What was the best moment of your career?
The Wimbledon semi-final against Chris Lewis in 1983 when I went down 6–7 6–4 7–6 6–7 8–6. It was a phenomenally entertaining match and I was the last player to compete at that stage with a wooden racket. In many ways that match smacked of the old adage; not the winning but the taking part.
And the most disappointing?
Losing the 1985 Wimbledon final to a 17-year-old called Boris Becker. I was convinced he would self-destruct. The way he was able to maintain his quality of play and sheer power amazed me. But he had the mental fortitude to go with everything else. For me, getting that far and not capitalising on my opportunity was hard to take. Two weeks after the event John McEnroe told me, ‘I still cannot believe you lost that match’. Soon after, they played in the United States on hard courts and Mac said, ‘This kid can play’.
Who was your best opponent?
McEnroe was the genius and artist of the game. Plus he had the mental fortitude. I came off second best a lot of times but beat him 6-2 6-2 6-4 in the 1985 Wimbledon quarter-final. That performance was probably the pinnacle of my singles career. He was also the greatest doubles player. The bigger the occasion, the better he got.
And the best player today?
Interesting question this week but I would still say Roger Federer. He has everything that others would want and his list of accomplishments is stunning. He is extraordinary. But I wonder how much longer he can maintain the level because he has twin daughters and you cannot judge how much energy and focus parenthood has sapped from him.
What was your best venue?
It can only be Wimbledon. In South Africa during my youth, only two or three big sporting events were televised live each year. Paramount was Wimbledon and it always seemed such a magical place in terms of tradition and sheer class. Coming here for the first time only confirmed my feelings. Look at the players who were initially critical of Wimbledon and came to respect the place and the heritage: Agassi, Lendl, Connors. Despite all the innovations and technology, it has retained the special factor.
Advertisement
And your worst?
When the US Open moved from Forest Hills to Flushing Meadows, the place was a disgrace and I was one of the few who had the balls to say something. Two toilets for 190 competitors. The practice courts were appalling, aeroplanes were flying low overhead in and out of La Guardia. I said that perhaps the best advice would be to nuke the place.
Was tennis your best sport?
No, I was a better cricketer as a youngster. I had the top batting average in the state and I was a good leg-spin bowler. Things were looking good for me but then, after I had been selected for the first team at a very young age, I went on holiday with my parents. I was banished to the second team. They wouldn’t let me bowl and sent me in at No 8. They broke my cricketing spirit so I turned to tennis.
And today?
Tennis is just a three-weeks-a- year thing for me. I prepare and then play in the senior competitions during the Wimbledon fortnight. But my main focus for my competitive juices is now golf. I’m down to scratch handicap and I’ve got my provincial colours in KwaZulu-Natal for over-50s amateurs. I finished third in the order of merit and now want to get my South African senior colours and play in the Eisenhower Trophy, a biennial event.
What is the biggest regret from your tennis career?
I wish I had used the services of a sports psychologist. In the 1980s they were frowned upon. As a youngster I had never really travelled, had been so isolated in the apartheid years and was naive in many ways.
How hard was it to be a South African
at that stage?
Advertisement
Very difficult. I never played for my country, never played Davis Cup and for me that was sad. In the end it was the reason I took up United States citizenship.
What was the best thing about being a player then?
Unquestionably the diversity of styles. I remembering being brought up watching Bob Hewitt and Frew McMillan playing doubles with wooden rackets and marvelling at the skills they could show. Given the racket and string technology nowadays, you can make a winner from anywhere on the court and all the major tournaments are mirroring each other. I don’t believe the size of the court and the height of the net were designed for today’s equipment.
Who was your best coach?
I only ever had one real coach when I was playing seriously and that was the Australian Warren Jacques, who went on to be British Davis Cup captain and still lives in Wimbledon. He coached myself, my doubles partner Steve Denton and Anne Smith, who was also based like us in Austin, Texas. Anne was top 10, Steve got to 12 in the world and I made it to No 5. So he did a great job with the three of us. There was a deep friendship there but I just wish he had pushed me more towards the weight training room.
What was the best piece of advice
you were given?
From my late father, Ron, who passed away while I was playing Wimbledon in 1984. He told me tennis was a skill I would have for life and it teaches you how to deal with success and failure.
Join Barry Flatman at 12.45pm as he sets up the Wimbledon men's final