McEnroe Earns Three-Peat at Statoil Masters Tennis Legends
December 9, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal
John McEnroe captured the Statoil Masters Tennis Legends title for the third consecutive year as he defeated Mats Wilander 6-2, 6-4 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. McEnroe, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, got off to a quick start to the final, racing into a 3-0 lead over Wilander, whom he played 13 times on the ATP World Tour.
"I'm figuring I have maybe one or two more years against Mats; he's getting closer,” said McEnroe, who also defeated Wilander in last year’s final. “So next year it'll probably go to a third set; that may be the time to hang it up. So that means I can come back one more time!”
A strong performance in the first set from McEnroe saw him engineer set point in the eighth game with a backhand winning pass. Leading 40/15 on Wilander’s serve, he clinched the opener with a forehand winning pass. After squandering an initial break advantage in the second set, McEnroe regained his lead in the eighth game, as he closed down the net with a winner for a 5-3 lead.
"It's great to get three matches in here plus doubles with Mansour [Bahrami] and John [McEnroe] the other day," said Wilander. "I think it's John that said it's our Wimbledon these days. John is hitting the ball extremely well. He returns so well. I think that's something that has maybe got better with age. It's really hard to find a space in the service box that he doesn't get to. He seems to read my serve and he's just a little too good, especially on the big points.”
