Stefan Edberg's matches on tape

Stefan Edberg at his moment of triumph, USO 91

Alison Muscatine of the Washington Post said it best: "There is nothing more beautiful or more breathtaking than Stefan Edberg's tennis game when he is on. Every stroke is poetic, every movement lyrical." You have to see it to appreciate it.

• Early-career:
  • 1987 Australian Open final vs. Pat Cash: one of those hard-frought five-set wins that I cherish. Cash was the Australian national hero and Stefan was trying to defend his AO title. Stefan's early two-set lead dwindled to nothing in the Australian sun, and it was through a supreme display of wills that he managed to pull off a victory in this end. This match is a preview of his 1990 Wimbledon final victory.
  • 1987 Super Seiko final: This is a tapes that I got from a U.S. source (see below) that was recorded in SP mode and hence of unusual good quality. I had no idea that this was such a high quality match until I viewed it. As I watched this battle on tape, I was glued to my seat, just as the sold-out Japanese crowd did at the time that this match was played in a splendid Tokyo arena. Lendl and Edberg were then the #1 and #2 ranked players, and both were favorites of the Japanese crowd. This match, along with Stefan's 1991 USO match against Chang, is a supreme example of how engaging tennis can be when a defensive player (Lendl or Chang) is pitted against an offensive player, when both players are on. In this Tokyo match, a young 20-year old Stefan was the underdog against the then invincible Ivan Lendl. Ivan's formidable inside-out forehand and powerful ground strokes required a spectacular display of Stefan's net play for Edberg to secure a narrow victory. Stefan also played some great cross-court shots (backhand and running forehands), and got some help from some line calls that irked Lendl. But what's really precious about this tape is the special camera angle that the Japanese TV film crew employed. A camera was mounted in the center of the net to give the viewers a close-up look of the players (mostly Stefan) as they approach the net. Especially spectacular is one point in the last set where Stefan, at net, was drilled by Ivan three times. Three times the ball went at full force right at Edberg's body, and he volleyed back in reflex. The athleticism of Edberg, shown at that angle, is simply breathtaking.
  • 1988 Wimbledon semi-final against Miloslav Mecir -- then known as the "Swedes killer" for his tendency to befuddle Swedish players, especially Mats Wilander. Stefan was down and out by two sets and came back from the brink of defeat, The match point was a "play of the day" highlight, and a closeup shot of the shy smile flashed by a radiant young Stefan (at 22 year old) as he turned around to see Mecir unexpectedly dump the last ball into the net is priceless.
  • 1988 Wimbledon final: A delightful match of Stefan upsetting favorite three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker. Along with his 1991 final, this is one of the matches where Stefan's game was "on song" and the radiance of his being exudes an aura of invincibility. Stefan wore his hairs long then, and was not as lean as in later years. To Edberg fans, this was a true feast for the eyes. The full ceremony coverage is a true bonus.
  • 1989 Wimbledon semi-final against John McEnroe. It was the first time that these two net-play virtuosos finally met on grass. Stefan was at his prime, John, a Wimbledon crowd favorite, was on a streak on his comeback trail after his marriage. Keenly aware of the formidable task at hand, a very tense Stefan barely held McEnroe at bay on the strength of his serve and the firmness and precision of his volleys. This is a priceless collection of two masters - Rex Bellamy of the London Times summed up the match nicely:
    "This contest between the inscrutable Swede and the scrutably artistic anti-hero was mostly conducted in terse, strong terms. But there were sporadic rallies in which both men deftly explored the possibilities for finesse, usually in the forecourt. One says ``usually'' because Edberg in particular also played some teasing lobs. McEnroe entertained us with a rich variety of volleys: some like arrows, others like feathers. What a glorious touch he has. The personalities were interesting, too. One saw Edberg as a composed, elegant gunfighter and McEnroe as the type who emerges wild-eyed from back-street bars, looking for trouble and well able to deal with it. Edberg was tall, erect, willowy: McEnroe, on the other hand, looked rather rumpled and fidgety, as if he had dressed in a hurry.
    McEnroe often looked slightly the more flexible in his control of the racket head and the technical diversity he commanded. But Edberg kept pounding away, volleying to the corners, and slamming every door McEnroe tried to open. Edberg's emotional response to the ebb and flow of the match was seldom evident: except for his shuffling hop of pleasure whenever he had done something clever. McEnroe is not the kind to give even that much indication that he is happy. His feelings became clear only in a gloomy way: when he had fallen short in his ceaseless pursuit of perfection. In his time, he has been closer than most men to attaining that unattainable goal."
  • 1990 Wimbledon final: famous five-setter against Becker. Stefan, looking leaner and very tense, played unbelievable tennis in the first two sets, only to lose steam in the next two. A lob in the fifth set salvaged the match and elicited an emotional reaction from Stefan as the world seldom saw. Especially memorable is the affection shown by Boris, who climbed over the net to Stefan and gave him a hug. Stefan's shy smile on as he embraced Becker is unforgettable.
• Mid-career:
  • Three 1991 US Open matches – Stefan at his finest, fittest, and the most handsome. Some of these matches are described in articles that I collected, see here.
    • 4th round match against Michael Chang: This, in my opinion, was Stefan's best match, a virtuoso performance. It was not as one-sided as his final victory. And it was a rare night match. Stefan played and looked sensational. I especially admire the calm and control displayed by Stefan at crunch points, including overcoming a break point at the end of the match. Michael Chang had beaten John McEnroe in the previous round, and was finally getting the support that he deserved from the crowd. Supposedly Michael was asked, after the match, if he had ever played so well and still lost. Stefan won in straight-sets: 7-6, 7-5, 6-3, but it was an extremely close match that was often breathbreaking. Both players struck the ball cleanly and shots were hit with pin-point accuracy. An incredible and unforgettable match.
      Highlights:
      • Several points when both players ran back and forth many time, side to side.
      • Stefan hit a drop shot at the net and bounced around a little (“using some body English”).
      • Stefan knelt at the net, willing a net ball to bounce over to the other side, which it did, after bouncing on the net twice. Michael Chen picked up the ball and, in mock disgust, gently tossed it at Stefan, who looked up in surprise and then with a shy smile. The ball did hit Edberg too.
    • Semi-final against Ivan Lendl – straight-set win: After a tentative start, Stefan continued his fine form and won effortlessly. Not as entertaining as the previous match, as Ivan was not playing at his best.
      Highlights:
      • A behind-the-back, winning shot by each player. Ivan pulled the stunt first, and, several games later, Stefan returned the favor and broke into a grin as he did – the crowd went wild. Ivan then said loudly: “I guess anyone can make that shot these days”, to the cheers of the crowd.
      • At the end of the match, a fantastic looking Stefan, hardly sweaty, signed for the crowd.
    • The final – a sweet victory, a straight-set win over Courier: Edberg considers this his best match ever. Stefan put on a superb display of tennis, with great poise and confidence that overcame a stadium (25,000 people) full of audience mostly rooting for his American opponent.
      The highlight of the match was in the last game of the second set. Arthur Ashe wrote in a New York Times column thus: Edberg had been in the so-called "zone" (when an athlete can do no wrong) since the fourth round, when he dispatched Michael Chang in straight sets. In this mind-set, he believed he could do anything at any time. He tried shots that usually qualify as risky, and they worked.
      Edberg started the match serving down the middle to crowd Courier. Several serves were so well-placed that Courier's return was more self-defense than forehand or backhand. Courier tried moving his return position up, back, to the left, to the right. Nothing worked. There was one opening at 4-4, 15-30, Edberg serving in the second set. Called for a first-serve foot-fault, Edberg spun in a second serve to Courier's two-handed backhand, which he nailed cross-court. From knee-high level, Edberg deftly side-spun a backhand volley just inside Courier's forehand sideline for a clean winner. Courier just smiled the smile of resignation.
      On the next point, Edberg was again called for a first-serve foot-fault. Again, he won the point at the net on the second volley. It was Courier's last stand. He didn't win another game."
      And a sweet bonus: At the end of the match, Edberg ran into the stands to embrace a radiant Annette, and to receive a fatherly tousling of his hairs by Coach Tony Pickard. I watch this tape regularly, especially around holidays.
  • 1992 USOpen.
    Some of these matches are described in articles that I collected, see here. While not playing his best, Stefan was at his most admirable in 3 back-to-back 5-setters in each of which he came back from the brink of defeat. Down a break in the final set, Stefan prevailed over, in succession, Krajicek, Lendl, and, in a 5-hour and 30-minutes match, Michael Chang. I have tapes of the the Krajicek and Chang matches, although neither one is in very good condition. Just seeing Edberg keeping his poise and calmly serving out the final game after an incredibly trying match is a treat. Unforgettable display of sportsmanship, will, and occasional brilliance. And I melt everytime when the tape showed Stefan, after the match was finally over, mouthing "I will" to an ATP trainer who was probably offering some medical advice (such as "drink fluid".)
• Career-end:
  • Edberg vs. Chang, Roland Garros, 1996.
    An unexpected win in front of an adoring French Open crowd. Numerous articles on this match -- see the articles section.
  • 1996 USO matches:
    In his last US Open, Stefan had full-crowd support when he opened the tournament with an upset over then Wimbledon Champion Richard Krajicek, then went on to win three more matches before losing to Ivanisevic.
  • Edberg vs. Muster, Vienna, 1996, a little known match that had high-drama, as Stefan defeated Thomas Muster on his home turf yet once more, to maintain a unblemished record. Read my posting to rec.sports.tennis about this match, a tape of which I finally obtained in 2001.

1985 Australian Open Semifinals.  Stefan Edberg def Ivan Lendl, 
    6-7, 7-5, 6-1, 4-6, 9-7.  2 tape set 

1985 Davis Cup Finals. Boris Becker def Stefan Edberg, 
    6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 8-6.  Two greats meet as teenagers! 

1986 U.S. Open Semifinals.  Ivan lendl def Stefan Edberg, 
    7-6, 6-2, 6-3 

1986 Nabisco Masters.  Stefan Edberg def Yannick Noah,  
    4-6, 6-3, 7-6 

1987 Australian Open Finals. Stefan Edberg def Pat Cash,  
    6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3.  2 tape set 

1987 Thriftway ATP Finals. Stefan Edberg def Boris Becker,  
    6-4,   6-1.  Edberg is flawless 

1987 Canadian Open Finals.  Ivan lendl def Stefan Edberg, 
    6-4, 7-6 

1987 U.S. Open Semifinals.  Mats Wilander def Stefan  Edberg,
    6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 

1987 Seko Super Tennis Finals.  Stefan Edberg def Ivan Lendl,
    6-7, 6-4, 6-4 

1987 WCT Semifinals.  John McEnroe def Stefan Edberg,
   7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 

 1988 Wimbledon Finals.  Stefan Edberg def Boris Becker,
   4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-2 

1989 Volvo Los Angeles Semifinals.  Stefan Edberg def 
   Pete  Sampras, 6-2, 6-7, 6-1 

1989 Wimbledon Semifinals.  Stephan Edberg def.
   John McEnroe, 7-5, 7-5, 7-6.  2 tape set 

1989 Wimbledon Finals.  Boris Becker def Stefan Edberg,
   6-0, 7-6, 6-4.  Becker's third Wimbledon title. 

1989 Masters Finals.  Stefan Edberg def Boris Becker,
   4-6, 7-6, 6-3, 6-1.  2 tape set 

1989 ATP Championship Finals. Brad Gilbert def Stefan
  Edberg, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 

1990 Australian Open Finals.  Ivan Lendl def Stefan Edberg,
  4-6, 7-6, 5-2, ret. inj. 

1990 Wimbledon Semifinals. Stefan Edberg def Ivan Lendl,
  6-1, 7-6, 6-3.  Edberg at the height of his powers 

1990 Wimbledon Finals.  Stefan Edberg def Boris Becker,
  6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4.  Edberg turns the tables 

1991 U.S. Open Semifinals.  Stefan Edberg def Ivan Lendl,
  6-3, 6-3, 6-4 

1991 U.S. Open Finals. Stefan Edberg def Jim Courier,
  6-2, 6-4, 6-0 

1991 Japan Open Finals.  Stefan Edberg def Ivan Lendl,
  6-1, 7-5, 6-0 

1992 Australian Open Finals.  Jim Courier def Stefan Edberg,
  6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.  2 tape set 

1992 U.S. Open Fourth Round. Stefan Edberg def Richard 
  Krajicek, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. 2 tape set 

1992 U.S. Open Quarterfinals.  Stefan Edberg def Ivan Lendl,
  6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 7-6.  2 tape set 

1992 U.S. Open Semifinals. Stefan Edberg def Michael Chang,
  6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4.  2 tape set 

1992 U.S. Open Finals.  Stephan Edberg def Pete Sampras,
  3-6,  6-4, 7-6, 6-2 

1992 Davis Cup.  United States vs Sweeden. McEnroe/Sampras
  def Edberg, Jarryd, 6-1, 6-7, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.  Match is 
 joined in progress at 6-1, 1-0. 

1993 Australian Open Semifinals.  Stefan Edberg def 
 Pete Sampras, 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 

1993 Australian Open Finals.  Jim Courier def Stefan Edberg,
  6-2, 6-1, 2-6, 7-5 

1994 Indian Wells Semifinals.  Pete Sampras def Stefan 
 Edberg, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 

1995 U.S. Open 3rd Round.  Andre Agassi def Stefan Edberg,
  6-4, 6-3, 6-1 

1995 Legg Mason Semifinals. Stefan Edberg def Patrick 
  Rafter, 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 

1995 Legg Mason Finals.  Andre Agassi def Stefan Edberg,
  6-4, 2-6, 7-5 

1996 French Open 3rd Rnd. Stefan Edberg def Michael Chang 
 4-6, 7-5, 6-0, 7-6. Unseeded Edberg near end of career upsets #4