1983 Lite Challenge of Champions

Singles
Champion Ivan Lendl
Runner-up Jimmy Connors
Score4–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–4
Draw8
Main article: Challenge of Champions

The Chicago Challenge of Champions tennis exhibition tournament was held on January 4–9, 1983 at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois.[1] The promoter was Andrzej Kepinski, and this was the first year of sponsorship by Miller Lite.[1] This was the third year of the Challenge.

Ivan Lendl won in the final 4–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–4 against Jimmy Connors.

Dates, schedule and attendance

Match play began at 6:30 p.m. each evening from Tuesday, January 4, 1982 through Friday, January 7, 1982. The semi-finals were held at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 8, 1982, and the finals were held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 9, 1982.[1]

Round robin Match Dates and Matches
Date Match 1 Match 2 Match 3
January 4 Jimmy Connors vs. Henri Leconte Bjorn Borg vs. Vitas Gerulaitis Ivan Lendl vs Sandy Mayer
January 5 Vitas Gerulaitis vs. Henri Leconte John Mc Enroe vs Sandy Mayer Ivan Lendl vs. Eliot Teltscher
January 6 Vitas Gerulaitis vs. Jimmy Connors Bjorn Borg vs. Henri Leconte John Mc Enroe vs. Eliot Teltscher
January 7 Sandy Mayer vs Eliot Teltscher Ivan Lendl vs. John Mc Enroe Bjorn Borg vs. Jimmy Connors

The attendance for Friday's matches was approximately 15,000.[2] Attendance at Saturday's semi-finals was 15,820, and according to the promoter this was a sell-out of the stadium when configured for tennis.[3][4] Attendance at Sunday's finals was 11,416 [5]

Purse

The total purse was $250,000. The winner received $100,00, the runner-up $50,000, third and fourth-place finishers received $30,000 each, fifth and sixth-place finishers received $12,500, and the seventh and eighth-place finishers received $7,500.[1] Individual players also received undisclosed amounts for appearing at the event from the sponsors/promoters.[6]

Players

  1. Ivan Lendl (champion)
  2. Jimmy Connors (final)
  3. John McEnroe (semifinals)
  4. Björn Borg (semifinals)
  5. Vitas Gerulaitis (round-robin)
  6. Eliot Teltscher (round-robin)
  7. Henri Leconte (round-robin)
  8. Sandy Mayer (round-robin)

Draw

Finals

Semi-finals [7] Final [8]
            
John McEnroe 1 7 2
Jimmy Connors 6 5 6
Jimmy Connors 6 4 5 4
Ivan Lendl 4 6 7 6
Ivan Lendl 6 7
Björn Borg 1 5

Group A

  John McEnroe Ivan Lendl Eliot Teltscher Sandy Mayer RR W–L Set W–L Game W–L Standings
John McEnroe 6–3, 6–2 [9] 7–6, 6–4 6–3, 6–4 3-0 6-0 37-22 1
Ivan Lendl 3–6, 2–6 7–6, 2–6, 6–2 [10] 6–2, 7–5 2-1 4-3 33-33 2
Eliot Teltscher 4–6, 1–6 6–7, 6–2, 2–6 6–3, 7–6 1-2 3-4 37-37 3
Sandy Mayer 3–6, 4–6 2–6, 5–7 3–6, 6–7 0-3 0-6 23-48 4

Group B

  Björn Borg Jimmy Connors Vitas Gerulaitis Henri Leconte RR W–L Set W–L Game W–L Standings
Björn Borg 6–4, 1–6, 6–2 4–6, 6–2, 6–4 6–2, 6–7, 6–1 3-0 6-3 47-34 1
Jimmy Connors 4–6, 6–1, 2–6 6–1, 6–4 6–4, 2–6, 6–1 2-1 5-3 38-29 2
Vitas Gerulaitis 6–4, 2–6, 4–6 1–6, 4–6 7–6, 6–2 1-2 3-4 30-36 3
Henri Leconte 2–6, 7–6, 1–6 4–6, 6–2, 1–6 6–7, 2-6 0-3 2-6 29-45 4

References

  1. ^ a b c d Kay, Linda (November 16, 1982). "Chicago's Challenge Accepted". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. p. C3.
  2. ^ "This year, the Challenge a box-office success". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. January 7, 1983. p. D2.
  3. ^ Kay, Linda (January 9, 1983). "Connors, Lendl again". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. p. C2.
  4. ^ Kay, Linda (January 8, 1983). "Borg turns back Connors". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. p. N1.
  5. ^ Kay, Linda (January 10, 1983). "Lendl's mighty serves too much for Connors". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. p. C1.
  6. ^ Kay, Linda (January 2, 1983). "Challenge courts top stars". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. p. C6.
  7. ^ "NY Times 'Connors and Lendl Will Meet in Final'". The New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  8. ^ "NY Times 'LENDL DEFEATS CONNORS'". The New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  9. ^ "NY Times 'McENROE DEFEATS LENDL FOR FIRST TIME IN YEAR'". The New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  10. ^ "Del Rio News Herald excerpt". January 6, 1983. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
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