Play was really continous back then: Tanner bounced ball twice before serving, Vilas bounced ball once. In Paris Nole was bouncing the ball 20 times! They should really reduce the time between points! Tanner and Vilas were drinking Coca Cola on the changeovers.
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Regards, Phil -
1977 Australian Open...Guillermo Vilas vs. Roscoe Tanner
An interesting contrast of styles from two great lefties towards the end of the classic era of tennis. Roscoe Tanner playing with his "aluminum" PdP model racquet, one of the first metals introduced to the game. Guillermo Vilas using the Head "Vilas" model which was an open throat wooden racquet with graphite or fiberglass inlays. It was just marginally oversized than the traditional racquets.
John Newcombe in the booth...an astute student of the game. I wonder who the other fellow is.
Grass courts before the tournament went to the hard courts. A decided advantage for the quintessential serve and volleyer Roscoe Tanner compared to the Argentine clay court base liner Vilas. I used to really like Guillermo Vilas. He started to eat his way up the food chain in or around 1973. I saw him at the old Washington Star tournament in D. C. with Don Budge and his tennis camp. Mr. Budge was really high on Vilas...he just loved the backhand and the way he was able to drive it with topspin.
Here's part two...Tanner leading 6-3, 6-3, 3-2 or something like that.
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Uh....Is this right? I thought our own John Lloyd played in the 1977 Aussie Open final....against Vitas Gerulaitis?!
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There were two Australian Opens played that year.Comment
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Yes you're right. I just took a look at the roll of honour. I wonder if that was when they moved its position in the season?
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