1982 Cincinnati ATP Semifinal: Steve Denton vs. John McEnroe – Texas A&M Athletics

With the Cincinnati Open, now the Western & Southern Open, in full swing from Aug. 13-21 in Ohio, 12thMan.com was reminded that 40 years ago the tournament was the site of arguably the greatest singles victory of Texas A&M head coach Steve Denton’s illustrious tennis career.

On Aug. 16, 1982, Denton, then ranked No. 19 in the world, upset the world’s top-ranked player, John McEnroe, in the Cincinnati ATP Open semifinals in straight sets, 7-6 (6), 6-4. Against one of the top returners in the history of tennis, the hard-serving Denton delivered five aces and nine service winners to overpower McEnroe, who won seven Grand Slam singles titles during his career and finished as the world’s No. 1 player at the end of the year from 1981-84.