The European Community Championship
It's a special tournament for me because I've been following tennis since Antwerp 1990...
IMO it's the most underrated tournament ever from historical point of view because has been classified as an EXHO! The official ATP stats don't include Ivan Lendl or John McEnroe's triumphs in Antwerp, and I think it's harmful for them because it was a very solid tournament, tough to win, something completely different than exhibition tournaments for 8 players... Both Lendl and McEnroe played 5 times in the finals but the tournament had its third hero - Miloslav Mecir, who played 3 times there, always finishing as a runner-up.
What's the point of including to players' activities such an "epic tournament" like 'Pepsi Grand Slam' at Boca Raton which was held in the late 70's and early 80's, involving only 4 players and a champion needed to win just two "best of three" matches The ATP website is full of mess and some official numbers misleading... Anyway I've collected the Antwerp results of years 1982-1991 (in years 1992-1998 points of the event were counted to the ATP ranking) which weren't available anywhere in a codified form. I haven't unfortunately found all 25 scorelines for each tournament, nevertheless I can show you all the QF-, SF- and finals.
For those who don't remember that event: always in late Autumn; indoor carpet; court without the tramelines in years 1989-91; until 1990 no tie-break at 6-all in the deciding set; the final played in "the best of five" format; 24-player draw - the best indoor guys of the European tournaments were invited each year + 'wild cards'; 8 seeded players had "bye" in the first round, so a seeded winner supposed to win 4 matches. The prize money surpassed twofold regular indoor tournaments. A 3-time champion within 5 years could receive a gold/diamond racquet, valued at about 1 million dollars - Lendl took it in 1985 and was two wins away from taking the second one in 1991, in turn McEnroe was three wins away to do it in 1989.
It's a special tournament for me because I've been following tennis since Antwerp 1990...
IMO it's the most underrated tournament ever from historical point of view because has been classified as an EXHO! The official ATP stats don't include Ivan Lendl or John McEnroe's triumphs in Antwerp, and I think it's harmful for them because it was a very solid tournament, tough to win, something completely different than exhibition tournaments for 8 players... Both Lendl and McEnroe played 5 times in the finals but the tournament had its third hero - Miloslav Mecir, who played 3 times there, always finishing as a runner-up.
What's the point of including to players' activities such an "epic tournament" like 'Pepsi Grand Slam' at Boca Raton which was held in the late 70's and early 80's, involving only 4 players and a champion needed to win just two "best of three" matches The ATP website is full of mess and some official numbers misleading... Anyway I've collected the Antwerp results of years 1982-1991 (in years 1992-1998 points of the event were counted to the ATP ranking) which weren't available anywhere in a codified form. I haven't unfortunately found all 25 scorelines for each tournament, nevertheless I can show you all the QF-, SF- and finals.
For those who don't remember that event: always in late Autumn; indoor carpet; court without the tramelines in years 1989-91; until 1990 no tie-break at 6-all in the deciding set; the final played in "the best of five" format; 24-player draw - the best indoor guys of the European tournaments were invited each year + 'wild cards'; 8 seeded players had "bye" in the first round, so a seeded winner supposed to win 4 matches. The prize money surpassed twofold regular indoor tournaments. A 3-time champion within 5 years could receive a gold/diamond racquet, valued at about 1 million dollars - Lendl took it in 1985 and was two wins away from taking the second one in 1991, in turn McEnroe was three wins away to do it in 1989.
1982, finished on Dec 5 ($700,000)
Code:
1R:
B.Gottfried - M.Purcell 6-2 6-0
Y.Noah - J.Grandjean 6-1 6-2
T.Smid - B.Baileau 6-4 6-4
J.Gunnarsson - C.Panatta 6-2 7-5
QF:
J.McEnroe - T.Smid 6-1 0-6 6-3
B.Borg - B.Gottfried 6-7(6) 6-3 6-4
I.Lendl - J.Gunnarsson 6-2 6-2
M.Wilander - Y.Noah 7-6 6-4
SF:
J.McEnroe - B.Borg 2-6 6-4 6-3
I.Lendl - M.Wilander 6-3 6-3
F:
I.Lendl - J.McEnroe 3-6 7-6(2) 6-3 6-3
# The same week Australian Open ($450,000) was held - J.Kriek beat S.Denton in straight sets in the final :lol:
# The only edition with 12 participants
1983, Nov 20 ($750,000)
Code:
1R:
C.Panatta - J.Van Langendonck
S.Mayer - H.Van Boeckel 6-3 6-4
M.Westphal - N.Saviano 6-4 6-2
K.De Muynck - M.Doyle 6-4 4-6 8-6
C.Hooper - R.Arguello 6-3 6-3
T.Smid - S.Glickstein 6-4 6-4
M.Purcell - H.Sundstrom 6-0 6-1
P.Arraya - B.Boileau 6-3 6-2
2R:
J.McEnroe - C.Panatta 6-1 6-1
S.Mayer - J.Kriek 7-6 7-5
J.Connors - M.Westphal 6-4 6-4
J.Higueras - K.De Muynck 6-2 6-1
I.Lendl - C.Hooper 7-6(2) 3-6 6-4
JL.Clerc - T.Smid 6-4 6-3
G.Mayer - M.Purcell 6-2 7-5
A.Gomez - P.Arraya 6-4 6-3
QF:
J.McEnroe - S.Mayer 6-7(3) 7-6(3) 6-3
J.Higueras - J.Connors 2-6 7-6(6) 6-2
I.Lendl - A.Gomez 6-7(7) 7-6(8) 6-3
G.Mayer - J.Clerc 6-1 2-0 ret.
SF:
J.McEnroe - J.Higueras 6-1 6-2
G.Mayer - I.Lendl 7-5 4-6 6-3
F:
J.McEnroe - G.Mayer 6-4 6-3 6-4
Code:
1R:
G.Vilas - J.Van Langendonck 6-1 2-6 6-2
? - ?
W.Fibak - ?
J.Higueras - T.Hogstedt 5-7 6-2 6-3
M.Westphal - ?
L.Pimek - M.Oosting 6-4 6-1
R.Krishnan - H.Gunthardt 7-6(5) 6-1
G.Mayer - F.Cancellotti 6-4 6-1
2R:
I.Lendl - G.Vilas 6-4 6-2
T.Smid - ?
W.Fibak - A.Gomez 6-2 6-2
J.Nystrom - J.Higueras 6-1 6-2
A.Jarryd - M.Westphal 6-2 6-2
H.Sundstrom - L.Pimek 6-4 6-7(7) 8-6
R.Krishnan - Y.Noah 7-6(7) 6-1
G.Mayer - M.Wilander 6-4 6-2
QF:
I.Lendl - T.Smid 6-2 7-5
J.Nystrom - W.Fibak 6-4 6-7(6) 7-5
A.Jarryd - H.Sundstrom 6-3 7-6(8)
R.Krishnan - G.Mayer 6-1 6-2
SF:
I.Lendl - J.Nystrom 6-3 6-4
A.Jarryd - R.Krishnan 6-0 6-7 9-7
F:
I.Lendl - A.Jarryd 6-2 6-1 6-2
1985, Nov 3 ($850,000)
Code:
1R:
S.Casal - R.Osterthun 7-6 6-2
H.Leconte - M.Davis 6-3 6-0
A.Jarryd - ?
W.Fibak - A.Maurer 6-3 6-1
J.Nystrom - B.Boileau 6-2 6-4
V.Ger'itis - J.Langendonck 6-2 6-1
T.Wilkison - H.De La Pena 6-4 6-1
P.Slozil - C.Panatta 7-5 6-3
M.Dickson - M.Schapers 3-6 7-5 9-7
2R:
I.Lendl - S.Casal 7-5 4-6 6-1
H.Leconte - K.Curren 6-1 6-3
A.Jarryd - J.Nystrom 6-3 6-2
M.Wilander - W.Fibak 6-3 6-4
B.Becker - V.Gerulaitis 6-3 6-4
T.Wilkison - A.Brichant 6-3 6-2
J.McEnroe - P.Slozil 6-2 6-1
M.Dickson - Y.Noah 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3
QF:
I.Lendl - H.Leconte 3-1 ret.
A.Jarryd - M.Wilander 1-6 6-2 6-4
B.Becker - T.Wilkison 6-2 6-1
J.McEnroe - M.Dickson 6-0 6-2
SF:
I.Lendl - A.Jarryd 6-3 6-2
J.McEnroe - B.Becker 6-3 6-4
F:
I.Lendl - J.McEnroe 1-6 7-6(5) 6-2 6-2
Code:
1R:
J.Brown - F.Maciel 6-2 3-6 6-1
T.Muster - R.Krishnan 6-4 6-4
W.Fibak - D.Perez 6-0 6-4
H.De La Pena - S.Colombo 6-4 6-4
P.McNamee - B.**** 6-4 6-3
T.Smid - B.Pearce 6-2 6-2
A.Krickstein - JP.Fleurian 6-3 6-2
J.Arias - L.Pimek 6-4 2-6 6-3
2R:
J.McEnroe - J.Brown 7-5 6-2
T.Muster - B.Gilbert 6-3 6-7(4) 6-4
Y.Noah - W.Fibak 6-3 7-5
H.De La Pena - E.Sanchez 6-4 7-6(4)
M.Mecir - P.McNamee 6-1 6-3
A.Gomez - T.Smid 4-6 6-1 6-1
A.Krickstein - T.Tulasne 7-6(6) 6-2
J.Arias - C.Mezzardi 6-4 6-3
QF:
J.McEnroe - T.Muster 6-4 6-1
Y.Noah - H.De La Pena 7-6(3) 6-4
M.Mecir - A.Gomez 7-5 6-4
J.Arias - A.Krickstein 6-1 3-6 6-3
SF:
J.McEnroe - Y.Noah 6-2 6-3
M.Mecir - J.Arias 6-2 6-1
F:
J.McEnroe - M.Mecir 6-3 1-6 7-6(5) 5-7 6-2
# The final was the only 4-hour match in the tournament history
1987, Nov 1 ($940,000)
Code:
1R:
H.Leconte - J.Arias 4-6 6-3 6-2
T.Mayotte - K.Jones 6-4 6-4
S.Casal - A.Chesnokov 6-3 6-4
W.Fibak - ?
JP.Fleurian - T.Wilkinson 6-1 6-4
M.Jaite - K.Novacek 7-5 6-4
J.Svensson - T.Tulasne 7-6(5) 7-5
A.Jarryd - W.Masur 6-2 6-2
2R:
I.Lendl - H.Leconte 6-4 7-6(4)
T.Mayotte - J.Nystrom 3-6 6-3 6-4
P.Cash - S.Casal 7-6 6-2
W.Fibak - Y.Noah 6-3 6-0
M.Mecir - JP.Fleurian 6-1 6-4
J.McEnroe - M.Jaite 6-4 6-4
M.Wilander - J.Svensson 6-4 3-6 10-8
B.Gilbert - A.Jarryd 6-2 6-3
QF:
I.Lendl - T.Mayotte 6-3 6-3
P.Cash - W.Fibak 4-6 6-3 6-4
M.Mecir - J.McEnroe 7-5 6-4
M.Wilander - B.Gilbert 6-2 6-4
SF:
I.Lendl - P.Cash 6-4 7-6(4)
M.Mecir - M.Wilander 6-1 6-3
F:
I.Lendl - M.Mecir 5-7 6-1 6-4 6-3
Code:
1R:
A.Mansdorf - D.Cahill 6-4 6-4
T.Smid - B.Gilbert 6-1 6-4
C.Mezzardi - J.Potier 6-1 6-1
R.Osterthun - M.Jaite 6-3 7-5
M.Schapers - R.Krishnan 7-6 6-3
M.Woodforde - K.Novacek 6-4 7-6(4)
J.Hlasek - S.Mezzardi 6-7(4) 7-6(4) 7-5
H.Skoff - Y.Doumbia 6-2 6-2
2R:
A.Mansdorf - I.Lendl 6-2 6-2
A.Gomez - T.Smid 3-6 6-1 6-3
A.Chesnokov - C.Mezzardi 6-4 6-2
R.Osterthun - H.Leconte 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3
J.McEnroe - M.Schapers 6-4 6-2
G.PerezRoldan - M.Woodforde 6-2 6-0
J.Hlasek - A.Krickstein 6-4 6-3
T.Mayotte - H.Skoff 4-6 6-3 6-2
QF:
A.Mansdorf - A.Gomez 6-3 6-4
A.Chesnokov - R.Osterthun 6-3 6-1
J.McEnroe - G.Perez-Roldan 6-2 6-1
J.Hlasek - T.Mayotte 6-1 6-4
SF:
A.Chesnokov - A.Mansdorf 7-6(3) 6-3
J.McEnroe - J.Hlasek 7-6(3) 6-4
F:
J.McEnroe - A.Chesnokov [URL="http://voodemar.com/?attachment_id=18352"]6-1 7-5 6-2[/URL]
1989, Oct 29 ($1,000,000)
Code:
1R:
A.Chesnokov - A.Jarryd 6-3 ret.
H.Skoff - K.Novacek 7-6(6) 7-5
A.Gomez - R.Agenor 3-6 6-4 6-2
M.Schapers - J.Arrese 6-4 3-6 6-1
C.VanRensburg - X.Daufresne 6-4 4-6 6-1
G.Forget - A.Mansdorf 4-6 7-6(6) 6-4
M.Mecir - M.Jaite 6-4 6-1
H.Leconte - P.Cane 6-3 6-7 6-3
2R:
I.Lendl - A.Chesnokov 7-5 0-6 6-2
H.Skoff - J.Hlasek 7-6 6-4
M.Chang - A.Gomez 6-1 6-3
A.Mancini - M.Schapers 6-4 7-6
B.Gilbert - C.Van Rensburg 6-4 6-3
T.Mayotte - G.Forget 3-6 6-3 7-5
M.Mecir - A.Krickstein 5-7 7-6 6-0
J.McEnroe - H.Leconte 6-1 3-6 8-6
QF:
I.Lendl - H.Skoff 6-3 6-3
M.Chang - A.Mancini 6-4 6-3
B.Gilbert - T.Mayotte 3-6 7-6 6-3
M.Mecir - J.McEnroe 1-6 6-1 6-1
SF:
I.Lendl - M.Chang 6-2 6-3
M.Mecir - B.Gilbert 6-4 7-5
F:
I.Lendl - M.Mecir 6-2 6-2 1-6 6-4
Code:
1R:
W.Masur - P.Haarhuis 6-7(5) 6-4 7-6(5)
T.Woodbridge - K.Novacek 6-4 6-3
H.Leconte - G.Prpic 6-3 6-4
D.Cahill - P.Korda 6-3 6-4
J.Hlasek - F.Davin 6-1 6-2
P.Cash - R.Fromberg 7-5 4-6 6-4
A.Mansdorf - T.Mayotte 6-3 3-6 6-3
M.Gustafsson - L.Pimek 6-1 6-4
2R:
S.Edberg - W.Masur 6-3 6-1
J.Aguilera - T.Woodbridge 4-6 6-3 6-4
H.Leconte - B.Gilbert 7-6(6) 4-6 7-6(2)
A.Chesnokov - D.Cahill w/o
G.Ivanisevic - J.Hlasek 6-4 7-6(3)
P.Cash - G.Perez-Roldan 7-6(3) 6-3
A.Mansdorf - A.Gomez 6-2 7-6(6)
J.Courier - M.Gustafsson 6-3 6-2
QF:
S.Edberg - J.Aguilera 6-4 6-3
H.Leconte - A.Chesnokov 6-4 1-6 6-4
G.Ivanisevic - P.Cash 1-6 7-6(5) 7-5
A.Mansdorf - J.Courier 1-6 7-5 7-6(3)
SF:
H.Leconte - S.Edberg 7-5 3-6 6-0
G.Ivanisevic - A.Mansdorf 1-6 6-2 7-6(7)
F:
G.Ivanisevic - H.Leconte 6-2 7-6(6) 4-6 4-6 6-1
# Ivanisevic saved 2 MPs in QF and SF
1991, Dec 8 ($1,250,000)
Code:
1R:
A.Krickstein - B.Wuyts 6-0 6-3
H.Leconte - M.Rosset 6-1 6-4
O.Camporese - A.Cherkasov 6-2 6-2
J.Svensson - E.Sanchez 6-2 4-6 6-4
J.Yzaga - M.Chang 6-4 2-6 6-4
D.Poliakov - J.Hlasek w/o
J.Siemerink - A.Cherkasov 6-2 6-2
P.Cash - T.Guardiola 6-7(5) 6-4 7-5
2R:
A.Krickstein - P.McEnroe 6-0 6-3
M.Gustafsson - H.Leconte 7-5 6-4
O.Camporese - K.Novacek 4-6 7-6 6-1
P.Sampras - J.Svensson 6-4 6-4
I.Lendl - J.Yzaga 6-1 6-3
G.Forget - D.Poliakov 6-3 6-2
B.Becker - J.Siemerink 7-6(0) 6-3
P.Korda - P.Cash 6-4 6-2
QF:
A.Krickstein - M.Gustafsson 6-1 6-4
O.Camporese - P.Sampras 6-3 6-4
I.Lendl - G.Forget 6-4 6-4
B.Becker - P.Korda 7-6 6-2
SF:
A.Krickstein - O.Camporese 6-4 6-4
B.Becker - I.Lendl 6-4 7-5
F:
A.Krickstein - B.Becker w/o
# What an irony!
For the first time in tournament history, triumphed an unseeded player although won 4 matches like champions of the previous editions. Krickstein's luck was amazing not only because Becker gave him walkover (stomach virus). Aaron beat in the 1st round local, rather useless player Bart Wuyts, and Patrick McEnroe in 2R; P.Mac replaced Edberg who was the best player in the world at the time (no qualies in that tourney so technically P.Mac wasn't a "lucky loser"). Krickstein's route to the title looks like a joke - and it all occurred at the probably hardest draw in the tournament history! Gustafsson seeded 8th, was No. 12 in the world...