10-18 July 2010 119 days left
Collector Swedish Open Women
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History
As an introduction some information that can summarise the importance and the fine old traditions of Swedish Open Båstad.
  • The tournament is being played for the 54th summer in a row.
  • Among GP-tournaments Båstad is 4th oldest in the world (after Bournemouth, Paris and Wimbledon).
  • Players from 17 different nations have signed the victory registration for the men’s’ singles.
  • Among the winners in Båstad no less than 11 players have also been able to triumph in the Grand Slam single.
Impressive!
I have been on site on every edition of the competition in Båstad since the mid 50’s, with the exception of 1966 (when I was in Australia and could in no possible way be at two different places at the same time). After a couple of visits to the Tennis metropolis as a generally sports interested boy (yes, I know that it was a long time ago) I wrote my first commentary from the 1960 tournament, and it has continued in an unceasing process ever since. Consequently, this is why a number of recollections from these colourful championships, played in the most charming tennis environments, have arisen. I therefore present a recollection- and facts potpourri from an event that has always had warm place in my heart.

Sweden in the lead
Not surprisingly the host country is at the top of the list over single titles in Båstad. Sweden has pinched almost 1/3 of the trophies, more precisely 17. On second place comes Australia with 7 victories, followed by Spain with 6 and the USA with 5. Other winning nations are: South Africa and Italy 3, Chile 2 and the Soviet Union, Rumania, Hungary, France, Uruguay, Austria, Germany, Brazil and Costa Rica.

”Gusten” in the top
With 4 victories, this year's Head of Sports Magnus Gustafsson is unique in Båstad history. “Gusten” is closely shadowed by the following giants who have won at 3 occasions: the South African stylist Eric Sturgess, the American Budge Patty (with his phenomenal forehand volley), the knock-kneed Spanish ball virtuoso Manuel Santana along with our own victory machines Björn Borg and Mats Wilander.

Lost match points
Santanas topspin and well-directed shots brought him three titles – but with a bit of luck he could have gained more. The charmer from Madrid was generous enough to sometimes waste match points. As was the case when he lost four in an exquisite final against Alex Metreveli from Tblisi – not to mention the ten match points that he failed to vin in the 1971 semi-final, played against the cheerful, left handed Danish star Jan Leschly…

Unforgettable show
More Santana:
In the final of 1965 he went up against title defender and the number one player Roy Emerson from Australia (a unique combination of sprinter and marathon fighter). Emerson had won 10 of 12 previous encounters with the Spaniard, but this time the Queenslander did not stand a chance. Without actually playing badly he got pulverized by Santana who won with 6-1, 6-1,6-4 (after leading by 5-1). The small magician succeeded with everything and after this unforgettable show the legendary German baron and three-time runner up in Wimbledon, Gottfried von Cramm exclaimed: - Tennis simply cannot be played any better!

Sparkling finals
Among the numerous sparkling finals in Båstad these can be mentioned: Santana-Janne Lundqvist 1962, Manuel Orantes-Ilie Nastase 1972, Björn Borg-Adriano Pannata 1974, Henrik Sundström-Anders Järryd 1984, Emilio Santchez-Mats Wilander 1986 and Magnus Gustafsson-Thomas Carbonell 1992- matches that offered thrillers and good play which spellbound the audience.

Unbeleivable turn
Through its ingenious counting system tennis offers as familiar opportunities to well-nigh-improbable turns. One of this kind arose in the second round of the 1997 Swedish Open. The Rumanian Adrian Voinea led by 5-0 in final set against Norman. The audience had given up, many left the stands – but the Swede won the match and managed to continue what he had started by reaching all the way to the title and victory check.

Brilliant for 27 years
When the Australian Ken Rosewall came to Båstad in 1956 and won the tournament (without loosing one set in the encounters with Percy Rosberg, Luis Ayala, Herb Flam and Kurt Nielsen) he had a couple of brilliant seasons behind him. Still he managed to play excellent tennis for two more decades! In 1977 he became the oldest winner ever on the ATP Tour after a victory in Hong-Kong and in total he played world class tennis for 27 years. Think about that one for a while… Rosewall won everything in singles as well as doubles in the Grand Slams – except for the most important of all: the singles at Wimbledon. However, the exemplary conscientious ball virtuoso from Sidney made four performances in the finals in this temple of tennis: the first 1954, the last 1954. It is nevertheless important to keep in mind that he was away from Wimbledon (and other traditional tournaments) for 11 years as a consequence of his pro status.

Comforting for Björn Borg
In 1973 Björn Borg, 17, lost a splendid semi final against the future master Stan Smith. Afterwards he was comforted by the American gentleman:
- Do not feel low about the loss. If I had played against you when I was in your age I would not have gotten a single game on you. You are going to get very far. Stan Smith was not only a great tennis player. He was obviously a capable prophet as well. His prophesy did most certainly come true when it came to Borg’s future on the courts!

Småland DM
Mats Wilander from Växjö and Stefan Edberg from Västervik managed to make the District Championships final in Australian Open in 1985 a Småland battle. The two met in the Kooyong Stadium in Melbourne in the, until now, only all-Swedish Grand Slam- final in men’s singles. Edberg won, but he is scantily behind Wilander in head-to-head matches (12-10). However, he played a couple of top matches against his fellow countryman in for example the Stockholm Open final in 1986 and the Australian Open semi final in 1990. However, the most uneven duel between the two gentlemen took place in Båstad in 1985 and it was then Wilander’s turn to be relentless. Edberg held his first serve game, but this was also all he managed to hold in this match, where Wilander succeeded in doing a just as faultless achievement as Santana did against Emerson exactly 20 years earlier.

The best point I have ever heard
Tennis is assuredly an excellent TV-sport, but should preferably be enjoyed live. However it is not necessary to see everything in order to appreciate the merits of this sport.

Three journalists were once sitting in a room in Villa Zeta by Court No.1 with the door to the balcony open. Their inspiration did not manage to force them out to the centre court where an interesting showdown was being fought. They could nevertheless listen to the duel through the reactions of the audience, and when a particularly tornado-like shouts of joy broke lose one of the journalists said the following classic words:
- That was the best point I have heard this week.

Deadly drop shots
Concerning the upcoming Davis Cup-encounter between Sweden and India it might be in order to mention that Ramanathan Krishnan was a very acknowledged visitor in Båstad. He must be seen as the most successful Asian player of all times, just slightly ahead of Vijay Amritraj and a few steps a head of his own son Ramesh. Anyway, Ramanthan Krishnan contributed to an increased attraction to Swedish Open through his visits, as he was an exceptional player with a magnificent caressing touch of his racket. In 1959 and 1960 the tournament had similar final patterns. Both of the times Krishnan won in the semi-final against the then governing Wimbledon number one players (Alex Olmedo and Neale Fraser respectively) just to stand no chance against Luis Ayala in the finals. Ayala - a potato nosed Inka descendant form Chile – had the worlds best drop shots. They dropped in the clay in a, for the opponent, teasing way. Krishnan could not reach the balls in time, but the fiery Ayala could run the place as he pleased. But when the South American returned to his favourite competition the following summer to complete a triple he was stopped by Uffe Schmidt who was in perfect shape and had great serves. He later defeated Fraser in the final. Hereby Schmidt became the first home player who won the tournament twice. Sven Davidson was our first winner and Björn Borg was the first to win three times.