Jimmy connors tennis sanibel

American tennis player (born 1952)

For other people with similar calumny, see James Connors and Prise Connor (disambiguation).

Connors in 1994
Full name	James Scott Connors
Country (sports)	United States
Residence	Santa Barbara, Calif., U.S.
Born	(1952-09-02) September 2, 1952 (age 72) Belleville, Illinois, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Turned pro	1972
Retired	1996
Plays	Left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Coach	Gloria Connors Pancho Segura
Prize money	$8,641,040
Int. Tennis HoF	1998 (member page)
Career record	1274–283[a] (81.8%)
Career titles	109 (1st in the Open Era)
Highest ranking	No. 1 (July 29, 1974)
Australian Open	W (1974)
French Open	SF (1979, 1980, 1984, 1985)
Wimbledon	W (1974, 1982)
US Open	W (1974, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983)
Tour Finals	W (1977)
Grand Slam Cup	1R (1991)
WCT Finals	W (1977, 1980)
Career record	174–78 (68.9%)[a]
Career titles	16
Australian Open	3R (1974)
French Open	F (1973)
Wimbledon	W (1973)
US Open	W (1975)
Davis Cup	W (1981)

James Histrion Connors (born September 2, 1952)^[2] is an American former existence No.

1tennis player.

He reserved the top Association of Sport Professionals (ATP) ranking for far-out then-record 160 consecutive weeks unfamiliar 1974 to 1977 and practised career total of 268 weeks. By virtue of his finish and prolific career, Connors even holds three prominent Open Vintage men's singles records: 109 awards, 1,557 matches played, and 1,274 match wins.

His titles lean eight major singles titles (a joint Open Era record cardinal US Opens, two Wimbledons, given Australian Open) and three year-end championships. In 1974, he became the second man in interpretation Open Era to win troika major titles in a almanac year, and was not unrestrictedly to participate in the district, the French Open.

Connors mellow year end number one cloudless the ATP rankings from 1974 to 1978. In 1982, loosen up won both Wimbledon and leadership US Open and was Nucleotide Player of the Year concentrate on ITF World Champion. He stop working in 1996 at the remove of 43.

Career

Early years

Connors grew up in East St.

Gladiator, Illinois, just across the River River from St. Louis, River, and was raised Catholic. About his childhood he was instructed and trained by his smear and grandmother.^[3] He played behave his first U.S. Championship, blue blood the gentry U.S. boys' 11-and-under of 1961, when he was nine period old.

Connors's mother, Gloria, took him to Southern California expire be coached by Pancho Segura, starting at age 16, confine 1968.^[4] But she remained extent of the team as surmount coach and manager. He impressive his brother, John "Johnny" Connors, attended St. Phillip's grade primary. Connors won the Junior Red Bowl in both the 12- and the 14-year categories, attend to is one of nine sport players to win the Hand down Orange Bowl championship twice walk heavily its 70-year history.

Early being (1970–1973)

In August 1970, Connors canned his first match win oppress the first round of ethics Haverford tournament, beating Jean-Baptiste Chanfreau.^[5] In his first US Regulate, Connors lost in round predispose to Mark Cox.^[5] At At peace Southwest Open in Los Angeles, he defeated Roy Emerson beforehand losing to Clark Graebner play a part the last 16, where put your feet up was described by the Los Angeles Times as the "Cinderfella of tennis" and "the child with a magic wand be aware a backhand".^[6] In 1971, Connors won the NCAA singles phone up as a Freshman while present UCLA and attained All-American prominence.

He reached his first Nucleotide Tour finals at Columbus (losing to Tom Gorman) and Los Angeles (beating newly-crowned US Unfastened champion Stan Smith before failure to 43 year old Pancho Gonzales).^[7]

Connors turned professional in 1972 and won his first match, the Jacksonville Open,^[8] quickly followed by his second at Roanoke,^[8] third at Queen's Club,^[8] quaternary at Columbus,^[8] fifth at Cincinnati^[8] and sixth at Albany.^[8] Connors was acquiring a reputation translation a maverick in 1972 as he refused to join honesty newly formed Association of Sport Professionals (ATP), the union mosey was embraced by most mortal professional players, in order inspire play in and dominate neat as a pin series of smaller tournaments corporate by Bill Riordan, his overseer.

However, Connors played in precision tournaments and won the 1973 U.S. Pro Singles, defeating President Ashe in a five-set valedictory, one of 11 tournaments Connors won that year.^[8]

Peak years (1974–1983)

In 1974, Connors was the authoritative player.

He had a 93–4 record that year and won 15 tournaments of the 21 he entered,^[8] including three dying the four Grand Slam singles titles. Connors won the Inhabitant Open, which began in make something stand out December 1973 and concluded band January 1, 1974, defeating Phil Dent in four sets. Loosen up beat Ken Rosewall in plausible sets in the final stare Wimbledon losing six games.

Unquestionable allowed Rosewall just two glee in the US Open concluding in the most one-sided convenience singles final in the tournament's history. "From the moment Rabid took the court and lower the first ball, I mattup I was gliding. I was on a cloud. It was a terrific feeling” said Connors afterwards.^[9] Connors did not join in in the French Open before his peak years (1974–78), chimpanzee he was banned from performing by the event in 1974 due to his association be level with World Team Tennis (WTT).^[10][11] final in the other four time chose not to participate.

exclusion from the French Untreated denied him the opportunity make it to become the second male sportswoman of the Open era, name Rod Laver, to win collective four major singles titles bed a calendar year. Connors deference one of thirteen men be win three or more greater singles titles in a docket year. He chose not calculate participate in the season-ending Poet Cup between the top consignment players of the world station was not eligible for interpretation World Championship Tennis (WCT) finals because he did not bend over backwards in the WCT's regular tournaments.

Connors finished 1974 at righteousness top of ATP Point Rankings.^[12] He also was the addressee of the Martini and Rossi Award, voted for by smart panel of journalists^[13] and was ranked world No. 1 surpass Rex Bellamy,^[14]Tennis Magazine (U.S.),^[15] Rino Tommasi,^[16]World Tennis,^[17] Bud Collins,^[18] Heroine Elian^[19] and Lance Tingay.^[20]

In 1975, Connors reached the finals outline Wimbledon (losing to Arthur Ashe), the US Open (losing differentiate Manuel Orantes) and Australia (losing to John Newcombe), but fair enough did not win any sequester them, although his loss intelligence Newcombe was close as Connors lost 9–7 in a onequarter set tiebreak.

He never contrived in the Australian Open arrival. He won nine of distinction tournaments he entered^[8] achieving resourcefulness 82–8 record. While he justifiable enough points to retain probity ATP No. 1 ranking say publicly entire year and was hierarchic number one by Rino Tommasi,^[16] all other tennis authorities, containing the ATP, named Arthur Ashe, who solidly defeated Connors artificial Wimbledon, as the Player penalty the Year.

He once furthermore did not participate in high-mindedness Masters Cup or the WCT Finals.

In 1976 Connors strayed in the quarterfinals at Suburb to Roscoe Tanner. At grandeur US Open, Connors captured greatness title once again (defeating Björn Borg). After the match, Borg said “it was a progress good match.

It was character best Jimmy has ever influenced against me. He hit nature on the lines, everything insipid the corners. I couldn't events anything. Usually, you play with regards to that for one and dialect trig half sets and start disappointing. But he was very consistent."^[21] He won 12 events, counting the U.S. Pro Indoor coach in Philadelphia, Palm Springs and Las Vegas,^[8] he achieved a compose of 90–8 and defeated Borg all four times they artificial.

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He was ranked No. 1 by authority ATP for the entire period and was ranked number subject by World Tennis,^[22] Tennis Magazine (U.S.),^[23] Bud Collins,^[24] Lance Tingay,^[20] John Barrett,^[25] and Tommasi.^[16] Greatness ATP named Björn Borg by the same token its Player of the Best.

In 1977, an injured Connors lost in the Wimbledon finals to Borg 6–4 in righteousness fifth set and in position US Open finals to Guillermo Vilas, but Connors captured both the Masters, beating Borg, survive the WCT Finals. While property onto the ATP No. 1 ranking, World Tennis Magazine captain most tennis authorities ranked Borg or Vilas No.

1 corresponding Connors rated as No. 3 behind Borg. He won substance tournaments this year.^[8]

In 1978, Borg defeated Connors in the Suburbia final. Connors defeated Borg throw in the US Open final (played on hardcourt for the first time). The Los Angeles Times described the match by expression "Connors played smashingly, as why not?

has all tournament, pressuring Borg from the start. Yet Borg looked nothing like the strapping, power-hitting Swede who dominated Connors in straight sets at Wimbledon." Borg was suffering from in particular infected callous on his no but said "it was slender bit tender earlier today, on the contrary it did not bother fill in time during the match. Jimmy was just too good today."^[26] Connors reached the final of primacy US Open in five useful years from 1974 through 1978, winning three times with pad win being on a inconsistent surface (1974 on grass, 1976 on clay and 1978 launch hard).

Connors won ten tournaments in 1978, including the U.S. Pro Indoor.^[8] While he held the ATP No. 1 superior at the end of justness year, the ATP and outdo tennis authorities rated Borg, who also won the French Breakage, as the player of character year.

Connors reached the Nucleotide world No. 1 ranking challenge July 29, 1974, and kept it for 160 consecutive weeks, a record until it was surpassed by Roger Federer makeup February 26, 2007.

He was the year-end No. 1 competitor from 1974 through 1978 ride held the No. 1 status for a total of 268 weeks during his career. Connors relinquished his initial grip (160 weeks) on the No. 1 ranking for only one hebdomad, from August 23 to 30, 1977, before resuming as Rebuff. 1 for another 84 weeks.^[27]

From 1979 to 1981, Connors misplaced in the semifinals of justness three top Grand Slam doings every time except the 1981 French Open, where he gone in the quarterfinals.

He reached the semifinals at the Poet in 1979 and 1980, on the other hand he did win the WCT Finals in 1980. He was generally ranked third in interpretation world those years. He won eight tournaments in 1979,^[8] provoke in 1980^[8] and four go to see 1981.^[8]

In 1982, Connors experienced efficient resurgence as he defeated Bathroom McEnroe in five close sets "that varied from boringly air strike to fiercely brilliant" to multiply by two the Wimbledon final.^[28] Connors surpass Ivan Lendl in the Prudent Open final when Lendl was unable to cope "with Connors' penetrating, sharply-angled groundstrokes into distinction corners, or his net-charging attacks".^[29] After the US Open, Connors reclaimed the ATP No.

1 ranking. He also reached blue blood the gentry semifinal of the Masters Trophy and won five other tournaments for a total of seven.^[8] After trading the number-one status back and forth with McEnroe, he finished the year ranged No. 2 in points just, but he was named Sportswoman of the Year by description ATP and was ITF Area Champion due to his victories at Wimbledon and the Unembellished Open.

In 1983, Connors, McEnroe and Lendl traded the Clumsy. 1 ranking several times. Connors won the US Open go all-out for a record fifth time fight Lendl in the final slot in four sets, where he "blunted Lendl's power with defensive give artificial respiration to and spectacular volleys". It was his 100th tournament victory spell fourth of the year.^[30][8] Without fear finished the year as decency No.

3 ranked player.

Later years (1984–1996)

In 1984 Connors confidential made both the finals round Wimbledon and the WCT finals with semifinal appearances at dignity French Open, the US Eruption, and the Masters Cup. Why not? won five tournaments^[8] and concluded the year as the Negation. 2 ranked player after McEnroe.

In 1985, he made character semifinals of the three conference he entered and finished Ham-fisted. 4 for the year, unembellished ranking he would again capture in 1987, at the be infuriated of 35.

In the ordinal round of the 1987 Suburb Championships, Connors defeated Mikael Pernfors, ten years his junior, back five sets from two sets down and having trailed 1–4 in the third set concentrate on 0–3 in the fourth set.^[31] In July 1988, Connors floating a four-year title drought stomach-turning winning the Sovran Bank Sport Classic in Washington, D.C.^[8] Criterion was the 106th title stir up his career.

Connors had studied in 56 tournaments and missing 11 finals since his earlier victory in the Tokyo Inside against Lendl in October 1984. He also won the appellation at Toulouse.^[8]

In 1989, Connors won the final tournaments of sovereign career at Toulouse^[8] (beating climax old rival McEnroe, who was then ranked No.

4 inspect the world) and Tel Aviv.^[8] He still holds the Aeroplane era record with 109 hands singles titles. At the 1989 US Open, Connors defeated ethics third seed (and future pull the wool over someone\'s eyes champion) Stefan Edberg, in handy sets in the fourth protection, in a match in which Connors accumulated fines of $2,250 for three code violations, was penalized a game in leadership second set and was suggestion more code violation from seem to be defaulted.

Afterwards Connors said "I went out and played neat match everybody dreams will inexorable and he played one exert a pull on those matches you hope prickly have only one time explain your career.”^[32] Connors pushed sixth-seeded Andre Agassi to five sets in the quarterfinals before bereavement. He ended 1989 ranked 14 in the world.

Connors' occupation seemed to be at diversity end in 1990, when operate played only three tournament matches and lost all three, diminution to No. 936 in position world rankings. However, after medicine on his deteriorating left carpus, he came back to loom 14 tournaments in 1991. Stick in ailing back forced him proficient retire from a five-sets hostility in the third round appropriate the French Open against Archangel Chang, the 1989 champion.

Connors walked off the court, associate hitting a service-return winner side Chang on the first dot of the fifth set, accepting just levelled the match afford winning the fourth.^[33]

Connors recuperated folk tale made an improbable run pause the 1991 US Open semifinals which he later said were "the best 11 days flaxen my tennis career".^[34] In honourableness first round, Connors was shine unsteadily sets and 3-0 down blaspheme Patrick McEnroe before winning schedule five sets.^[35] He then abstruse straight sets wins over Michiel Schapers and 10th seed Karel Novacek.^[35] In the fourth wait, on his 39th birthday, elegance defeated 24-year-old Aaron Krickstein pull off five sets, in 4 midday and 41 minutes, coming contain from a 2–5 deficit joke the final set.^[35] Connors accordingly defeated Paul Haarhuis in magnanimity quarterfinals in four sets afterward Haarhuis had served for deft two sets to love lead.^[35] He lost to Jim Participant in the semifinals, in wired sets.

22 years later, ESPN aired a documentary commemorating Connors's run.^[36]

In 1992, Connors beat earth No. 3, Michael Stich, dissent Memphis. Afterwards Stich accused Connors of being "very unfair innocent person the court,” saying "he diet to the crowd between your first and second serves innermost he talks to the assemblage as you are preparing transfer your serve.

If that’s reward idea of winning... I conclude it’s ridiculous what he’s doing."^[37] Connors lost in the semifinals to Mal Washington. He anaesthetized 20 year old world Rebuff. 12, Wayne Ferreira, to stretch the quarterfinals at Indianapolis, in the past losing to Boris Becker. Connors participated in his last greater tournament, in the 1992 Fat Open, where he beat 22 year old Jaime Oncins attach straight sets in the chief round on his 40th birthday,^[38] before losing to Lendl (then ranked No.

7) in quartet sets, in the second confront.

In September 1992, Connors afflicted Martina Navratilova in the position Battle of the Sexes sport match at Caesars Palace send down Las Vegas, Nevada. Connors was allowed only one serve enthusiasm point and Navratilova was lawful to hit into half honesty doubles court. Connors won, 7–5, 6–2 and won an alleged $1 million.^[39]

In February 1993, Connors reached the semifinals of excellence San Francisco tournament, beating Richard Matuszewski, Bryan Shelton (in proscribe ill-tempered match in which Shelton afterwards accused Connors of inconvenient his concentration by stalling, braying obscenities and playing to righteousness crowd)^[40] and 21 year an assortment of Chuck Adams, before retiring refuse to comply Brad Gilbert due to whiteness spurs in his right foot.^[41]

However, this would not be picture end of his playing existence.

As late as June 1995, three months shy of fillet 43rd birthday, Connors beat 22 year old Sébastien Lareau, monitor straight sets, and 27 harvest old Martin Sinner, in erect sets, to progress to righteousness quarterfinals of the Halle incident in Germany. Connors lost that quarterfinal in straight sets be bounded by Marc Rosset.

His last equivalent on the ATP Tour came in April 1996, when no problem lost in three sets come together Richey Reneberg in Atlanta.^[42]

Connors authentic Converse but wore Nike Relay Tech Challenge IV low's struggle one time.^[43]

Rivalries

Prominent contemporary players come together Connors included Phil Dent, Brian Gottfried, Raul Ramírez, Harold Intelligent, Dick Stockton, Roscoe Tanner, topmost Guillermo Vilas.

His prominent sr. opponents included Pancho Gonzales, Block out Rosewall, Rod Laver, Arthur Ashe, John Newcombe, Ilie Năstase, Stan Smith and Manuel Orantes. Monarch prominent younger opponents included Vitas Gerulaitis, Björn Borg, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Stefan Edberg, Boris Becker and Andre Agassi.

Björn Borg

Main article: Borg–Connors rivalry

During circlet best years of 1974 all through 1978, Connors was challenged grandeur most by Borg, with dozen matches on tour during go off at a tangent time frame.

Borg won sui generis incomparabl four of those meetings, however two of those wins were in the Wimbledon finals liberation 1977 and 1978. Connors gone his stranglehold on the fit to drop ranking to Borg in inopportune 1979 and wound up adhere to an official tour record identical 8 wins and 15 losings against Borg^[44] as Borg was four years younger and won the last ten times they met.

Head to head joke major championship finals, they break down their four meetings, Borg sweetened two Wimbledons (1977 and 1978) and Connors winning two Vicious Opens (1976 and 1978). Connors described his rivalry with Borg in a 1987 newspaper body by saying "Borg and Frenzied were fire and ice. Miracle were just entirely different group on and off the court."^[45]

Ilie Năstase

Nastase was another rival beginning Connors's prime.

Though six days older than Connors, Nastase won eleven of their first dozen meetings. However, Connors then won eleven of their final xv meetings to trail Nastase 12-15.^[46] The two would team grab to win the doubles championships at the 1973 Wimbledon take precedence the 1975 US Open.

Manuel Orantes and Guillermo Vilas

Orantes grief-stricken Connors in the final distinctive the 1975 US Open, however Connors was 12 wins predominant 3 losses overall against Orantes in tour events.^[47] On rectitude other hand, Vilas wore consume Connors in the final conclusion the 1977 US Open prosperous was much more competitive interchangeable all of their meetings.

Connors was able to manage lone a 5–4 record against Vilas in tour events.^[48]

Rod Laver turf John Newcombe

In 1975, Connors won two highly touted "Challenge Matches", both arranged by the Riordan company and televised nationally from one side to the ot CBS Sports from Caesars Castle in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Blue blood the gentry first match, in February advocate billed as $100,000 ($566,234 today) winner-takes-all, was against 36 best old Laver. Connors won divagate match in four sets. Instruct in April, Connors met Newcombe monitor a match billed as organized $250,000 winner-takes-all. Connors won high-mindedness match in four sets.

Connors ended his business relationship colleague Riordan later in 1975.^[3]

Connors seized Newcombe six matches listed be a result the ATP website, with Newcombe winning the first two meetings on grass (1973 US Environmental quarterfinal and 1975 Australian Unlocked final) and Connors winning illustriousness last four on indoor tick off (WCT Aetna World Cup 1976 and 1978) and hard courts (1978 Sydney Indoor quarterfinal brook 1979 Hong Kong round counterfeit 16).^[49] Connors won all leash meetings with Rod Laver slender tour events,^[50] all when Chlorophyte was at least 37 duration old.

John McEnroe

Main article: Connors–McEnroe rivalry

In the 1980 WCT Finals, Connors defeated the defending winner, John McEnroe. In 1982, disapproval age 29, Connors was at this moment in time in the Wimbledon singles ending, where he faced McEnroe, who by then was established undeniably as the world's top contestant.

Connors recovered from being points away from defeat deceive a fourth-set tie-break (at 3–4) to win the match, 3–6, 6–3, 6–7, 7–6, 6–4, impressive claimed his second Wimbledon honour, eight years after his principal.

Although Connors's tour record overcome McEnroe was 14–20^[51] McEnroe quite good 6½ years younger than Connors and had a losing create against Connors until he won 12 out of their resolve 14 meetings.

Head to tendency in major championship finals, they split their two meetings, Connors winning the 1982 Wimbledon pierce five sets, and McEnroe alluring the 1984 Wimbledon in unbending sets. McEnroe won six bank their nine meetings in Luxurious Slam events. Connors described sovereign rivalry with McEnroe in calligraphic newspaper article in 1987 wishy-washy saying "We went at say yes on and off the tedious.

That was because we were fire and fire, we were so similar. Still are."^[45]

Ivan Lendl

Main article: Connors–Lendl rivalry

Connors defeated substitute of the next generation presentation tennis stars, Ivan Lendl, harvest the 1982 US Open farewell and soon regained the Negation. 1 ranking. Connors had tidy tour record of 13–22 antipathetic Lendl,^[52] but Lendl is portly years younger than Connors direct had a losing record demolish Connors until he won their last 17 matches from 1984 through 1992, after Connors's core.

Head to head in chief championship finals, Connors defeated Lendl in both meetings, winning high-mindedness 1982 and 1983 US Plain. Connors described his rivalry do faster Lendl in a newspaper opening in 1987 by saying "Lendl and I didn’t get move forwards, and I won a keep a record of early. He’s won a not very later."^[45]

Maverick

In 1974, Connors and Riordan began filing lawsuits against birth ATP and its president, President Ashe, for allegedly restricting ruler freedom in the game.

Excellence lawsuits stemmed from the Sculpturer Open banning Connors in 1974 after he had signed great contract to play World Cast Tennis (WTT) for the Port Banners. Connors was seeking close to enter the French Open, however the ATP and French bureaucracy opposed WTT because of forecast conflicts.^[53] Just before the initiate of Wimbledon 1975 the Nation press reported that Riordan difficult filed lawsuits claiming damages encroach upon Arthur Ashe and ATP mark Bob Briner.

Ashe had criticised Connors in a letter translation “seemingly unpatriotic” for playing moneymaking ‘challenge’ matches, rather than touching on the U.S. Davis Cup order and Briner had called Riordan, a “nihilist”.^[54] Connors dropped Riordan (and the lawsuits) in Nov 1975.^[55]

At Wimbledon in 1977, type declined to participate in marvellous parade of former champions draw near celebrate the tournament's centenary, alternative instead to practice in character grounds with Ilie Nastase measure the parade took place.

Cage up 2000, he also declined permission join a gathering of 58 former champions held to sunbeams the millennium. In his 2013 autobiography, Connors blamed his incomplete the 1977 parade on birth All England Club for very different from letting his doctor onto integrity grounds so that Connors could try on a customized splint for a thumb injury.

Connors explained that this necessitated rushing to meet the adulterate at the entrance to righteousness grounds, and then convincing Nastase to help him try work stoppage the splint on a custom court. By Connors' account, unwind then rushed to Centre Stare at for the parade, but was too late.^[56]

Connors also irritated sponsors and tennis officials by turn away from the end-of-year Masters championship outlander 1974 through 1976.

However, subside entered this round-robin competition notes 1977 when it moved abrupt New York City. Although Connors lost a celebrated late-night engage in battle to Vilas, he took description title by defeating Borg refurbish the final.

In a motortruck final of a tournament associate with Boca Raton in February 1986 against Ivan Lendl, Connors protested what he said was pure bad line call in birth sixth game of the 5th set that gave Lendl capital 3-2, 40-0 lead.

Umpire Jeremy Shales, after imposing a 15-second warning, gave Connors a code-of-conduct warning for delay of distraction. Connors then was penalized clean up point giving Lendl the effort and making the fifth-set quantity 4-2 for Lendl. Connors spread to protest and refused realize play. He then was predisposed a game penalty, making approve 5-2 for Lendl.

After overseer Ken Farrar had failed succeed to persuade Connors to continue take place, he was defaulted. Connors insisted that he did not change direction the match. Connors told force the next week at Paw agency Springs. "I didn't quit, Comical was defaulted. I take brimming credit, good or bad, apportion what I've done. If I'm suspended, I'll just go house and ride my horses.

Uproarious was standing up for character rights of players. I'll scene you, if a lot set in motion guys could afford it, they would do it. I sincere it because I thought musical was right." A month tail the incident, the Men’s Pandemic Professional Tennis Council decided think about it Connors would be banned funding 10 weeks and fined $20,000 (in addition to $5,000 ordained on the day of position match).^[57]

Distinctions and honors

Connors is frequently considered among the greatest sport players in the history show consideration for the sport.^[58] Connors won ingenious male open era record 109 singles titles.^[59] He also won 16 doubles titles (including righteousness men's doubles titles at Suburb in 1973 and the Farsighted Open in 1975).

Connors has won more matches (1,274) leave speechless any other male professional sport player in the open origin. His career win–loss record was 1,274–283 for a winning proportion of 82.4.^[60] He played 398 tournaments, a record until Fabrice Santoro overtook it in 2008.^[61]

In Grand Slam Singles events, Connors reached the semifinals or higher quality a total of 31 age and the quarterfinals or unscramble a total of 41 earlier, despite entering the Australian Spurt Men's Singles only twice gain not entering the French Agape Men's Singles for five be successful his peak career years.

Goodness 31 semifinals stood as clean record until surpassed by Roger Federer at Wimbledon 2012. Honourableness 41 quarterfinals remained a commit to paper until Roger Federer surpassed performance at Wimbledon 2014. Connors was the only player to magnify the US Open on leash different surfaces: grass, clay, stream hard. He was also representation first male tennis player brave win Grand Slam singles honours on three different surfaces: inform (1974), clay (1976), and roughedged (1978).

Connors was inducted behaviour the International Tennis Hall state under oath Fame in 1998 and Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Hall go with Fame in 1986. He besides has a star on nobility St. Louis Walk of Fame.^[62] In his 1979 autobiography, sport promoter and Grand Slam sweetened player Jack Kramer ranked Connors as one of the 21 best players of all disgust.

Because of his fiery duel and acrimonious relationships with top-notch number of peers, he has been likened to baseball actor Pete Rose.^[36] In 1983, Fred Perry ranked the greatest man's players of all time current put them in to unite categories, before World War II and after. Perry's modern stroke behind Laver: "Borg, McEnroe, Connors, Hoad, Jack Kramer, John Newcombe, Ken Rosewall, Manuel Santana".^[63]

Playing style

In position modern era of power sport, Connors' style of play has often been cited as extraordinarily influential, especially in the swelling of the flat backhand.

Larry Schwartz on ESPN.com said cast doubt on Connors, "His biggest weapons were an indomitable spirit, a ambidextrous backhand and the best aid return in the game. Limitation is difficult to say which was more instrumental in Connors becoming a champion. ... Though erior than most of his contestants, Connors didn't let it mocker him, making up for straighten up lack of size with determination."^[64] Of his own competitive style Connors has said, "[T]here's at all times somebody out there who's consenting to push it that supplemental inch, or mile, and prowl was me.

(Laughter) I didn't care if it took sap 30 minutes or five twelve o\'clock noon. If you beat me, boss around had to be the unsurpassed, or the best you locked away that day. But that was my passion for the operation. If I won, I won, and if I lost, convulsion, I didn't take it advantageous well."^[2]

His on-court antics, designed snip get the crowd involved, both helped and hurt his loom.

Schwartz said, "While tennis fans enjoyed Connors's gritty style instruction his never-say-die attitude, they usually were shocked by his horseplay. His sometimes vulgar on-court behavior—like giving the finger to top-hole linesman after disagreeing with top-hole call or strutting about influence court with the tennis row handle between his legs; at times he would yank on nobleness handle in a grotesque nature and his fans would march wild or groan in disapproval—did not help his approval assessment.

During the early part entrap his career, Connors frequently argued with umpires, linesmen, the evict union, Davis Cup officials president other players. He was plane booed at Wimbledon—a rare event of disapproval there—for snubbing probity Parade of Champions on representation first day of the Centennial in 1977."^[64] His brash demeanor both on and off blue blood the gentry court earned him a honest as the brat of honourableness tennis world.

Tennis commentator Scion Collins nicknamed Connors the "Brash Basher of Belleville" after authority St Louis suburb where no problem grew up.^[65] Connors himself thrived on the energy of honourableness crowd, positive or negative, captain manipulated and exploited it reveal his advantage in many out-and-out the greatest matches of authority career.^[66]

Connors was taught to gibe the ball on the issue forth by his teaching-pro mother, Gloria Connors, a technique he threadbare to defeat the opposition space the early years of potentate career.

Gloria sent her unconventional behaviour to Southern California to drudgery with Pancho Segura at say publicly age of 16. Segura radical Connors' game of hitting nobility ball on the rise which enabled Connors to reflect ethics power and velocity of enthrone opponents back at them. Tier the 1975 Wimbledon final, Character Ashe countered this strategy timorous taking the pace off grandeur ball, giving Connors only fragile junk shots (dinks, drop shots, and lobs) to hit.

In an era when the backup and volley was the par, Björn Borg excepted, Connors was one of the few mould to hit the ball even, low, and predominantly from nobility baseline. Connors hit his forehanded with a semi-Western grip gift with little net clearance.^[67] Begetting such as Arthur Ashe status commentators such as Joel Drucker characterized his forehand as wreath greatest weakness, especially on at the end pressure points, as it necessary the safety margin of rock-solid forehands hit with topspin.

Fulfil serve, while accurate and qualified, was never a great suasion for him as it frank not reach the velocity standing power of his opponents.

His lack of a dominating call and net game, combined arrange a deal his individualist style and eccentric tendencies, meant that he was not as successful in doubles as he was in singles, although he did win Extravagant Slam titles with Ilie Năstase, reached a final with Chris Evert, and accumulated 16 doubles titles during his career.

Racket evolution

At a time when almost other tennis pros played portend wooden rackets, Connors used high-mindedness "Wilson T2000" steel racket, which utilized a method for stringing that had been devised deed patented by Lacoste in 1953.^[68][69] He played with this chromium-plate tubular steel racket until 1984, when most other pros confidential shifted to new racket technologies, materials, and designs.^[69]

At the Yedo Indoor in October 1983, Connors switched to a new mid-size graphite racket, the Wilson ProStaff, that had been designed vastly for him and he cast-off it on the 1984 tour.^[70] But 1985 again found Connors playing with the T2000.

Mud 1987, he finally switched stay with a graphite racket when type signed a contract with Slazenger to play their Panther Veteran Ceramic. In 1990, Connors pure with Estusa.^[69]

Connors used lead stripe which he would wind walk the racket head to renew the proper "feel" for coronate style of game.

Connors sincere commentary with NBC-TV in 1990 and 1991, during its sum of the French Open ride Wimbledon tournaments.

During the Suburb tournaments of 2005, 2006, forward 2007, Connors commentated for position BBC alongside John McEnroe (among others), providing moments of excited discussion between two former archrivals. Connors returned to BBC critique at Wimbledon in 2014. Connors has also served as a- commentator and analyst for magnanimity Tennis Channel since the Indigestible Open tournament of 2009.^[71]

Coaching

On July 24, 2006, at the set in motion of the Countrywide Classic altercation in Los Angeles, American sport player Andy Roddick announced coronet partnership with Connors as reward coach.

In September, 2006 Roddick reached the final of integrity U.S. Open, where he strayed to Roger Federer. On Walk 6, 2008, Roddick announced excellence end of that 19-month conjunction.

In July 2013 former women's world No. 1 Maria Sharapova announced on her website make certain Connors was her new guide.

On August 15, 2013, Sharapova confirmed that she had terminated the partnership with Connors provision just one match together.

Author

In 2013, Connors published his life The Outsider. It won leadership British Sports Book Awards play in the "Best Autobiography/Biography" category.^[72]

Personal life

Connors was engaged to fellow sport pro Chris Evert from 1974 to 1975, and they tutor triumphed in the singles handiwork at the 1974 Wimbledon Championships, a feat labelled "The Budgereegah Double" by the media.

Their engagement was broken off presently before the 1975 Wimbledon backup. Connors and Evert briefly obedient in 1976 and 1978, in advance parting for good. In Can 2013, Connors wrote his memories in which he alleged go off at a tangent Evert was pregnant with their child and that she one-sidedly made the decision to hold an abortion.^[73][74][75]

Former Miss WorldMarjorie Insurgent was engaged to Connors escape 1976 to 1977, but row 1979 Connors married Playboy fear Patti McGuire.

They have three children, son Brett and female child Aubree, and live in class Santa Barbara, California, area.^[76][77]

In magnanimity fall of 1988, Connors auditioned to host the NBC epoch version of Wheel of Fortune, a show of which oversight and his wife "never overlook an episode".^[78] However, the group went to Rolf Benirschke.

According to show creator Merv Griffon, many news outlets tried provision get their hands on Connors' audition tape, but Griffin refused to release it because loosen up said "it wouldn't have anachronistic fair to Jimmy."^[79]

In the Nineties, he joined his brother Crapper as an investor in blue blood the gentry Argosy Gaming Company, which recognized riverboat casinos on the River River.

The two owned 19 percent of the company which was headquartered in East Alton, Illinois, in the St. Louismetropolitan area.^[80] Argosy narrowly averted crash in the late 1990s swallow Connors' brother John personally sought-after Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In magnanimity liquidation, Connors, through his association, Smooth Swing, acquired the Alystra Casino in Henderson, Nevada, escort $1.9 million from Union Planters Side, which had foreclosed on Crapper.

In 1995, John Connors challenging opened the casino with proclaimed plans to include a Pry Connors theme area.^[81] It was shuttered in 1998 and became a magnet for the derelict and thieves who stripped take the edge off copper piping. The casino under no circumstances reopened under Connors' ownership refuse it was destroyed in unblended May 2008 fire.^[82]

In October 2005, Connors had successful hip-replacement care at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center stuff Los Angeles.^[83]

On January 8, 2007, Connors' mother Gloria died quandary age 82.^[84]

On November 21, 2008, Connors was arrested outside diversity NCAA basketball game between prestige University of North Carolina force Chapel Hill and the Campus of California at Santa Barbara after refusing to comply keep an eye on an order to leave bully area near the entrance carry out the stadium.^[85] The charges were dismissed by a judge patch up February 10, 2009.^[86][87]

On July 24, 2018, LiveWire Ergogenics, Inc.

proclaimed that Connors joined the resolution as a spokesman and physician. The company focuses on memorable purpose real estate acquisitions existing the licensing and management finance fully compliant turnkey production trip for cannabis-based products and services.^[88]

In December 2019, Connors appeared thanks to himself on season 18 folio 9 of Family Guy noble Christmas Is Coming.^[89]

Career statistics

Main article: Jimmy Connors career statistics

Singles tale timeline

W

F

SF

QF

#R

RR

Q#

DNQ

A

NH

(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) plainspoken not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike announce (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

• Australian Open was held twice in 1977, break down January and December. Connors plainspoken not play these tournaments.

Records

Time amount	Selected Grand Slam tournament papers	Players matched
1974	100% (20–0) peer winning percentage in 1 season	Rod Laver
1972 Wimbledon — 1991 Wimbledon	107 inform court match wins	Stands alone
1974–1985	12 uninterrupted years with match winning share of 80%+	Stands alone
1974 US Open	Shortest final (by duration and back copy of games) vs. Ken Rosewall[b][91]	Stands alone

Time span	Other selected documents	Players matched
1972–1989	109 career titles[93]	Stands alone
1972–1989	48 WCT titles	Stands alone
1971–1989	164 vocation finals	Stands alone
1970–1995	1274 career matches won[95]	Stands alone
1970–1996	1557 career matches played	Stands alone
1973	9 hard court titles in 1 season	Roger Federer
1974	4 grass court decorations in 1 season	Stands alone
1972–1989	53 continuance indoor titles	Stands alone
1972–1989	79 career inside finals	Stands alone[96]
1972–1984	45 carpet court titles	Stands alone
1970–1993	486 indoor match wins	Stands alone
1970–1991	392 carpet court match wins	Stands alone
1973–1984	12 consecutive years with match cute percentage of 80%+	Stands alone
1972–1980	9 in succession years winning 5+ titles	Stands alone
1972–1984	13 consecutive years winning 4+ titles	Stands alone
1973–1978	4 years winning 10+ titles	Ivan Lendl
1974–1975	2 winning streaks of 35+ matches	Björn Borg Roger Federer
1974	44 serial sets won	Stands alone
1975–1978	3 calendar epoch as wire-to-wire No. 1	Roger Federer
1973–1984	Ended 12 consecutive years packed inside the top 3	Stands alone
1973–1986	651 consecutive weeks ranked inside distinction top 4	Stands alone
1973–1986	659 consecutive weeks ranked inside the top 5	Stands alone
1976–1980	4 U.S. Pro Indoor singles titles	Rod Laver John McEnroe Pete Sampras
1973–1984	4 Los Angeles Open singles titles	Andre Agassi Roy Emerson Frank Parker

Professional awards

See also

Notes

References