Recent from talks
Jimmy Connors
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Jimmy Connors
James Scott Connors (born September 2, 1952) is an American former professional tennis player as well as an author, a tennis commentator, and a coach. He was ranked as the world No. 1 in men's singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for 268 weeks (fifth-most of all time), and finished as the year-end No. 1 five times. Known for his fiery competitiveness, Connors holds three prominent Open Era men's singles records: 109 titles, 1,557 matches played, and 1,274 match wins. His titles include eight singles majors (an Open Era joint-record five US Opens, two Wimbledons, one Australian Open) and three year-end championships. In 1974, he became the second man in the Open Era to win three major titles in a calendar year; he was not permitted to participate in the fourth, the French Open. His playing career ended in 1996.
Born September 2, 1952, Connors grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois, just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri. He was raised Catholic. During his childhood, he was coached and trained by his mother Gloria and grandmother Bertha. His father Jim was a toll bridge operator and his paternal grandfather, John Connors, was the mayor of East St. Louis, Illinois from 1939 to 1951. He played in his first U.S. Championship, the U.S. boys' 11-and-under of 1961, when he was nine years old. Connors's mother took him to Southern California to be coached by Pancho Segura in 1968; however, she remained his coach and manager. He and his brother, John "Johnny" Connors, attended St. Phillip's grade school. Connors won the Junior Orange Bowl in both the 12- and the 14-year categories.
In August 1970, Connors recorded his first match win in the first round of the Haverford tournament, beating Jean-Baptiste Chanfreau. In his first US Open, Connors lost in round one to Mark Cox. At Pacific Southwest Open in Los Angeles, he defeated Roy Emerson before losing to Clark Graebner in the last 16, where he was described by the Los Angeles Times as the "Cinderfella of tennis" and "the kid with a magic wand for a backhand". In 1971, Connors won the NCAA singles title as a Freshman while attending UCLA and attained All-American status. He reached his first ATP Tour finals at Columbus (losing to Tom Gorman) and Los Angeles (beating newly crowned US Open champion Stan Smith before losing to 43 year old Pancho Gonzales).
Connors turned professional in 1972 and won his first tournament, the Jacksonville Open, quickly followed by his second at Roanoke, third at Queen's Club, fourth at Columbus, fifth at Cincinnati and sixth at Albany. Connors was acquiring a reputation as a maverick in 1972 when he refused to join the newly formed Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the union that was embraced by most male professional players, in order to play in and dominate a series of smaller tournaments organized by Bill Riordan, his manager. At Wimbledon, where WCT pros were banned, Connors reached the quarter finals before losing to Ilie Nastase in straight sets. Connors won the 1973 U.S. Pro, defeating Arthur Ashe in a five-set final, one of 11 tournaments Connors won that year. Because he was not a member of the ATP, he did not boycott Wimbledon 1973 and reached the quarter finals, losing in four sets to Alex Metreveli in a match in which Connors "failed badly with volleys". Newcombe remarked that Connors' weak point was his volley and said "I felt I was on top of Jimmy's best weapon, his return of serve" after beating Connors in straight sets in the US Open quarter finals.
Connors had a 93–4 record in 1974 and won 15 tournaments of the 21 he entered, including three of the four Grand Slam singles titles. Connors won the Australian Open, which began in late December 1973 and concluded on January 1, 1974, defeating Phil Dent in a "dour" four set final. He beat Ken Rosewall in straight sets in the final of Wimbledon, losing just six games. He allowed Rosewall just two games in the US Open final in the most one-sided men's singles final in the tournament's history. "From the moment I took the court and hit the first ball, I felt I was gliding. I was on a cloud. It was a terrific feeling” said Connors afterwards. Connors was the second man in the Open Era to win three Grand Slams in a calendar year. Connors did not participate in the French Open during his peak years (1974–78), as he was banned from playing by the event in 1974 due to his association with World Team Tennis (WTT) and in the other four years chose not to participate. His exclusion from the French Open denied him the opportunity to become the second male player of the Open era, after Rod Laver, to win all four major singles titles in a calendar year. Connors is one of thirteen men to win three or more major singles titles in a calendar year. He chose not to participate in the season-ending Masters Cup between the top eight players of the world and was not eligible for the World Championship Tennis (WCT) finals because he did not compete in the WCT's regular tournaments. Connors finished 1974 at the top of ATP Point Rankings. He also was the recipient of the Martini and Rossi Award, voted for by a panel of journalists and was ranked world No. 1 by Rex Bellamy, Tennis Magazine (U.S.), Rino Tommasi, World Tennis, Bud Collins, Judith Elian and Lance Tingay.
Connors reached the finals of Wimbledon (losing in four sets to Arthur Ashe), the US Open (where Manuel Orantes "destroyed Connors' usually furious attacking game with popcorn balls") and the Australian Open (losing 9–7 on a fourth set tie break to John Newcombe). He never played in the Australian Open again. He won nine of the tournaments he entered achieving an 82–8 record. While he earned enough points to retain the ATP No. 1 ranking the entire year and was ranked number one by Rino Tommasi, all other tennis authorities, including the ATP, named Arthur Ashe, who defeated Connors at Wimbledon, as the Player of the Year. He once again did not participate in the Masters Cup or the WCT Finals.
Connors lost in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon to Roscoe Tanner. At the US Open, Connors captured the title once again (defeating Björn Borg). After the match, Borg said “it was a very good match. It was the best Jimmy has ever played against me. He hit everything on the lines, everything in the corners. I couldn't do anything. Usually, you play like that for one and a half sets and start missing. But he was very consistent." He won 12 events, including the U.S. Pro Indoor in Philadelphia, Palm Springs and Las Vegas, he achieved a record of 90–8 and defeated Borg all four times they played. He was ranked No. 1 by the ATP for the entire year and was ranked number one by World Tennis, Tennis Magazine (U.S.), Bud Collins, Lance Tingay, and Tommasi. The ATP named Björn Borg as its Player of the Year.
At Wimbledon 1977, playing with an injured right thumb, Connors lost in the final to Borg 6–4 in the fifth set. In the US Open final on a windy day Connors lost in four sets to Guillermo Vilas (it was the only match in the tournament to go beyond three sets). Connors captured both the Masters (beating Borg in the final) and the WCT Finals (over Dick Stockton in the final). While Connors held on to the ATP No. 1 ranking, World Tennis Magazine and other sources ranked Borg or Vilas No. 1. Connors won eight tournaments that year.
Hub AI
Jimmy Connors AI simulator
(@Jimmy Connors_simulator)
Jimmy Connors
James Scott Connors (born September 2, 1952) is an American former professional tennis player as well as an author, a tennis commentator, and a coach. He was ranked as the world No. 1 in men's singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for 268 weeks (fifth-most of all time), and finished as the year-end No. 1 five times. Known for his fiery competitiveness, Connors holds three prominent Open Era men's singles records: 109 titles, 1,557 matches played, and 1,274 match wins. His titles include eight singles majors (an Open Era joint-record five US Opens, two Wimbledons, one Australian Open) and three year-end championships. In 1974, he became the second man in the Open Era to win three major titles in a calendar year; he was not permitted to participate in the fourth, the French Open. His playing career ended in 1996.
Born September 2, 1952, Connors grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois, just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri. He was raised Catholic. During his childhood, he was coached and trained by his mother Gloria and grandmother Bertha. His father Jim was a toll bridge operator and his paternal grandfather, John Connors, was the mayor of East St. Louis, Illinois from 1939 to 1951. He played in his first U.S. Championship, the U.S. boys' 11-and-under of 1961, when he was nine years old. Connors's mother took him to Southern California to be coached by Pancho Segura in 1968; however, she remained his coach and manager. He and his brother, John "Johnny" Connors, attended St. Phillip's grade school. Connors won the Junior Orange Bowl in both the 12- and the 14-year categories.
In August 1970, Connors recorded his first match win in the first round of the Haverford tournament, beating Jean-Baptiste Chanfreau. In his first US Open, Connors lost in round one to Mark Cox. At Pacific Southwest Open in Los Angeles, he defeated Roy Emerson before losing to Clark Graebner in the last 16, where he was described by the Los Angeles Times as the "Cinderfella of tennis" and "the kid with a magic wand for a backhand". In 1971, Connors won the NCAA singles title as a Freshman while attending UCLA and attained All-American status. He reached his first ATP Tour finals at Columbus (losing to Tom Gorman) and Los Angeles (beating newly crowned US Open champion Stan Smith before losing to 43 year old Pancho Gonzales).
Connors turned professional in 1972 and won his first tournament, the Jacksonville Open, quickly followed by his second at Roanoke, third at Queen's Club, fourth at Columbus, fifth at Cincinnati and sixth at Albany. Connors was acquiring a reputation as a maverick in 1972 when he refused to join the newly formed Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the union that was embraced by most male professional players, in order to play in and dominate a series of smaller tournaments organized by Bill Riordan, his manager. At Wimbledon, where WCT pros were banned, Connors reached the quarter finals before losing to Ilie Nastase in straight sets. Connors won the 1973 U.S. Pro, defeating Arthur Ashe in a five-set final, one of 11 tournaments Connors won that year. Because he was not a member of the ATP, he did not boycott Wimbledon 1973 and reached the quarter finals, losing in four sets to Alex Metreveli in a match in which Connors "failed badly with volleys". Newcombe remarked that Connors' weak point was his volley and said "I felt I was on top of Jimmy's best weapon, his return of serve" after beating Connors in straight sets in the US Open quarter finals.
Connors had a 93–4 record in 1974 and won 15 tournaments of the 21 he entered, including three of the four Grand Slam singles titles. Connors won the Australian Open, which began in late December 1973 and concluded on January 1, 1974, defeating Phil Dent in a "dour" four set final. He beat Ken Rosewall in straight sets in the final of Wimbledon, losing just six games. He allowed Rosewall just two games in the US Open final in the most one-sided men's singles final in the tournament's history. "From the moment I took the court and hit the first ball, I felt I was gliding. I was on a cloud. It was a terrific feeling” said Connors afterwards. Connors was the second man in the Open Era to win three Grand Slams in a calendar year. Connors did not participate in the French Open during his peak years (1974–78), as he was banned from playing by the event in 1974 due to his association with World Team Tennis (WTT) and in the other four years chose not to participate. His exclusion from the French Open denied him the opportunity to become the second male player of the Open era, after Rod Laver, to win all four major singles titles in a calendar year. Connors is one of thirteen men to win three or more major singles titles in a calendar year. He chose not to participate in the season-ending Masters Cup between the top eight players of the world and was not eligible for the World Championship Tennis (WCT) finals because he did not compete in the WCT's regular tournaments. Connors finished 1974 at the top of ATP Point Rankings. He also was the recipient of the Martini and Rossi Award, voted for by a panel of journalists and was ranked world No. 1 by Rex Bellamy, Tennis Magazine (U.S.), Rino Tommasi, World Tennis, Bud Collins, Judith Elian and Lance Tingay.
Connors reached the finals of Wimbledon (losing in four sets to Arthur Ashe), the US Open (where Manuel Orantes "destroyed Connors' usually furious attacking game with popcorn balls") and the Australian Open (losing 9–7 on a fourth set tie break to John Newcombe). He never played in the Australian Open again. He won nine of the tournaments he entered achieving an 82–8 record. While he earned enough points to retain the ATP No. 1 ranking the entire year and was ranked number one by Rino Tommasi, all other tennis authorities, including the ATP, named Arthur Ashe, who defeated Connors at Wimbledon, as the Player of the Year. He once again did not participate in the Masters Cup or the WCT Finals.
Connors lost in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon to Roscoe Tanner. At the US Open, Connors captured the title once again (defeating Björn Borg). After the match, Borg said “it was a very good match. It was the best Jimmy has ever played against me. He hit everything on the lines, everything in the corners. I couldn't do anything. Usually, you play like that for one and a half sets and start missing. But he was very consistent." He won 12 events, including the U.S. Pro Indoor in Philadelphia, Palm Springs and Las Vegas, he achieved a record of 90–8 and defeated Borg all four times they played. He was ranked No. 1 by the ATP for the entire year and was ranked number one by World Tennis, Tennis Magazine (U.S.), Bud Collins, Lance Tingay, and Tommasi. The ATP named Björn Borg as its Player of the Year.
At Wimbledon 1977, playing with an injured right thumb, Connors lost in the final to Borg 6–4 in the fifth set. In the US Open final on a windy day Connors lost in four sets to Guillermo Vilas (it was the only match in the tournament to go beyond three sets). Connors captured both the Masters (beating Borg in the final) and the WCT Finals (over Dick Stockton in the final). While Connors held on to the ATP No. 1 ranking, World Tennis Magazine and other sources ranked Borg or Vilas No. 1. Connors won eight tournaments that year.
Recent media