Mats Wilander, Swedish tennis player: biography, personal life, sporting achievements

After leaving the big tennis Björn Borg he was replaced by another Swede - Mats Wilander, who did not let down the bar of popularity of this sport in his home country. The Mats star broke out in 1982, when a little-known athlete became a leader in the French Open Championship held in Paris.

Career Overview

Before the prize draw in 1989, Mats Wilander won three times in the French capital, four times in the other competitions of the Grand Slam.

For the first time in France, he became a champion, before reaching the age of eighteen. By right, the young Swedish tennis player was regarded as a worthy successor to Boris Borg. The young man perfectly felt the back line, which made it difficult for the opponent to win many times, and his monotonous game exhausted opponents. Soon Mats became a player of the highest category. He won in 1988 on three different configurations of courts - the French soil, Australian grass cover and plastic platforms of the USA.

In the domestic media, the Swedish surname first appeared in 1986, when the tennis player was defeated in the third round by Andrei Chesnokov. Russian athlete in his favorite style Mats knocked out of the holder of the main contender, the winner of last year and at that time - the second racket in the world.

Features of the technique of the match

A little later, our connoisseurs of tennis saw the legendary Swedish pro racket on television broadcasts from the Wimbledon competitions and the French championship. A lot of enthusiastic reviews about the game Mats was made in Paris (June 1988). The player behaved not only quickly, strongly, professionally, but he was reliable in all attacks, confident in himself. Virtually no one had any doubts that he should win the main prize, which eventually he got.

Mats Wilander is known for high technique of the game. He is able to put the balls extremely accurately, just a few millimeters from the line, and competently parry the pitch with high accuracy. In addition, the Swedish athlete feels great at the net, famously conducts the attacking actions, and his "candle" with the left blow in many ways resembles the style of the legendary Manuel Santana, who is surely remembered by the fans with experience.

Personal life

Mats Wilander, whose private life for a long time was hidden from prying eyes, was known as a closed and unsociable person. Only after the second half of the eighties did the public learn some interesting facts about the inner world of the tennis player.

The athlete likes to play guitar, is a fan of the popular musician Bob Dylan. In his spare time, he comes to his homeland and loves to pick up a hockey stick. Despite the fact that the assets of the Swedish tennis player make up more than five million dollars, he leads a rather modest and ascetic way of life. As Mats himself said in an interview, his life acquired a new meaning after the marriage.

Mats Wilander, whose wife rarely traveled with him to the competition, believes that this is correct. The name of the wife of the tennis player is Sonya Mulholland, she is a former mannequin. Not very sociable in broad circles, the couple occasionally goes to social receptions and events, and if it appears there, it is not to be looked at. So personally declared himself Vilander. They are not supporters of the mad pace of life, but the main thing is that the spouses appreciate and love each other.

Victory and defeat

Playing tennis men, or rather, those who have achieved some success in this field, argue that one of the most prestigious achievements is the victory in the Grand Slam. In 1988 Mats enchantingly won the first couple of tournaments of this drawing. However, the meeting with Miloslav Mechirzh destroyed the Swede's dreams of taking the "Grand Slam".

Despite the fact that Wilander twice won the champion's Olympics in Australia's grass courts, the Wimbledon pad did not succumb to him. According to the tennis player himself, the fields in Melbourne are much "slower" than in England. In addition, the Swede noted that this is the most difficult match for those athletes who play in his style.

After losing Mechirju, Mats set himself the task: to take the first step in the world report card about ranks and learn how to feel the game on the grass cover better. In addition, he had great prospects for the open championship of the United States, where he could not beat Lendl in the final. Later, Wilander noted that the "Grand Slam" was not seen as the main goal, although the thought of winning naturally did not leave the player.

Excerpts from the interview

Immediately after the meeting with Mechirzh Mats was upset, although he did not feel any special pressure after this match. In the fourth stage of the "Grand Slam" in Fleshing-Meadow, the Swede won the victory without any difficulties.

As Mats Wilander said in an interview, it is sometimes difficult to find motivation for the game. In many ways, this aspect depends on who you are opposed to, the weather and personal attitudes. The older you become, the more difficult it is to pick up the motive - as the tennis player in Adelaide reasoned, as though anticipating new troubles in a professional way. The first number always has to defend its position, but at the start of a career it's much easier to set a goal for yourself.

The Australian championship was not up to him. Some zlopyhateli hurry to write off the Swede as an outsider. However, the famous athlete in the world of tennis John McEnroe noted that, despite temporary difficulties, Vilander will still show himself and confidently enter the list of leaders.

Completion of professional career

7.06.89 Mats again it was possible to contemplate on domestic television screens. Again the duel was held with A. Chesnokov. It was a confrontation for entering the semi-finals of the French championship. Like three years before this match, on the same central court, under the supervision of hundreds of video cameras, Andrew defeated Wilander in three consecutive games. This was a real sensation of the championship, and many tennis connoisseurs and Mats fans around the world were tormented by the question whether the legendary Swede star had finally died out. At that time, the athlete was 24 years old, and officially he finished his sports career in 1996.

Dry statistics

Famous tennis player from Sweden Mats Wilander, who was once the first racket of the world, professionally performing since 1981, won in thirty three singles tournaments and seven doubles competitions.

Outstanding achievements in the confrontations of the Grand Slam draw:

• Champion of Australia (three times) in a single game.
• The title of the best player at the French Open (three times) in a single game.
• Member of the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in singles (1987, 1988, 1989). Champion-86 in a pair match (together with Nyström).
• Winner of the United States Open (1988) (single draw).
• He won the Davis Cup three times as a member of the national team of Sweden (1984/85/87).
• The holder of the title of the first racket of the world since 12.09.88, held this title for almost five months.

The end of his professional career came in 1996. Already after the official withdrawal from tennis in 1997, the athlete was disqualified for ninety days for misusing cocaine. Recently, he is a tennis expert on the English version of the television channel Eurosport.

Television activities

Mats Wilander and Barbara Shette conduct an analytical program on the Eurosport channel. The assistant of the Swedish sportsman was one of the ten best tennis players. Some journalists attribute to the co-host a romantic relationship, but officially this is not confirmed.

Regarding the program, this is a review and analysis of the matches and tournaments of the Grand Slam. Mats always clearly understands technical issues and skillfully conducts an analysis of the psychological plan. The transfer is a success because it is problematic to show the match completely, since it can last many hours, be carried over due to weather changes and so on.

Conclusion

Playing tennis professional men unequivocally claim that the Swedish athlete Mats Wilander is one of the strongest tennis players in the world. He achieved a lot in the professional field, was the first racket of the world and became the real pride of his country. With all this, it is distinguished by modesty, the absence of "star sickness" and a rather closed way of life. After the end of his career, Mats did not leave tennis for good, now he analyzes the games of other athletes on television.