Leading money winners for 1979 were Bjorn Borg, with $909,345, and Martina Navratilova, with $747,548.

Wimbledon

Bjorn Borg defeated Roscoe Tanner, 6-7, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, to win the men's championship at Wimbledon on July 7.

Martina Navratilova defeated Chris Evert Lloyd, 6-6, 6-4, to win the women's championship.

Navratilova teamed with Billie Jean King to win the women's doubles championship. It was King's 20th Wimbledon win, a record.

U.S. Open

John McEnroe defeated Vitas Gerulaitis, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3, in the U.S. Open men's final at Flushing Meadows, New York, on September 9. McEnroe got to the final match by defeating Jimmy Connors in the semifinal, which he had reached by defeating Ilie Nastase, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. The McEnroe-Nastase match (on August 31) became one of the most infamous in tennis history due to Nastase's behavior. Already known for being disrespectful toward umpires and line judges, Nastase drew the ire of umpire Frank Hammond by constantly stalling the game in protest over what he considered bad calls. Hammond first awarded a penalty point to McEnroe, then penalized Nastase a full game, and finally awarded game, set, and match to McEnroe.

Left: John McEnroe celebrates his U.S. Open semifinal victory over Jimmy Connors.

Tracy Austin defeated Martina Navratilova, 7-5, 7-5, in the semifinals and Chris Evert Lloyd, 6-4, 6-3, in the final to wins the U.S. Open women's championship. At 16 years 8 months, Austin became the youngest woman to win the U.S. Open. After her victory, she returned to her junior year at Rolling Hills (California) High School.

Right: Tracy Austin leaps for joy after defeating Chris Evert Lloyd to become the youngest woman to win the U.S. Open.

In the Year 1979

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