1982 Roland Garros

First Victory for Hana, Championship for Martina at 1982 Roland Garros

-Paris, Roland Garros Stadium, June 5, 1982

1981 Roland Garros defending champion, Hana Mandlikova, barely played these last 6 months because of a recurrent back injury, as did Tracy Austin, whom she beats for the first time in quarterfinals. But Martina Navratilova at the peak of her form, took the trophy home, beating Hana in semis and Andrea Jaeger in finals

Round 64: Hana Mandlikova vs Betty Stove at 1982 Roland Garros

Hana taught her coach a lesson

A match between coach and pupil on a Grand Slam is unusual and quite difficult to apprehend but Hana taught her coach a lesson in straight sets.

Round 32: Hana Mandlikova vs Virginia Wade at 1982 Roland Garros

A warm-up for Mandlikova

Having suffered first-round losses in five of her previous six tournaments. Miss Wade turned to a new mid-size racket and produced her best tennis for many months.

“It was partly the racket and partly my attitude.” she said. ” I’m not prepared to go and sweat blood any more. I just want to enjoy myself. Of course it’s easy to fall into bad old habits, and tense up, but every time I felt it happening I made myself smile.”

The 1977 Wimbledon winner – vs Betty Stove!…,- however, was unable to worry Hana Mandlikova, who referred to the match as “practice“.

Round of 16: Hana Mandlikova vs Andrea Leand at 1982 Roland Garros

No problem for Mandlikova

Andrea Leand (seeded 12) and her offensive game, poses no problem for Hana. Another practice match before the duel everyone is waiting for against Tracy Austin in the quarter-finals

Quarterfinal Hana Mandlikova vs Tracy Austin at 1982 Roland Garros

Hana Mandlikova Makes Headlines by securing First-Ever Victory Over Tracy Austin

The big surprise of the tournament came in the Hana Mandlikova – Tracy Austin match.

Mandlikova, the defending champion, had never beaten Tracy before. Tracy, in tournament play for the first time following another outbreak of her now somewhat chronic back condition, found Hana at her brilliant best. Austin‘s encouraging performances breezing through the draw lost their impact when she was felled by Hana 7-6 6-7 6-2.

Austin had done mighty well to extend the match, saving two match points on Hana‘s serve at 5-6 on the second set and pulled back winning the tiebreaker before Mandlikova served it out in the third at the third time of asking.

Semifinal : Hana Mandlikova vs Martina Navratilova at 1982 Roland Garros

Navratilova Dominates Mandlikova to Claim Title, Jaeger Awaits in Final

Hana was dethroned of her title by Martina Navratilova in astonishing fashion, winning the first set in 16 minutes and breaking in the sixth and eighth game of the second set for an impressive 6-0 6-2 victory. That put her into her second Roland Garros final, where Andrea Jaeger, after her desmolishing Evert-Lloyd 3 and 1 in the other semis, was marginally favoured. She had four previous wins against Martina.

“I played 1% of my possibilities… Not so much because I was nervous. Simply, I was unable to hit the ball over the net. And then I had trouble concentrating” said Mandlikova.

FINAL / Andrea Jaeger vs Martina Navratilova

Controversy Shadows Navratilova’s Triumph

The final was a great deal better than semifinals.

It was ultimately spoiled by Jaeger‘s complaint that Martina was being illegally coached throughout the match by Renee Richards and Martina’s friend Nancy Lieberman. This unfortunate incident actually got more publicity than the tennis itself, which, for at least the first set, was excellent. It was a shame for Martina to have a victory she has sought for so long and finally earned, shrouded in controversy. Martina, firm in her reply to Jaeger‘s accusations, commented in her post match press conference,

“I won it fair and square. If anyone likes to believe otherwise, that is their problem. Everyone on the tour knows that I am as fair as the players come and I would not take unfair advantage of anything. I think I deserved to win,” she concluded.

No one could dispute this claim from a woman, who, since last year’s U.S. Open, has made the final of every tournament she has played, 17 in all.

Article compiled from : 82 Saison de Tennis (Fr), Inside Women’s Tennis, John Dolan’s Women’s Tennis 68-84