The Best of U.S. Open Tennis: 1980-1990

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The Best of U.S. Open Tennis: 1980-1990 with Michael Mendl, Peter Sattmann, Martina Gedeck, Klaus J. Behrendt   List Price: $19.98 Used & New: from $8.95 Average Review: Description This highlight reel of the top men's and women's matches comes complete with sizzling serves, piercing passing shots, great ground strokes, victorious volleys--all the shots the great champions make. It is a compilation of tournament thrills that will delight die-hard tennis aficionados. The best aspect of this video is that it offers a glimpse of tennis greats from three decades. The beginning years rely on the stars who brought the sport critical recognition in the 1970s. Bad boys John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors show only their best sides and statesmanly Swede Bjorn Borg is tortured in the final match of the only Grand Slam tournament he failed to win. On the women's side, there is the ice maiden of the 1970s Chris Evert-Lloyd and the emergence of her biggest rival, Martina Navratilova. Navratilova and fellow Czech ex-patriot Ivan Lendl dominate the mid-1980s, while the final three years are an introduction to the stars who ruled the next decade. German powerhouse Steffi Graf wins her first two Opens, including the 1988 to complete the first Grand Slam in tennis in 19 years. And on the men's side, there is the arrival of Boris Becker and teen idol Andre Agassi. But the real thunder comes in 1990, when 19-year-old Pete Sampras displays the perfection that will dominate the sport for the next decade. Not even the timid work of CBS commentators Tim Ryan, Pat Summerall, and Tony Trabert can spoil the great plays. Unfortunately great tennis usually coincides with great drama, and this can't be captured in snippets of action. Still, just to see most of these great Hall of Famers at their best is like serving an ace. --Gordie Sholtys More Reviews GREAT COLLECTOR'S ITEM    Review Date: 2002-04-29 I am a beginning tennis player and love the sport. It is an excellent video and was everything I hoped it would be. I loved seeing the old tennis greats: Chris Evert, Tracy Austin, Steffi Graf and of the men: Connors, McEnroe, Agassi, Lendl and Sampras.....It was awesome just reliving all the final moments of their winning.The players of that decade really showed a lot of emotion, spunk, and grit. Last but not least, Connors comedic court display when his opponent fails to return the shot always keeps me entertained. Looking forward to seeing another video for the next decade of U.S. Open Champs. A Viewer    Review Date: 2002-04-18 80 minutes of awesome pro tennis action! If you were into stars of the '80's era, or just enjoy awesome tennis highlights, you'll love this! Both the guys and the gals: McEnroe, Connors, Evert, Navatilova, Lendl, Sampras, Graf and many more. Truly captures some of the most exciting tennis of the decade and I thoroughly enjoyed it! If you're a real tennis enthusiast - YOU WILL TOO! Highly recommended! 80 minutes of GREAT tennis highlights !    Review Date: 2001-11-15 There must be 2 different versions of this video, because the " Best of US Open Tennis 1980-1990" video I have is over 80 minutes long (unlike a previous reviewer whose tape was apparently less than an hour long). This is an excellent summary of the major U.S. Open matches of that decade - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Pretty much a summary of the major matches of the 80s    Review Date: 2001-11-08 The video is rather short with coverage of only a couple of points for each match shown. But it does show highlights of matches featuring top players of the 80s. I enjoy footage with McEnroe, Connors and Pete Sampras. The video would worth 5 stars had it been at least an hour long. Nevertheless it's a must-see video for the US Open fans. Very very disappointing    Review Date: 2000-01-10 This video, which I was really looking forward to, turned out to be almost completely worthless. It is quite short (half an hour?) Only one or two points or parts of points are shown per each year of the US open in the 80s. Despite the lack of time in which to actually present any meaningful tennis, the producers did choose to show you extensive views of the the spectators, almost as much time is devoted to showing you the crowd scene as the tennis. Also they do a little review of the non-sports events of each year (Reagan was elected president etc. etc.) that takes up more precious time. The result is that almost no tennis is on this video. I have no idea who they thought would appreciate this dog. A complete waste of time and money.