Becker–Edberg rivalry

The tennis players Boris Becker (Germany) and Stefan Edberg (Sweden) met 35 times between 1984 and 1996.[1] Although Becker led their overall head-to-head series 25–10 and won all three of their Davis Cup matches, Edberg won three of their four meetings in Grand Slams. Edberg and Becker also reached the world Tour Finals in 1989 which Edberg won in Four sets.

The most defining aspect of their rivalry was the three successive Wimbledon finals that they played. In the 1988 meeting, Becker was the huge favorite, and stormed to the first set 6–4. The second set was to be the most memorable, when in a fit of courage and tennis acumen Edberg won a tight set in a tiebreaker 7–2. Edberg went on to win the next two sets 6–4, 6–2 to win his first Wimbledon title and deny Becker a third title in four years. In the 1989 meeting, Becker, having lost to Edberg a month earlier in the French Open semifinals, raced to win the first set 6–0. The second set was closer, but won in a tiebreak by Becker 7–1. Becker went on to win the third set 6–4. This was Becker's third Wimbledon title, which would be his last Wimbledon crown. In the 1990 meeting, Edberg won the first two sets 6–2, 6–2. However, Becker rallied to win the next two sets 6–3, 6–3. Becker broke Edberg early in the fifth set, setting up the possibility of being the first Wimbledon champion since Henri Cochet in 1927 to win the final after losing the first two sets. Yet, this was not to be as Edberg regained the break and then broke Becker in the ninth game of the set with a topspin lob winner, eventually serving it out for a second Wimbledon championship.[2][3][4][5]

Following his 2009 Wimbledon final, Roger Federer in the post-match press conference cited the Becker–Edberg rivalry in Wimbledon finals as his inspiration for choosing to play tennis over soccer.[6] Since 2013, Becker has been coaching Novak Djokovic, while Edberg has been coaching Roger Federer, continuing their rivalry through the Djokovic–Federer rivalry.[7]

Head to head

Becker—Edberg (25–10)

Year Tournament Surface Round Winner Score
1984CologneHardR32Stefan Edberg6–4, 6–4
1985PhiladelphiaCarpetR32Stefan Edberg6–3, 6–1
1985Las VegasHardR16Boris Becker6–3, 6–7(3), 6–2
1985Germany vs SwedenCarpetFBoris Becker6–3, 3–6, 7–5, 8–6
1986DallasCarpetSFBoris Becker7–6(4), 7–6(7), 4–6, 7–6(2)
1986Montreal/TorontoHardFBoris Becker6–4, 3–6, 6–3
1986Tokyo CarpetFBoris Becker7–6(5), 6–1
1986New York CityCarpetSFBoris Becker6–4, 6–4
1987Indian WellsHardFBoris Becker6–4, 6–4, 7–5
1987Montreal/TorontoHardSFStefan Edberg6–2, 6–4
1987CincinnatiHardFStefan Edberg6–4, 6–1
1988Dallas WCTCarpetFBoris Becker6–4, 1–6, 7–5, 6–2
1988London (Queen's Club)GrassFBoris Becker6–1, 3–6, 6–3
1988WimbledonGrassFStefan Edberg4–6, 7–6(2), 6–4, 6–2
1988New York CityCarpetRRStefan Edberg7–6(5), 3–6, 6–4
1988Germany vs SwedenClayFBoris Becker6–3, 6–1, 6–4
1989French OpenClaySFStefan Edberg6–3, 6–4, 5–7, 3–6, 6–2
1989WimbledonGrassFBoris Becker6–0, 7–6(1), 6–4
1989ParisCarpetFBoris Becker6–4, 6–3, 6–3
1989New York CityCarpetRRBoris Becker6–1, 6–4
1989New York CityCarpetFStefan Edberg4–6, 7–6(6), 6–3, 6–1
1989Germany vs SwedenCarpetFBoris Becker6–2, 6–2, 6–4
1990London (Queen's Club)GrassSFBoris Becker6–4, 6–4
1990WimbledonGrassFStefan Edberg6–2, 6–2, 3–6, 3–6, 6–4
1990SydneyHard (i)FBoris Becker7–6(4), 6–4, 6–4
1990StockholmCarpetFBoris Becker6–4, 6–0, 6–3
1990ParisCarpetFStefan Edberg3–3, retired
1991StockholmCarpetFBoris Becker3–6, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2
1992BrusselsCarpetSFBoris Becker4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1992FrankfurtCarpetRRBoris Becker6–4, 6–0
1993DohaHardSFBoris Becker6–4, 6–4
1994FrankfurtCarpetRRBoris Becker6–7(3), 6–4, 7–5
1995BaselHardQFBoris Becker6–4, 3–6, 6–3
1996DohaHardR32Boris Becker6–2, 7–5
1996London (Queen's Club)GrassFBoris Becker6–4, 7–6(3)
Legend
Grand Slam
Tennis Masters Cup
ATP Masters Series
Davis Cup
ATP International Series

Breakdown of their rivalry

ATP Rankings

Year-end ranking timeline

Player198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999
Germany Boris Becker 563 66 6 2 5 4 2 2 3 5 11 3 4 6 62 69 131
Sweden Stefan Edberg 523 53 20 5 5 2 5 3 1 1 2 5 7 23 14

Combined singles performance timeline (best result)

Tournament19831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999SR
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open 2R QF W NH W SF QF F W F F SF 4R W 1R A A 4 / 14
French Open A 2R QF QF SF 4R F 1R SF 3R QF 1R 3R 4R A A A 0 / 13
Wimbledon 2R 3R W W SF W W W F QF SF SF F 3R QF A 4R 5 / 16
US Open 1R 2R 4R SF SF 4R W SF W W 4R 3R SF QF A A A 3 / 14

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ten great tennis rivalries". The Independent. July 8, 2008. Retrieved 2010-12-08. Boris Becker v Stefan Edberg. Time span: '84–96 (35 matches) Head to head: Becker 25, Edberg 10. Grand Slam finals: Three; Edberg won two. Wimbledon: Three finals, 1988, 1989, 1990.
  2. ↑ Rajat Jain. "Wimbledon Rivalries: Elegance vs. Charisma". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on 24 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  3. ↑ "Wimbledon’s greatest rivalries". Wimbledon. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  4. ↑ John Parsons (2003-04-29). "Becker resumes Edberg rivalry". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  5. ↑ "Most notable tennis rivalries (Open era)". The Boston Globe. 2006-08-25.
  6. ↑ Sarah Crompton. "Stefan Edberg's appointment as coach to Roger Federer helps revive memories of a past era". Telegraph.
  7. ↑ Peter Bodo. "Two rivalries for the price of one in Wimbledon final". ESPN.
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