Brokaw: ‘Gods of Tennis’ is a look at how the sport made legends out of players
Courtesy of Mindhouse
The three-part series “Gods of Tennis” tells the story of the sport’s Golden Age and the players who made tennis what it is today.
With the U.S. Open starting Aug. 26, tennis fever is once again ramping up.
“Gods of Tennis” is a three-part series focusing primarily on Wimbledon during the 1970s and 1980s. This was a time when the sport of tennis produced players that have become icons in the sports world as well as instruments for social reforms.
Part one explores not only the great tennis playing by Billie Jean King and Arthur Ashe but also their efforts to bring justice to the sport and raise awareness of injustices around the world.
Billie Jean King was incensed at the downplaying of women in the sport of tennis. She was taken aback by the idea that women were not as important to the sport and therefore did not command the same prize money as the men. This was in the early days of the women’s movement when equality was front and center. For Billie Jean King, equality meant equal pay. She played as hard as the men and expected to get the same prize money.
King formed a separate women’s tennis association (Chris Evert would not join) to demonstrate how great women’s tennis was and how deserved the players were of the same recognition, respect and revenue as the men. This culminated in the match between King and famed male chauvinist Bobby Riggs. King was the victor, demonstrating that women could play great tennis – as great as the men.
The rivalry between Chris Evert and King is also explored. The two American women commanded respect, and their matches were intense and enjoyable to watch.
Arthur Ashe’s crusade was to prove black players could be at the top of the tennis charts, and he took this to South Africa at the time of apartheid. He was not victorious against Jimmy Conners in that match but eventually became number one.
Episode two looks at the rivalry between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. The “ice man” Swede was the opposite of the emotional and often volatile young American. McEnroe became the “bad boy” of tennis due to his disputes of line calls and talking back to the umpires. However, in truth, he was an excellent player and, as he says in the show, if he hadn’t been as good as he was, no one would have cared about his outbursts.
Borg retired very early due to the fact he wanted more to life than living tennis 24/7. He was the glamor guy, the sex symbol of the sport, and he was treated like a rock star. But he really wanted a private life, which was something he could not have while on the tennis circuit. He says he has no regrets about retiring when he did.
Jimmy Conners, also a number one player, enters the program in this episode as he struggles to retain his high ranking against the brash McEnroe. At one time, he even tells McEnroe to keep his mouth shut when they are on the court at Wimbledon.
The final episode focuses on Martina Navratilova and her rivalry with Chris Evert. Navratilova sought asylum in the U.S. due to the restrictions in Czechoslovakia, her home country, and eventually became a citizen of the United States. With this new American playing against “America’s Sweetheart” Evert, who always looked perfect on and off the court, it was an uphill battle both personally and professionally. And when she was “outed,” the battle was more intense.
Navratilova was the first player to train with weights as well as have a body trainer, a tennis trainer and coach, and a nutritionist. To say she took this seriously is an understatement. Today, this is common for players, but Navratilova was the first.
Martina still holds the record at Wimbledon with nine titles in that prestigious Grand Slam.
“Gods of Tennis” looks at not only these players but others in the sport as well. It also showcases how the true icons of the day helped move the sport forward in many ways and put it on the front pages of newspapers. The sport erupted in the 1970s and has grown ever since, but the original icons still retain the title of “legends.” They were the “Golden Age” of tennis and will always be considered among the greatest players. Today there are new technologies, new products, new ideas about health and fitness, and it is a whole new sport, but in the late 20th century, the players did what they did best with what was available at the time.
Interviewees include McEnroe, Evert, Navratilova, Borg, King, John Lloyd, Pam Shriver, Tracy Austin, Ashe’s brother Johnnie Ashe, Pat Cash, Virginia Wade and more. The series looks at the personal sides of the players as well as their tennis matches and how they melded together, which either helped them on the court or worked against them.
For anyone who lived through the 1970s and 1980s and was involved with the sport of tennis, this is a “must watch” series. For those who were not there for this Golden Age and think Federer, Djokevic, Nadal, Murray and Williams were the ones who made tennis great, think again. If it had not been for Conners, Evert, Ashe, Borg, Navratilova, McEnroe and King, tennis would not be what it is today.
PBS aired episode one of “Gods of Tennis” on July 23, episode two on July 30 and the third episode on Aug. 6. Stream the series on the free PBS app.