#12 Best US Open Finals Ever : Men's 1972 Final
1972 Men's Final
Ilie Nastase def. Arthur Ashe, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3
In many ways, Nastase was just what tennis needed among American fans: A villain whose brilliance you couldn’t help but admire , even as you were hissing his antics.
John McEnroe’s overwhelming popularity a decade later owes a lot to Nastase breaking down that barrier.
After losing an exhausting Wimbledon final earlier in the summer, Nastase was the only foreigner in the final four at the Open.
The crowd of nearly 15,000 was solidly behind Ashe even before Nastase began throwing temper tantrums over bad calls, but even the pro-USA gathering couldn’t help but admire his remarkable shots as he twice rallied from a set down to claim his first Grand Slam title.
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9/1/2010 10:21:11 AM
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