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Mats Wilander The deadly duo, Stefan Edberg and Mats Wilander the Swedish pairing that would set 1980s tennis alight with their sublime groundstrokes, complementing each other: Edberg the serve-volleyer with the mean kick, and Wilander the baseliner, who would ground opponents down.
In a career that was so short, Mats Wilander would peak while Boris Becker and Edberg were in the ascendency. Born in Vaxjo, Sweden Wilander would capture eight Grand Slam titles, seven of which were in the singles, and capture 33 career singles titles. In 1988 Wilander was the most dominant player on the men's professional tennis tour. He captured 3 of the 4 Grand Slam singles championships the Australian, French and US Opens and became the world´s number one ranked player for the year. At 17 years and nine months Wilander upset Guillermo Vilas to win the 1982 French Open and became the youngest man to win a Grand Slam singles title. This record was subsequently broken by Becker aged 17 years and seven months at Wimbledon in 1985 and by Michael Chang who was 17 years and three months in 1989 at the French Open. Wilander was a member of Sweden's Davis Cup team between 1981 and 1990 and once again in 1995. He was an integral member of Sweden's three winning Cup teams victorious in 1984, 1985 and 1987. He compiled a 36-14 win-loss record in the singles and a 7-2 win-loss record in doubles for Sweden. However, Wilander's most memorable Davis Cup match came in defeat. In 1982 in the tie versus the United States, Wilander was defeated in a five set, six hour and 32 minute marathon by John McEnroe. Wilander's lone doubles title in a Grand Slam event came in 1986 at Wimbledon with countryman Joakim Nystrom. He finished his career having been in the top ten male singles players for six years between 1982 and 1988. Now he plays on the Seniors tour gracing it occassionally when his commentating and coaching duties permit him to. He is the fifth former world number one to play on the tour and still gains widespread support from fans all over the world. Since joining the Champions Tour in 1998, Wilander has won 3 Champion Tour titles and has been a Champions Tour finalist 8 times. When not playing on the Champions Senior Tour, Wilander used to coach Marat Safin, a former No. 1 ranked player and winner of the 2000 US Open Singles Championship.
Grand Slam Record Australian Open Singles 1983 (Dec), 1984 (Dec), 1988; Singles finalist 1985 (Dec); Doubles finalist 1984 (Dec) French Open Singles 1982, 1985, 1988; Singles finalist 1983, 1987 Wimbledon Doubles 1986 U.S. Open Singles 1987; Singles finalist 1982; Doubles finalist 1985 Tournament Record (inc. Davis Cup and Olympics) The Masters Singles 1983, 1988; Singles finalist 1987, Doubles finalist 1985 Sweden Davis Cup Team member 1981-1990, 1995; Winning team 1984-1987; losing side 1983, 1988-1989 Special Honours and Awards received The William M. Johnston Award; ATP Tour Player of the Year Award; Stefan Edberg Sportmanship Award 1985
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