Pancho Gonzalez was my great tennis hero. I was lucky enough to get a cpy of his Autobiography "A Man with a Racket" written with Cy Rice, when young.
Being English and knowing he turned professional quite young,(I despaired ever seeing him play at Wimbledon, but suddenly in 1969 professionals were allowed to play. So I watched on TV on Wednesday 25th June his second round match against Charlie Pasarell( a 41 year old v a 22 yearyoungster)! To add piquant, "Pancho" had been Pasarell's coach!They were so closely matched that Charlie won the first set 22-24 and then the second 1-6! Gonzalez seemed to have lost it completely, furious at losing his serve at the end of the first set. As this was the second match on court that day, ir began to get dark at around 6.30 and Gonzalez had trouble seeing the ball.He complained about poor light, and Pasarell lobbed more and more causing Gonzalez to lose sight of the ball in the gloom, and eventually at 4-2 down play was suspended by the umpire and referee! I was delighted as we had tickets for the Thursday, and although scheduled as a Ladies day, unfinished matches were played out. Little did I imagine what laid in store!
The battle of these two big servers continued, although Gonzalez was 5-3 down he served superbly and caught up. At 6-5 Pasarell served a very fast serve that swerved into Gonzalez's stomach and felled him. This seemed to make him more determined and he won the next nine points won to lead.The set went on to 8-8 and 10-10 and at 13-14 to Gonzalez, Pasarell served three aces, one saving a set point.But at 13-14 he served two disatrous double faults. This sapped his confidence and Gonzalez won the next set fairly easilily at 6-3.The last set was a repeat of the first and with no tie break rule spun out to 14 all!The Pasarell seemed to crack and lost the last eleven points to lose 16-14. The standing ovation went on for about tyen minutes! Everyone had imagined that this greying gaunt figure historic figure who had never won the sigles title at Wimbledon had made his statement, and claim to fame. This was probably the greatest match of tennis at the highest level ever played, with lob, spin,miraculous passing shots, killer serves, a match that seemed to exist only in dreams and seems even now, like an unbelieveable film script!
I saw Gonzalez play a professinal match in Geneva with Rod Laver against Lew Hoad and Kenny Rosewell. Hoad was messing around spinning his racket and juggling with balls,(it was a light hearted exhibition match) and Gonzalez was waiting patiently to serve. Suddenly he whipped up a killer of a serve ( his could reach 112mph) that hit Hoad directly on the big toe too long of course!) I jumpoed up in the air and shouted "Steady Pancho!" ( which is what his uncle used to do when Pancho was small and lost his fiery Mexican temper!). He grabbed the second ball from the air and looked around to see who had shouted at him while I shrunk in my seat!
He was the greatest player I have ever seen with an unbelieveable unbeaten record who sadly was lost to the Grand Slam record books by needing to turn professional so early in those crazy days of "shamateaurs" players who lived off expenses and free tickets, while staying " amateurs"
Hail the great Pancho Gonzalez!
