A VINTAGE RIVALRY LAID TO REST

One of the greatest tennis rivalries of all time was laid to rest right here in Dubai when the maverick American John McEnroe got past the ice cool Bjorn Borg at The Legends Rock Dubai at the beginning of this month. Going into their 15th meeting during their contrasting careers, it was the American who walked away victorious with a 4-6, 6-4, 10-4 win in the super tie-breaker at a packed Madinat Jumeirah. Till then, honours had been split even at 7-7 and each of the two greats was keen to take a bow on a winning note.

The encounter between Borg and McEnroe was part of a bigger extravaganza featuring eight of the best tennis players of yesteryears. There was the amusing Ilie Nastase, the sturdy Guy Forget, the amiable Henri Leconte, Australia's greatest Peter McNamara, Spanish giant Emilio Sanchez and the fun-loving Iranian turned Frenchman, Mansour Bahrami.

The meeting between Borg and McEnroe was not by chance. The showdown was deliberate to a fault - with both players keen to compete one last time against each other. "I think it is high time to stop playing against him (Borg) now that I have won and lead 8-7," McEnroe said with a twinkle in his eye after his victory in front of adoring fans.

The historic encounter was tennis at its best. Initially, Borg looked rusty to say the least. But help was on the way as McEnroe, though reportedly more prepared of the two, looked nervous and tentative. This reflected on the American's play as he went about ironing out the creases.

However, through it all the fans were treated to rare delights, Borg in particular excelling with his custom-made double-handed backhand returns. But, McEnroe had his own silent way of handling the pressure as he continuously nestled the ball out of reach of the ageing Swede. And through it all, McEnroe showed none of his fiery temper, except for the rare occasion when he threw his arms in the air after making a fine shot, or admonished one of the line judges with a pointed finger.

It was McEnroe who held the early advantage with a break interspersed with two held serves to go 3-0 up in the first set. But Borg came bouncing back with a break of his own in the fifth game, and then held serve to draw level at 3-3.

From then on, it was Borg all the way as he allowed his American opponent very little liberty, breaking him one more time in the ninth game, to win the set 6-4.

The second set was a contrast with McEnroe making a break in the fourth game followed by a held serve for a 4-1 cushion. But Borg was not finished as he fought right back taking the next three games on the trot to level 4-4.

And just then, he ran out of ideas and fuel as McEnroe broke him, and then, held serve to win the set 6-4 and force the super tie-breaker.

The tie-breaker was done and dusted in a jiffy as McEnroe powered to a 4-1 lead. Borg showed signs of occasional resistance, but the American was way ahead of his rival as he took the tie-breaker and the match 10-4.

"Yes, this is something I had been waiting for such a long time. And now that I've played him one last time and won, you will never imagine how much this means to me," the American star added.

Borg did not have to exert too much to be gracious - that comes to him so very naturally. "It would have been good to bow out on a winning note," he smiled. "But, I think the main thing tonight was that the people enjoyed each and every moment of this match. Both of us played some great tennis and the people loved every bit of it," Borg said.

Both players had taken this encounter very seriously - McEnroe even partnering Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman in a couple of tournaments on the men's tour to prepare for this encounter, while Borg opted to spend nearly four months of intensive training in Stockholm.

There was a real reason in this tennis extravagance. Borg had McEnroe were meeting for the very last time in a singles encounter. "I want this to be a memorable meeting for me," Borg had told media at the pre-event press conference. And after losing, he very much harboured the same sentiments. "The result was really not important to both of us," Borg said.

"Of course, I would have loved to bow out on a winning note. But what is even more important to the two of us is that we played some real, solid tennis and, in the end, there was not just one winner - the sport also benefited," Borg smiled.

Farbod Dowlatshahi from organizers Delwood Consultancy Services was over the moon with the success of the three-day event. "Earlier this year, it was Federer versus Nadal (during the final of the Dubai Duty Free Men's Open) and now McEnroe versus Borg. What more can someone ask for?," Farbod queried.

PROMISE TO RETURN

The tennis legends left, though with a promise to be back next year. "Yes, I will return if I am invited by the organizers next year," Borg vouched.

"This is an event I have enjoyed being at for the past two years as I find it very fulfilling to engage myself with people who enjoy this sport," the Swede stated.

Former world number one Ilie Nastase, a great hit on and off the court, is keen to get back to Dubai. "This place keeps on changing all the time. I enjoy being here and taking in the great hospitality of Dubai," the Romanian star said.

Frenchmen Guy Forget and Henri Leconte also do not mind an encore in Dubai. "The people are so friendly here. By taking part in such events I am able to give back something to a sport that has given me so much," Leconte stated.

Forget, who was also here for the inaugural event last year, was pleased at the following tennis has in the UAE. "There is so much of enthusiasm and this is the right way of going about with it," added Forget.

"Kids are very dear to me and it is but proper to ensure that they get the basics right. Organizing such events can only achieve this objective," said Peter McNamara, a first-time visitor to The Legends Rock Dubai.

Spain's Emilio Sanchez, who runs the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona, feels that attendance at events such as The Legends Rock Dubai can only assist in the spreading of the base of the sport in the country. "Such exhibitions will be good not just for the kids of this country, but it will benefit the entire region," Sanchez predicted.

"It gives me great pleasure to be part of such an event. It only gives me an opportunity to teach the small ones and help them," the Spaniard smiled.

ALL FOR CHARITY

One of the highlights at The Legends Rock Dubai is the element of charity at the event. Players participating in the event freely parted with some of their playing equipment that was to be auctioned off by Christie's of London. The amount raised through the auction is meant to be given off to two separate charities - the King Hussein Cancer Foundation based in Amman, Jordan and the Dubai Centre for Special Needs.

"We have fared much better than what we did last year," disclosed Farbod.

"Each of these two charities are assured of more than $50,000," he stated.

Farbod's commitment to the cause comes from his love for the game and his thirst to do something to lend a helping hand to the underprivileged. Last year's auction also benefited two charities - the Little Dreams Foundation backed by famed singer Phil Collins and the Dubai Centre for Special Needs.

"All through the year I am busy with my business. But at this time of the year, I am only thinking of making money which will benefit others," Farbod stated.

"This is a structured way of helping these organizations. This is our corporate responsibility. We want to make the difference by using sport as a medium," Farbod said.

"It is this time of the year that I feel so good about myself," he added.

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