The 1964 Ladies' Singles final was one of the few occasions whereby the two top seeds faced each other in a match deserving of the final. It pitted two players of contrasting physiques and styles against one another, in what was to be one of the most enthralling matches in Wimbledon's history.

On one side was Maria Bueno, a young dark-haired Brazilian who graced the Wimbledon courts in the late fifties and early sixties, much in the style of Suzanne Lenglen. She established herself in the affections of the British public when she won the Ladies' Championships back-to-back in 1959 and 1960 but injuries and illness where to prevent her building on that in the following years, until 1964 when, as the second seed, she reached the final for the loss of just one set.

Reaching the final was one thing, winning the title was another as she was to discover, but she had the popular vote and, as the understandable underdog, she had the crowd's backing as she was not only facing the defending champion, but a woman already being acclaimed as the most powerful stroke player in the women's game.

Her opponent, Margaret Smith, was top seed and clear favourite. She was a fitness fanatic, big and strong, and, at 21 years of age, already the proud owner of seven Grand Slam titles. Miss Bueno looked frail alongside the Australian and though considerably more experienced at 24, she trailed in Grand Slam title terms having only collected four. In head-to-head terms, they arrived at The Championships having beaten each other once each during the season.

The scene was set and on a fine sunny July Saturday afternoon, the two contestants emerged from behind the roller end clutching their rackets, flowers and, in Miss Smith's case, her handbag!

It was clearly evident as they strode to the umpires' chair, that Miss Bueno was the more nervous of the two as in contrast, Miss Smith looked confident and self-assured. What was to follow, however, soon knocked that confidence askew as the second seed visibly discarded her nerves immediately the action started going on to claim the first set.

Then the match really settled into a classic contest between two well-matched players.

The defending champion's powerful serve clicked into place as she strode into a second set 4-0, 40-15 lead only to became slightly tentative and allow her opponent back in.

The Australian's serve had started to falter and short serves were being punished as the Brazilian number-one fought her way back to level, only to grind to a halt in a crucial ninth game, just failing to make a vital breakthrough which would have seen her go on to serve for the title.

Five break points were saved by Miss Smith or alternatively lost by Miss Bueno in that tense eight-deuce game.

It was absolutely scintillating tennis and proved a turning point, raising the level of the match from being a mundane final, to a classic one with Miss Smith producing a series of exquisite backhand passes to level the match in the 16^th game.

At a set apiece, both had everything to play for but the initiative now was with the defending champion, her challenger having seemingly blown her chances.

Serving well again, Miss Smith led 3-2 in the decider. But Miss Bueno was not to be denied. She found her second wind and took the match to the champion embroiling her in some superb lengthy rallies, drawing tumultuous applause from the enthralled crowd as she snatched back the initiative.

The second wind blew into a storm as the Brazilian broke for 4-3 and inexorably maintained the pressure to reach 5-3, 40-15 . match point.

Incredibly, after all those sweet and exciting exchanges, the match was won on an exceptional reflex pick-up. The incoming Bueno half-volleyed a Smith smash off her toes seemingly using the wooden racket-frame. The ball floated over the net and simply died giving the underdog a well deserved and hard earned 6-4, 7-9, 6-3 victory and her third Wimbledon singles title.

That winning shot remains indelibly imprinted on my mind. The match had been superb, capped by a winning shot which demands incredible reflexes and hand-eye co-ordination. The winner was in fact immortalised by Max Robertson who described the ball as landing 'like a fried egg!'

The match itself had been an encounter between two great athletes, one naturally gifted and the other physically powerful. As one journalist said at the time, it was the 'rapier against the broadsword'.

It was a contest that was to be repeated a year later. In 1965, Smith and Bueno met again in the Wimbledon Ladies' final, with the Brazilian ranked first and the Australian ranked second. This time, though, it was Smith who was victorious, winning in straight-sets 6-4, 7-5 in 56 minutes.