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Edberg–Lendl rivalry

The Edberg–Lendl rivalry was a tennis rivalry between Stefan Edberg and Ivan Lendl. They competed 27 times during their careers, between 1984 and 1992, and Edberg leads the head-to-head 14–13. In an interview with the ATP in 2008, Edberg reflected on his classic rivalries.[1] Edberg led their five-set matches at 3–2.

Stefan Edberg
Ivan Lendl

Head-to-head

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Legend Edberg Lendl
Grand Slam 5 4
Masters Grand Prix 2 2
WCT Finals 0 1
ATP International Series 7 6
Total 14 13

Singles (27)

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Edberg 14 – Lendl 13

No. Year Tournament Surface Round Winner Score Edberg Lendl
1. 1984 Rotterdam Open Carpet Semifinals Lendl 6–3, 2–6, 7–6(7–4) 0 1
2. 1985 Miami Open Hard Last 16 Edberg 6–4, 7–6(7–4) 1 1
3. 1985 WCT Finals Carpet Quarterfinals Lendl 3–6, 7–6(10–8), 3–6, 6–1, 6–2 1 2
4. 1985 Australian Open Grass Semifinals Edberg 6–7(3–7), 7–5, 6–1, 4–6, 9–7 2 2
5. 1986 US Open Hard Semifinals Lendl 7–6(8–6), 6–2, 6–3 2 3
6. 1986 Tokyo Indoor Carpet Semifinals Edberg 7–5, 6–1 3 3
7. 1986 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Round Robin Lendl 6–3, 6–4 3 4
8. 1987 Wimbledon Grass Semifinals Lendl 3–6, 6–4, 7–6(10–8), 6–4 3 5
9. 1987 Canadian Open Hard Final Lendl 6–4, 7–6(7–2) 3 6
10. 1987 Tokyo Indoor Carpet Final Edberg 6–7(4–7), 6–4, 6–4 4 6
11. 1988 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Semifinals Lendl 6–3, 7–6(7–4) 4 7
12. 1989 Eagle Classic Hard Final Lendl 6–2, 6–3 4 8
13. 1989 Japan Open Hard Final Edberg 6–3, 2–6, 6–4 5 8
14. 1989 Stockholm Open Carpet Semifinals Lendl 6–0, 2–6, 6–3 5 9
15. 1989 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Semifinals Edberg 7–6(7–5), 7–5 6 9
16. 1990 Australian Open Hard Final Lendl 4–6, 7–6(7–3), 5–2 RET 6 10
17. 1990 Wimbledon Grass Semifinals Edberg 6–1, 7–6(7–2), 6–3 7 10
18. 1990 Sydney Indoor Hard (i) Semifinals Edberg 3–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–3 8 10
19. 1990 Tokyo Indoor Carpet Semifinals Lendl 7–5, 6–3 8 11
20. 1990 ATP World Tour Championships Carpet Semifinals Edberg 6–4, 6–2 9 11
21. 1991 Australian Open Hard Semifinals Lendl 6–4, 5–7, 3–6, 7–6(7–3), 6–4 9 12
22. 1991 Japan Open Hard Final Edberg 6–1, 7–5, 6–0 10 12
23. 1991 ATP Long Island Hard Final Lendl 6–3, 6–2 10 13
24. 1991 US Open Hard Semifinals Edberg 6–3, 6–3, 6–4 11 13
25. 1992 Australian Open Hard Quarterfinals Edberg 4–6, 7–5, 6–1, 6–7(7–5), 6–1 12 13
26. 1992 Volvo International Hard Semifinals Edberg 7–6(7–2), 4–6, 6–3 13 13
27. 1992 US Open Hard Quarterfinals Edberg 6–3, 6–3, 3–6, 5–7, 7–6(7–3) 14 13

Famous matches

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1985 Australian Open semifinal

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Ivan Lendl, No. 1 at the time, was upset by 19-year old and No. 6 Stefan Edberg in the semifinals of the 1985 Australian Open in an epic spread over two days and delayed multiple times by rain.[2][3][4] Edberg won with a scoreline of 6–7(3–7), 7–5, 6–1, 4–6, 9–7, and as a result, Edberg reached his first Grand Slam final and would go onto win the final against fellow Swede Mats Wilander. Lendl had recently reclaimed the No. 1 ranking and had won his last 31 matches going into the match. Edberg led 2–1 in the first set before rain suspended the match until the next day, with only ten minutes of play. With no break opportunities in the first set, Lendl, the more experienced played, won it in a tiebreak, before Edberg leveled the match at one set apiece, before outclassing Lendl in the third and taking a two-sets to one lead. At 4–4 in the fourth set, rain sent the players back to the locker room for almost two hours, with them coming back and Lendl leveling the match. In the fifth set, both players held their serves until 8–7, when Edberg finally broke Lendl to seal the match.[5] Unlike the modern Australian Open, the 1985 tournament was played on grass.

1991 Australian Open semifinal

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Two-time defending champion and No. 3 Lendl defeated No. 1 Edberg in the semifinals of the 1991 Australian Open. Lendl won with a scoreline of 6–4, 5–7, 3–6, 7–6(7–3), 6–4 and saved two match points, aiming to become the first man in the Open Era to win the Australian Open three consecutive times, but he would ultimately lose to Boris Becker in the final. Edberg squandered his two match points in the fourth set before Lendl came back to win the fourth in a tiebreak and the fifth set.[6] This match was played on hardcourt unlike the semifinal years prior on grass.

1992 Australian Open quarterfinal

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No. 1 Edberg defeated No. 4 Lendl in an epic in the quarterfinals of the 1992 Australian Open,[7] with a scoreline of 4–6, 7–5, 6–1, 6–7(5–7), 6–1. He would go onto reach the final, losing to Jim Courier.

1992 US Open quarterfinal

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In the final match of their rivalry, No. 2 Edberg would defeat No. 7 Lendl in an epic in the quarterfinals of the 1992 US Open, played over the course of two days.[8][9][10] Edberg led 2–1 in the fifth set before play was suspended due to rain shortly after midnight and resumed the next day.[9] He won with a scoreline of 6–3, 6–3, 3–6, 5–7, 7–6(7–3), and would go onto reach the final and win against Pete Sampras, with it being his sixth and last major title. Edberg won the title with a then record of 22 hours and 22 minutes of play.[11]

Head-to-head breakdown

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  • All matches: (27) Edberg 14–13
  • All finals: Lendl 4–3
    • Grand Slam matches: Edberg 5–4
    • Grand Slam finals: Lendl 1–0
    • Non-Grand Slam finals: Tied 3–3
    • Tennis Masters Cup matches: Tied 2–2
    • Five-set matches: Edberg 3–2

References

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  1. ^ "Official Site of Men's Professional Tennis - ATP World Tour - Tennis".
  2. ^ "1985: EDBERG UPSETS LENDL". World Tennis Magazine. 2009-12-08. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  3. ^ "That 1980s Sports Blog: 1985 Australian Open: Stefan Edberg". That 1980s Sports Blog. 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  4. ^ West, Ewan (2021-12-09). "On this day: Stefan Edberg won his first Major title at the 1985 Australian Open". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  5. ^ Sokolowski, Alexandre (2023-12-08). "December 8, 1985: The day a teenager named Edberg reached his first Grand Slam final beating then world No 1 Lendl". Tennis Majors. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  6. ^ Wilstein, Steve (1991-01-25). "LENDL SAVES 2 MATCH POINTS, TOPS EDBERG IN 5-SET SEMIFINAL". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  7. ^ Wilstein, Steve (1992-01-22). "EDBERG STRUGGLES PAST LENDL IN FIVE SETS". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  8. ^ "CHANG ADVANCES TO SEMIS AS RAIN HALTS LENDL, EDBERG". Deseret News. 1992-09-11. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  9. ^ a b Muscatine, Alison (1992-09-12). "EDBERG OUTLASTS LENDL". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  10. ^ Roberts, John (1992-09-11). "Tennis: Delayed action takes Edberg into last four". The Independent. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  11. ^ Kapetanakis, Arthur (2018-02-27). "50 Moments That Mattered: Edberg's marathon title run". Retrieved 2023-09-07.
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