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TENNIS
LEGENDS SPEAK THEIR MINDS…
GUILLERMO VILAS
Popularly known, during his playing days, as the 'bull of the
pampas', at 48 he is one of the oldest pros on the senior tour,
but certainly one of the fittest.
On his memories of playing against Borg…
He was terrific. I mean, it was sometimes a nightmare to play against
him.
VIJAY (chipping in)
I remember one particular final they were playing, I think it was
in 1975… I was doing my first television job for an American network.
I entered the cabin and put on my headphones and the referee called
play. Vilas and Borg were both ten feet behind the baseline…I picked
my paper The Herald Tribune and finished it first page to
last page. Then I took off my headphones and went outside. I took
a walk around the stadium and soaked in the atmosphere, (…"first
day at office, you know", quips Vilas)… then I came back to
the cabin and put on my headphones and you know what? The first
point was still in progress…(Borg smiles)
VIJAY AMRITRAJ
Comparing the present generation of tennis
players to the players back in the 70's…
 Certainly
we were better (a chorus of 'awws' from the others). I think the
Tennis 25 years ago was certainly better. Its not right to compare
two generations. We were best in our times and the present guys
are best in their times and the future guys are going to be the
best in their times. But I would still say that during our time
it was very good. I mean Borg would come to Wimbledon back
from the French Open that is played on clay, and everybody
would say that he cannot volley at all and he would win yet another
Wimbledon. That was incredible. Also, he had to contend with the
likes of guys like Mcnammara and myself; not the best in
the world, but capable of stretching these guys to the point where
they had to fight back to win. These guys really earned their titles.
For me Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg are the greatest of all time.
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