by Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
When one thinks of Wimbledon, fans usually remember some of the classic matches from the past. Gone from many people’s memories is a match that for a generation was regarded as THE greatest ever at Wimbledon.
It happened on June 25, 1969 when Pancho Gonzales came back from two sets down to defeat Charlie Pasarell in the opening round on Centre Court. The match is documented in many Wimbledon and tennis history books, including my book “On This Day In Tennis History” here https://a.co/d/0cHGzr40, Steve Flink’s book “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time” here and, of course, Pasarell’s memoir “Serving First” here https://a.co/d/09peRC7N
The following is the updated excerpt from my “On This Day In Tennis History” book on this match that is part of Wimbledon lore.
June 25, 1969 – Forty-one-year-old Pancho Gonzales finishes off his classic, darkness-delayed five-set win over Charlie Pasarell 22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, 11-9 in 5 hours, 12 minutes – the longest match played at Wimbledon at the time. Gonzales, 20 years removed from when he won his last major at age 21 at Forest Hills, trails Pasarell two-sets to love when the match was suspended the night before due to darkness after 2 hours, 20 minutes of play. Gonzales sweeps all three sets on its resumption to move into the second round, but heroically fights off seven match points in the fifth set – at 4-5, 0-40, at 5-6, 0-40 and at 7-8, ad-out. Writes Fred Tupper of the New York Times of the match’s conclusion, “It was a question of raw courage now. How long could Pancho go on? He was leaning on his racquet between exchanges, flicking globules of sweat off his brow. At 9-9, Pasarell played a bad game. He double-faulted, hit a volley wide, a lob over the baseline and another volley just out. Gonzalez served for the match. A serve, a smash to deep court and a backhand volley that creased the sideline put him at match point. In sepulchral silence, Gonzalez toed the tape to serve. Then Pasarell lobbed out. Gonzalez had taken 11 points in a row. He had clawed his way back and won.”
In his book “Serving First,” Pasarell wrote, “Amazingly, in the fifth set, the 41-year-old Gorgo, the man with the biggest serve in tennis at that point, got in a staggering 82 percent of his first serves. At 9-all, Pancho broke me at love and then held at love to close out the match. All along, I’d wanted to wear Pancho down. But in the end, as he had done so often to so many others, Pancho had broken me down.”
Steve Flink featured the match in his book “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time” and wrote of the match’s conclusion, “With the capacity Centre Court audience now standing to deliver a roar of acclamation, the victor stood for a moment in the sunshine, contemplating an incredible two-day turnaround. When he left the court with an understandably despondent Pasarell, Gonzales had succeeded 22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, 11-9 in a record-breaking five hours and twelve minutes. It was the longest match in Wimbledon history. Two hours and fifty-four minutes of that monumental effort had taken place on the second day. After saving the seven match points and twice holding from 0-40, triple match point down, Gonzales had collected twelve of the last thirteen points to take the match.”
