Bjorn BorgThe Wimbledon Collection - The Classic Match - Borg vs. McEnroe 1980 Final

I've been watching and playing tennis for parts of five decades, still active in the 55 and Over USTA tournaments. However, I have found that most of my tennis friends don't have the interest to watch a 5-set men's match, especially given the way the men play the game today.This match, a classic by any standard, will probably hold the interest of most tennis fans. While tennis in 1980 was played at a slower, less powerful pace due to the use of wood racquets, the shot making was nearly flawless, especially during the epic 34 point tie-breaker at the end of the fourth set. It is tennis the way most of us hackers who grew up watching Laver, Rosewall, Ashe, Borg and McEnroe, remember it. This match highlights the touch and finesse both men owned, as well as allowing the viewer to see points crafted like a chess master might craft a winning attack.The BBC announcers are always understated, letting the play take center stage. I personally enjoy seeing the mastery of the young McEnroe at the net and the unflappable Borg, looking the same whether he was losing the first set 6-1 or getting ready to win the match at the end of the fifth set.Re-reading this review, I realize that I'm probably in need of a Tennis Exorcist. Which doesn't diminish the fact that it was a great match.

Borg was my idol when I was beginning to play tennis, so I have enjoyed watching this match. The editing was good, but it seemed that the frame rate was a little off. Borg and Mac seemed a little "robotic" like the editor decided to speed up time by about 15%. Still enjoyable.

This is one of the best $20 purchases of my life - I see it about once every year. As a genuine tennis fan, I had read all about THE tiebreak, of course. (Borg still grumbles that people think he lost the match.) But it was much more wonderful to actually see it on DVD and listen to the mature BBC commentators and take in the crowd's excitement uninterrupted by commercials. The DVD quality is very good. A must-have for any true tennis fan.

As the tennis essentials are probrably well known to all considering thisdvd, I'll simply say this is a wonderfully produced dvd. The understatedbbc commentary provides an interesting contrast to the hyperbolic americanstyle. Also, with no commercials, the camera catches interesting personalitystudies of Borg and McEnroe on the change over breaks. McEnroe's endless relacingof his sneakers seems almost compulsive; Borg's impassivity strangely haunted.Great.

i used to think that i missed the days of serve-and-volley tennis. i grew up enthralled by the days of watching edburg and becker pound and rush, and to me that technique represented power, finesse, and entertainment to boot. on the flipside and surprisingly, being able to see this match really just makes me grateful that i am able to watch tennis in the current era.it is my understanding that in other settings and in other cases, both of these players maintained a technique that involved a mastery of truly exact shots, angle-making, and controlled power. i wish i could see that; i wish i could see them on clay, for one. i hate to say it, but while this match does contain an occasional shot or two that displays an uncanny exactness and pro-level technique put in today's terms, for the most part 1)there seems to be so much unforced error and randomness compared to today's pros 2)the watcher here is truly hard-pressed to wait for a point that is over 3 hits total or has any rally-drama whatsoever, that this match in my opinion falls pretty flat, ESPECIALLY considering all the hype and pomp that built it up as one of the "greatest tennis matches ever" in the print media.i could be wrong, but after watching this, i can't help but think to myself that players in the top 150 nowadays would give both of these folks at this level a run for their money. i know to some that is verging on blasphemous, because to be honest, this DVD makes me love bjorn too. just his absolutely unaffectable demeanor throughout, his utter cool stance makes him legendary. it is easy to see his mythic proportions and hero-status come to life. that said, watch any broadcast of any pro match nowadays and just for a player to even hang whatsoever, they are required to absolutely paint the lines, maintain top atheletic stamina, create a mental game out of strategy and angles, be thinking on their feet constantly for minute-long points at a time, and serve well for sure. compare that to the double faults, the constant overshots and net-balls, and simplicity of strategy here and it seems literally archaic. the difference in courtspeed and string/racquet technology is identified as the progenitor of the demise of serve-and-volley, and i have to admit at this point that we fans are better for it.as far as the commentating here, i think a fairly good summary of what the watcher gets is "monotone from captain obvious brit x spelling out exactly what is plain before the eyes." seriously, the extent to which supposed tennis subtlety is discussed is relegated to a constant discussion of "a serve and volley strategy" and whether that seems to be working for the players at hand. really? you got an actual paycheck for saying over and over in plain english what is right in front on the screen for anybody to see? the nice irony here is that mcenroe himself has nowadays become a master analyst and extremely profound and perceptive commentator on the pros of today, and puts this level commentating to shame. some people will say they find him narcissistic and annoying, but i believe that only points to their bias towards him. he's truly insightful.it might be nitpicking, but it is worth stating that at the time of this match there is only one full-court camera present, supplemented by a couple roving ones, on one face-angle of the court. so you either get the server on the far side, or directly in front, depending on what action is happening with respect to that camera. that said, the vid quality here is surprisingly good for 1980.overall i wouldn't say it is a bad purchase to add this to your collection, because it really offers perspective and clarity on how the game we all l'oeve has changed in a short 30+ years, but i would say that it is not as easy to sit through as the hype makes it out to be, because the strategy and drama is waaay more simplistic by today's standards. i honestly would adore to no end federer stepping into a time machine and going back and annihilating all these guys even on their fluffy grass with wooden raquets.

The photography is fine, McEnroe behaves throughout, and neither player seems to say a word during the entire five sets. The spectators, like the players, act like human beings, with no uncontrolled temper fits, and no juvenile behavior among the fans. It is pleasant to watch a tennis match rather than a performance. The significant thing here is that both players display awesome playing throughout this match. Thoroughly enjoyable. And no commercials--just five sets of great tennis with sensible commentary.

If you like these 2 players you will enjoy. Also great in the library of sport to watch any time of year with friends.

Once you start this DVD, it'll be difficult to stop watching until match point. I can't add anything that wasn't mentioned by other customer reviewers, except this -- If you're like most tennis fans, you've probably forgotten who won, which makes the recording all the more exciting. This brings me to my only gripe -- the packaging gives away the outcome. So, when it arrives, don't read, just open the drawer on your DVD player and watch.