This would remain the greatest achievement of Mechir’s short career. Although many of the top players did not participate in the event at the time, the popular success of the Olympic Tennis Games would gradually attract the biggest stars. in future releases of the games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) removed tennis from the list of competitive sports at the Games after 1924.
The players involvedMiloslav Metcir and Tim Mayotte
- Miloslav Mejir. The big cat from Czechoslovakia
Miloslav Metcir was born in Czechoslovakia in 1964. He turned professional in 1982, and very soon his style of play attracted attention; his unpredictable shots, excellent touch and agility earned him the nickname “Il Gattone” (“The Big Cat”). He won his first title in Rotterdam in 1985, defeating Jakob Hlasek (6-1, 6-2) in the final, and in 1986 he had his first Grand Slam breakthrough. US Open:finishing runner-up Ivan Lendl (6-4, 6-2, 6-0).
In 1987, he won the most important title of his career, winning the Lipton Championship in Key Biscayne (defeating Lendl in the final, 7-5, 6-2, 7-5), before reaching the semifinals at Roland Garros, where Lendl got revenge (6-3, 6-6, ). In 1988, he defeated Mats Wilander (6-3, 6-1, 6-3) in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon, but despite leading by two sets, lost in the next round to another Swede, Stefan Edberg (4-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4). in September, he ranked 10th in the world.
- Tim Mayotte: An NCAA champion from Stanford who reached the top 10 in the world
Tim Mayotte from USA was born in 1960. After playing at Stanford University, he turned pro after winning the 1981 NCAA title. With his service volley game, he reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 1982 (losing to John McEnor, 6-3, 6-1 at his best). reached the semifinals on grass (at the 1983 Australian Open, when he lost to Ivan Lendl 6-1, 7-6, 6-3).
He was a top 20 player in the following years, reaching the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in 1983, 1986 and 1988. In November 1987, he won the indoor Paris Bercy Open, defeating Brad Gilbert (2-6, 6-3, 7.5, 16-6, 7.5, 6-6) in the final.
The placee. Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center
Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center is a tennis venue in Seoul, South Korea, located in the Olympic Park. The Olympics were new to the world of professional tennis, as the sport had been absent from the Games since 1924. On May 11, 1987, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to include tennis in Seoul. But the stakes were higher than tennis. by including all tennis players, the IOC would officially recognize the end of amateurism for the first time.
The factsMetsir comes from a set down to claim the gold medal
Many top players were absent from the first Olympic tennis tournament since 1924, including world No. 1 Mats Wilander and world No. 2 Ivan Lendl. In fact, only three top 10 players took part in the event: Stefan Edberg (No. 3), Tim Mayotte (No. 9) and Miloslav Metcir (No. 10).
These top three players made it to the semifinals in Seoul, where Metcir and Edberg met each other. Mayotte played fifth seed Brad Gilbert after fourth seed Henri Leconte suffered an early and controversial loss against world number 361 Kim Bong Su.
Mayotte easily dismissed Gilbert 6-4, 6-4, 6-3, but Metzir had to fight back for five sets before a 3-6, 6-0, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Edberg to avenge a heartbreaking loss to the Swede in the Wimbledon semifinals.
In this promising final, fielding two players with contrasting styles, Mayotte and his service-volley game got off to a better start. He won the first set 6-3, but was broken early in the second set, and Metsir dictated the game from then on. Very consistent on his first serve, Metzir prevented the American from going to the net and turned his opponent around the court in his usual manner.
“He kept me going,” Mayotte said. quoted The New York Times. “I knew my job was going to be over for me. He hit his first serves so much, hitting them deep, that I couldn’t get to the net.”
“The Cat” put Mayotte under constant pressure and he won the next three sets, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2. On match point, the American hit a volley, allowing Metzir to express his joy by throwing his racket in the air and running towards the net.
“It feels really good,” Metzir said. “It’s hard to say how it’s rated, but I’ve played in a lot of tournaments. However, it’s nice to hear people cheering not only because I’m a good player, but also because I’m playing for them.”
The one-time tennis runner-up didn’t look too disappointed. “It’s strange because here the emphasis is on medals, not on winning 100 percent,” Mayotte said. “So there is some consolation in reaching the medal group. The ceremony was fantastic, it’s a different way to do it.”
What next? Metsir ends his career at the age of 26
After his last Grand Slam final, losing to Lendl at the 1989 Australian Open (6-2, 6-2, 6-2), Metzir ended his career early after suffering a serious back injury in 1990, aged just 26. His smooth playing style will earn him a place in the hearts of many tennis fans.
Tim Mayotte would claim the last of his 12 titles in 1990 in Washington, D.C., once again defeating Brad Gilbert (3-6, 6-4, 7-5) in the final. He would eventually retire in 1992.
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