Gods of Tennis, a BBC three-part series, takes a dramatic look back at core Wimbledon match-ups over two decades from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s. Expertly weaving archival footage with an amazing array of present-day interviewees (including Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Sue Barker, Pam Shriver, and, most significantly, the traditionally reclusive Bjorn Borg), the focus is mostly on the drama of the big matches. The most thrilling episode is the middle one climaxing with McEnroe’s victory in the 1981 final. This episode includes footage of the 1980 final won by Borg, a match I recall watching in awe. The first episode, focusing on 1975 winner Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King, offers wider themes; Ashe pioneering race inclusivity, King pioneered equal rights for women. The final episode, building up to the 1991 final between Evert and Navratilova, is less momentous, even with the latter’s outing as gay. Overall, Gods of Tennis is a clever, diversionary documentary that should satisfy tennis fans and others alike.
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