked. And oh, BB was still winning tournaments well into the 90's and Mac beat him in '92, just the facts mate. Sure the pace and power of the game moved on to make his style of tennis obsolete. He's still a fucking badass. Just the facts.
@@KingCast65 Mac was awesome 80 to 85...after that? Not so much...lost a lot of his speed and the game was turning to power...
@@robbie192 Yes of course. Actually he was awesome '78 to '85. We're not saying radically different things. To me the fact that he went through his personal thangs too that we don't need publicly discuss and the technology and power shift as a touch player and remained somewhat competitive is a testament to superior ability and a bit of determination. Edberg was similar but different, he certainly hit a heavier ball most of the time and of course was a bit younger.
@@robbie192 what have you been looking at? McEnroe beat most of his opponents at some point in the 80s and 90s. His head to heads do not favour him against Becker, Edberg and Stich but he had wins against them. Samprass and Agassi were both much younger than he and outgunned him in slams. Watch McEnroe's UA-cam channel to see the range of these matches rather than making dogmatically ill-informed claims.
Air Tech Challenge 2 VS Air Trainer1, greatness!
i love david wheaton - his game and post his pro game as well
McEnroe had the greatest hands and touch in the history of the game! His ability was supernatural... There will never be another!
He was the only one with a very low chord's stretching: 19 kg while the average of the other players was about 27 kg, that means to have a incredible sense of touch.. McEnroe on the top and little behind Lecombe
Bahrami in Dubs tho.
@@KingCast65 Bahrami is just a silly clown 🤡 to amuse the tennis public. He’s like the Harlem Globetrotters of NBA.
@@shapursasan9019 And you're telling me the 'Trotters can't ball? Focus on what I'm saying: His hand-eye and touch are amazing, and he was totally self-taught. BTW my friend is sending me my signed blow-up poster size photo of Mac hitting a FH feet off the ground in Indy '89 GTE finals.
@@KingCast65 That’s a great poster. Bahrami never even cracked the 100 ranking so his so-called ‘hand-eye coordination’ was worthless as far as helping him win matches as a professional. It only helped him amuse people as a silly entertainer; that was it.
Wheaton had a smooth serve, and a great all court game
Complete Game, please!!!
Of all the screen grabs you could do for a thumbnail, you guys picked this one?! Guess somebody doesn’t think very highly of John McEnroe.
look up Sampras/Chang USO 96 final for a funny thumbnail
This was fun to watch!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
That John was able to play groundstrokes with these grips, unbelievable.
What do you mean by that please?
Max-John did everything (forehand, backhand, serve, volley with a continental grip.@@maxbowie6074
@@maxbowie6074 Johnny Mac has a continental grip which is very hard to hit consistent top spins with. However, he has a solid game from the baseline which shows his amazing racquet skills and talent with touch.
David wheaton had a beautiful game
Tennis today = getting to the ball and applying brute force.
That is not true. Game has evolved and players with it.
@@mirnesnuhanovic9597The game has deteriorated, and players with it.
@@fundhund62 I dimensional tennis 2024... you can keep it
John had such a great run in this tournament. I really wanted to see him win it, but Sampras handled him pretty easily in the semis, before routing Agassi in the Final.
During this time on hardcourts he'd run into a Lendl or Sampras who overpowered him. When Mac could dictate play he was tough.
Sampras played one of the top 5 matches of his career. And till needed 4 sets and a tie breaker
Mc jesus played again here with the small dunlop max 200 g ?? Incredible
sorry to be so greedy but I crave the McEnroe v Gene Meyer 1982 US Open Quarterfinal
some of the modern players are better but no one had more magic or artistry on the court and John held #1 player in the world for almost three years.
Non 4 ans
Whatever happened to David Wheaton? He never really progressed after 1991. I remember there being some controversy during the Miami tournament in 1991. Wheaton made a point of conspicuously wearing a stars and stripes bandana because the tournament was taking place during the Gulf War. A lot of the other American players were very critical, saying that he was being egotistical and trying to appropriate the American flag for himself. Of course, there was also the famous tussle with Brad Gilbert at the Grand Slam cup. I'm not sure he was hugely popular with the other make players, but he was close friends with Mary Joe Fernandez for a while.
Vitas calling the action. Sensational
That continental grip of McEnroe's on the forehand is something else. I think Wheaton looks a little limited here in terms of ability. A solid player, not elite level. I supposed proved by the fact we never really heard of him after his early years.
Wheaton was nice with it.
McEnroe is my favorite player of all time. He had success with strategy, angles and accuracy NOT racket technology.
Watching two baseliners going back and forth... waiting on the other to make a mistake is like watching paint dry or grass grow
💤 😴 💤💤😴💤💤
Todays 150 mph baseline play is BOOOORIIIING AF
Racket Technology and slow courts KILLED the serve and volley game. Killed the sport for me
🎾🪦
Low views show how good they really are. Standard tv view maybe best to see strategy.
The lower angle view is excellent. Makes you feel like you are in the contest.
@@alanchong7513 exactly true, but more strategy can be visualized from higher up but still behind the player. On the other hand the side view shows power and spin, but impossible to see strategy. That's just for tennis. For baseball the batter or umpires view is the best. For football much prefer from the goal field view. Hockey is also like football.
A performance so dominant it might have given Mac too much confidence going into the match with Sampras.
No Hawkeyes day. I agree with McEnroe that the shot was good. 17:04 .
What's missing are huge serves, huge returns on serves and big FH's & BH's. In other words today's tennis.
lmao today's tennis sucks balls
McEnroe… way out of his prime… last time he won a major was 1984
Makes it even more impressive. Also made it to the 92' semis of Wimbledon. Won the doubles in 95. Amazing career for a very long time.
John after 1984 did not evolve, he had talent always but he needed to evolve.
Wheaton = Todd Martin.
Just a bit more hot headed
when tennis was nice,slow and easy😀
Not really. This court was much faster than today.
There is nothing easier than playing with today's huge Rolls Royce rackets, who do all the work for you.
Back in the day, playing top level tennis took actual talent and skill.
That is not true. To play top tennis in any age takes huge talent and work.