It was 19 years in the making and almost didn't happen because of the rain, but American tennis legend John McEnroe aced his old foe Ivan Lendl in a re-match in the Australian city of Adelaide on Thursday night.
In their first meeting since 1992, McEnroe took charge with a superior serve and touch, to win 8-4 on the final night of the World Tennis Challenge at Memorial Drive.
The larger-than-life McEnroe opened the match with an ace, had the fist-pump happening by the second game and showed little mercy as he ended a six-match losing streak to Lendl.
Lendl, born in the old Czechoslovakia and now a US citizen, didn't completely surrender and, although he now spends more time on the golf course than on the tennis court, showed he still had it with some cracking returns.
Both players received a standing ovation from the packed crowd, which sat through a lengthy rain delay to witness one of world tennis' most anticipated grudge matches.
It was the perfect prelude to their next meeting at New York's Madison Square Garden next month.
"It was great; I didn't think I'd get this chance. It was nice to get Ivan back out there," McEnroe, 51, said.
"I know he's going to go back and work even harder; that's what he did in the past. But I'm looking forward to it, because I'm getting better, too."
Lendl, 50, paid tribute to McEnroe's serve and said he was also looking forward to their next encounter.
"I just wasn't putting enough pressure on his serve ... yet. Hopefully that will change soon," he said.
Both players are former world No. 1s who enjoyed a fierce rivalry during their careers, particularly during the 1980s.
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