FULL VERSION McEnroe vs Cash 1992 WB Italian Language

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Copyrights - RAI 2 FTA-FTV satellite; DTT (Italy) / BBC (UK) and The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club Ltd. (UK)
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Thank you for your gracious use of this classic match!



PertSnergleman's Review:


It seemed appropriate, coming on the anniversary of Wimbledon's longest match -- a five-set, 112-game, five-hour and 12-minute first-round marathon between Pancho Gonzales and Charlie Pasarell in 1969. This match between McEnroe and Cash will certainly take its place among the best played in this venerable tournament.

"It was a very good standard of tennis," Cash said. "It was great tennis. If he plays to that standard, he's going to go a long way this year. But after five tough sets like that, I think it's going to be hard."

Said McEnroe: "It was good tennis. It was fun. The end was fun."

John McEnroe, who beat Pat Cash eight years ago in a three-set Wimbledon semifinal, won this time in a second-round match, 4 hours 9 minutes of sometimes brilliant, mostly uphill, but constantly entertaining tennis, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-7 (1-7), 6-3, 6-2.

As far as history goes--and it goes a long way around here--McEnroe-Cash assumed a degree of importance that it probably wouldn't have had elsewhere. But here was 33-year-old McEnroe, who last won a Wimbledon title eight years ago, crossing rackets and trading volleys with 1987 champion Cash, only 27, but all the way down to No. 198 in the rankings and all but retired for the last two years.

Still, McEnroe wasn't about to knock the quality of his opponent or overvalue the worth of a second-round victory.

They looked like a somewhat ragtag duo, Cash, ranked No. 191, with his ponytail and earring and McEnroe, ranked No. 31, with one knee bound in a garish bandage. But immediately it was clear that McEnroe's age and Cash's various physical ailments had not detracted from their greatness.

McEnroe's serve was particularly effective at the outset, as Cash was unable to land a break point until the ninth game of the second set. But he still won the first set, fighting off a break point at 3-4 and a set point at 4-5, and then foiling his petulant opponent in the tiebreaker.

By then Cash was on a roll, winning 17 of 18 straight points on his serve and appearing to have the momentum. But McEnroe, occasionally pounding his racket to the ground in frustration, finally deciphered Cash's serve and broke at 2-2 in the second. That was enough to take the set.

They swapped the next two sets -- in the fourth McEnroe fought off four break points and held serve throughout.

The fifth set began with McEnroe serving himself into a hole at 0-1. He faced four break points, and four times extricated himself either with great serves or great volleys.

One point, in particular, was memorable. Serving at 15-40, McEnroe drilled a serve down the middle to Cash's backhand.

"I probably hit the best backhand return I hit in the whole match," Cash said, "and he sticks his racket out and flings {the ball} across the court. It was just an incredible volley and that was probably the difference between winning and losing."

"If I'm in the final, then it's more important, the second round is a lot different," McEnroe said. "But I'm very proud of it. It's a great win for me."

Cash was awarded wild-card entry into the tournament as a past champion because his ranking was too low to earn a direct admission. He has played only three other tournaments this year and is not sure he wants to commit full time to tennis.

"It's a bit silly to say right now," he said. "What can I say? Right now, it's very frustrating. You just get a bit sick of being a good loser."

McEnroe, who once made a record for charity with Cash, said he felt an edge over his friend because of Cash's lack of match play. McEnroe gently urged Cash not to put down his racket.

"I hope that he continues playing," McEnroe said. "I think he's too good a player. He's got a great personality for tennis (and) I do feel in a way he's got a lot left."

When the end came, Cash buried a backhand into the net, McEnroe raised two weary arms in triumph and clenched his fists. The crowd stood and applauded, first as the players put on their warm-ups, then as they walked slowly off the court.