Mats Wilander on Yannick Noah epic at 1983 French Open: 'I lost a final, but I won a friend' - Legends' Voice

When Mats Wilander met Yannick Noah on 5 June 1983 to face the local hero and the whole of France in the final of the French Open, he seemed the logical favourite. At least that's how he saw himself. As the defending champion, winner of 36 of his last 37 matches on clay, the Swede could not see himself as anything but a winner.

Ad But he didn't see what was coming. Attacked and tactically dominated, a first for him — especially on clay — Wilander lost in three sets. Roland-GarrosNadal's absence will 'fuel' Djokovic as 'end of an era' approaches — McEnroeAN HOUR AGO Forty years later, he looks back on a day he has not forgotten.

'I was definitely overconfident' To me, Yannick was a complete stranger in 1983. I knew Ivan Lendl because we met in 1978 in Czechoslovakia where he won the under-18s and I won the under-14s. Of course, I also saw him play the final against Bjorn Borg in 1981 in Roland-Garros.

So, he was around and I played him enough to know him. Yannick was totally unfamiliar to me as a tennis player. He didn't play any juniors, he played very differently, too.

Everything about him was different. Yannick was even more unfamiliar as a private person because I'd never ever said a word to him. It did loosen up a little bit for me when we played in Lisbon (April 1983, in the final).

Because Yannick was there with his girlfriend at the time. I don't think he had a coach with him. So, she's in the stands.

I kind of thought it was pretty cool – for some reason, cool was very important for me in those days – we're here, fighting, playing a tough match and his girlfriend is sunbathing in the stands. I think she even had a bathing suit on. I remember her clapping a little bit and hanging on.