Courtesy of Mindhouse
The three-part sequence “Gods of Tennis” tells the story of the game’s Golden Age and the gamers who made tennis what it’s right this moment.
With the U.S. Open beginning Aug. 26, tennis fever is as soon as once more ramping up.
“Gods of Tennis” is a three-part sequence focusing totally on Wimbledon throughout the Seventies and Nineteen Eighties. This was a time when the game of tennis produced gamers which have turn into icons within the sports activities world in addition to devices for social reforms.
Half one explores not solely the good tennis enjoying by Billie Jean King and Arthur Ashe but in addition their efforts to deliver justice to the game and lift consciousness of injustices all over the world.
Billie Jean King was incensed on the downplaying of ladies within the sport of tennis. She was shocked by the concept girls weren’t as essential to the game and due to this fact didn’t command the identical prize cash as the boys. This was within the early days of the ladies’s motion when equality was entrance and heart. For Billie Jean King, equality meant equal pay. She performed as arduous as the boys and anticipated to get the identical prize cash.
King fashioned a separate girls’s tennis affiliation (Chris Evert wouldn’t be part of) to show how nice girls’s tennis was and the way deserved the gamers had been of the identical recognition, respect and income as the boys. This culminated within the match between King and famed male chauvinist Bobby Riggs. King was the victor, demonstrating that ladies might play nice tennis – as nice as the boys.
The rivalry between Chris Evert and King can also be explored. The 2 American girls commanded respect, and their matches had been intense and pleasing to look at.
Arthur Ashe’s campaign was to show black gamers might be on the prime of the tennis charts, and he took this to South Africa on the time of apartheid. He was not victorious in opposition to Jimmy Conners in that match however ultimately turned primary.
Episode two appears to be like on the rivalry between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. The “ice man” Swede was the alternative of the emotional and infrequently unstable younger American. McEnroe turned the “dangerous boy” of tennis attributable to his disputes of line calls and speaking again to the umpires. Nonetheless, in fact, he was a wonderful participant and, as he says within the present, if he hadn’t been nearly as good as he was, nobody would have cared about his outbursts.
Borg retired very early because of the truth he wished extra to life than dwelling tennis 24/7. He was the glamor man, the intercourse image of the game, and he was handled like a rock star. However he actually wished a non-public life, which was one thing he couldn’t have whereas on the tennis circuit. He says he has no regrets about retiring when he did.
Jimmy Conners, additionally a primary participant, enters this system on this episode as he struggles to retain his excessive rating in opposition to the brash McEnroe. At one time, he even tells McEnroe to maintain his mouth shut when they’re on the courtroom at Wimbledon.
The ultimate episode focuses on Martina Navratilova and her rivalry with Chris Evert. Navratilova sought asylum within the U.S. because of the restrictions in Czechoslovakia, her house nation, and ultimately turned a citizen of the USA. With this new American enjoying in opposition to “America’s Sweetheart” Evert, who all the time appeared good on and off the courtroom, it was an uphill battle each personally and professionally. And when she was “outed,” the battle was extra intense.
Navratilova was the primary participant to coach with weights in addition to have a physique coach, a tennis coach and coach, and a nutritionist. To say she took this significantly is an understatement. As we speak, that is frequent for gamers, however Navratilova was the primary.
Martina nonetheless holds the file at Wimbledon with 9 titles in that prestigious Grand Slam.
“Gods of Tennis” appears to be like at not solely these gamers however others within the sport as effectively. It additionally showcases how the true icons of the day helped transfer the game ahead in some ways and put it on the entrance pages of newspapers. The game erupted within the Seventies and has grown ever since, however the unique icons nonetheless retain the title of “legends.” They had been the “Golden Age” of tennis and can all the time be thought-about among the many biggest gamers. As we speak there are new applied sciences, new merchandise, new concepts about well being and health, and it’s a entire new sport, however within the late twentieth century, the gamers did what they did greatest with what was accessible on the time.
Interviewees embrace McEnroe, Evert, Navratilova, Borg, King, John Lloyd, Pam Shriver, Tracy Austin, Ashe’s brother Johnnie Ashe, Pat Money, Virginia Wade and extra. The sequence appears to be like on the private sides of the gamers in addition to their tennis matches and the way they melded collectively, which both helped them on the courtroom or labored in opposition to them.
For anybody who lived via the Seventies and Nineteen Eighties and was concerned with the game of tennis, this can be a “should watch” sequence. For many who weren’t there for this Golden Age and suppose Federer, Djokevic, Nadal, Murray and Williams had been those who made tennis nice, suppose once more. If it had not been for Conners, Evert, Ashe, Borg, Navratilova, McEnroe and King, tennis wouldn’t be what it’s right this moment.
PBS aired episode one in every of “Gods of Tennis” on July 23, episode two on July 30 and the third episode on Aug. 6. Stream the sequence on the free PBS app.
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