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18-03-2021
With the fading of the legendary Bjorn Borg from the top of the game in 1982, many thought that a champions drought was imminent for Swedish tennis. 17 year old Mats Wilander appeared out of nowhere and continued where Borg had left off, winning the French Open that year. He then continued to fill the Swedish Grand Slam trophy cabinet throughout the 1980's.
Before the start of the 1988 season, Wilander had already amassed four Grand Slam titles, two Australian and two French. The signs were ominous in 1987. Wilander moved to world number 2 behind Ivan Lendl. He reached the the finals of both The French and US Opens, losing on both occasions to arch rival Lendl.
In 1988, he started the season brightly, winning the revamped Australian Open on the new hardcourts venue at Flinders Park in Melbourne. He beat fellow Swede Stefan Edberg in the semi finals before overcoming Australian Pat Cash in the final, both in five sets. He then set his sights on his beloved Roland Garros at the French Open, where he routed Frenchman Henri Leconte in the final. Halfway to a Grand Slam.
At Wimbledion, he lost in the quarter finals to Miloslav Mecir. This appeared to end the dream. But then something amazing happened. Mecir was beaten by Stefan Edberg in the semi final while Boris Becker dispatched world number 1 Ivan Lendl in the other semi. Edberg went on to win his first Wimbledon title over Becker in a four set rain delayed final.
At the final Grand Slam event at the US Open, Wilander continued his good form. He met his nemesis Ivan Lendl in the final. The match lasted five hours over five sets before Wilander finally prevailed. In doing he became world number 1 for the first time, dislodging Lendl's three year rein at the top, and ensuring a unique Swedish Grand Slam sweep of men's tennis titles in 1988.