Final - Wembley, London 1976

[Applause] so commas to serve then for the match 54 finals set and with new BS 15 left rather a late call well it's uh 15 love and it's one fault then apparently 15 all and even to the best of players when they have an open court like that take their eye off the ball and it's in the net that could be an expensive point for Connors 15 or 30 15 what 40 15 so that fine volley gives Connors two match points that's it game s mat th wins 36 76 64 so a match that uh lasted 2 hours and 3 minutes and there was no question that it was a match worthy of the the occasion there were a few unforced errors of course here and there bound to be against men of this class but on the whole that was a match of very very high quality inde needed and once again we see what a really uh great player Connors is in a crisis because he had his troubles there and so the American open Champion confirms his high position in the game probably he'll be ranked number one at the end of this year in the world and just for the presentation of the Bon Hedges gold trophy we're delighted to welcome on to court the presentation party first Mr Stuart Cameron managing director of galaher limited the parent company of Benson and hedges Mr Leonard Owen tournament director director of Benson and hedges in charge of sponsorship and Mr Colin Hess the tournament referee the presentation party and to receive the Benson and hedges gold Trophy and a check for £ 122,500 jimmmy Connors the trophy is a Perpetual one that's for annual competition and Jimmy gets a gold cigarette box which he keeps forever more now thanks to Mr Stuart Cameron and now Mr Cameron will present a check for 6,2 50 to the runner up Rosco Tanner and Now ladies and gentlemen to talk to the players on court David Vine of BBC [Applause] television Jimmy what are you doing checking the check I don't know I think they take too much out it's okay I think you might have thought uh one stage you were dead in that ninth game of the second set didn't you well I think I was down uh 40 love yeah just the Applause there for Rosal Tanner going off Court Ros Tanner of course having to hurry off court because he's engaged in the other final today the doubles just while he's going off the Jimmy you were saying well I was down 40 love I think in that game and uh you know I thought at that time uh it was all over Rosco had been playing very well at that time and I hit a few lucky shots I think Rosco made a few errors that he didn't make through the first and all all the way through until that point and I won that game that gave me a little bit of confidence and uh a few breaks there want me the second set and VI the third set it w me the match had a bit of a fright in that tie break with a double fold I think didn't you well I choke pretty good sometimes but you know it's it's difficult every time to to step up and uh you know put in a serve when you need it and so forth there's a little pressure out there Rosco you I don't know if he's going to come in on me or run around and hit a forehand or so forth so you know I was very pleased with the way I played I thought I hit the ball very well and uh my compliment to Rosco for for playing such a great match I'm sure everybody will Echo that indeed what about that big serve he puts down what's it like to sort of take ball coming at you at 140 M hour that's a bit of a thunderbolt isn't it well I said uh last night after I finished my match with Brian that if I hope Rosco didn't start up serving where he left off at Wimbledon and uh I think at that time he served like 21 Aces against me or so forth and I think he had a few Aces today even but you know the courts a little slower uh I think Rosco VAR to serve a little more today instead of just hitting Boomer after Boomer like he normally does he's improved on the volley behind the service hasn't he well I think Rosco's improved on everything to tell you the truth the way he plays his ground strokes are much better and and uh he he doesn't have to rush into the net right away he can stay back and feel comfortable on the Baseline and hit eight or 10 balls if he if he has to and then once he gets to the net he's pretty tough to pass so I was very fortunate today what about the ankle Jimmy you had a bit of trouble with that obviously you heard it against Brian gried and you were putting a lot of spray on it today how did it hold up well I'm walking you were running a bit quick as well and I think Rosco thought that I'm walking and running but it's difficult to you know here to come and play you know the people who uh put the court down I think did a super job it's very difficult with a synthetic Court to get every little Ripple out of it and so forth but I think they did a great job it's very tiring service to play on isn't it well that's what the game's all about I guess you know it's just a little different from playing on the grass at Wimbledon where there's so many easy free points you know you serve in a volley and that's all are serve and Mis return but here every time the ball goes in play you can have a eight or 10 ball rally and I think that's what the people enjoy matter of fact to to come and see great points like that in a match like today where they have some exciting rallies not just boom boom I'm sure that uh I think they're all echoing that certainly uh what happens to you now where do you go on from from here well um I go home now to Los Angeles and uh take a week off and then I play The wct Challenge Cup matches in Las Vegas and then I have six weeks off yeah so I'm looking forward to that we see you back here for the pre- Wimbledon Builder well I'll be back yeah I like to try to do a little better this time than I have in the past couple years I was uh but the thing of it is when I lose Wimbledon I don't lose I'm beaten you know the guys play better than I do but uh you know I'll come back and try again yeah right take care of the 12 half th000 P to add to the fortune Jimmy Conners thank you very much the new Benson Hedges Wembley Champion Jimmy [Applause] conis I'll put my dress on well uh Rosco Tanner course hurrying offc Court there because he's involved in the other final today the doubles final with Stan Smith obviously he's going to have a little bit of rest and the show off that's going to take a little bit of time and we'll be back here with that doubles final for you live on court at the Empire Pool in about 35 minutes time for [Music] I'm deserv rest [Music] [Music] [Applause] m [Music] [Applause]