Jimmy Connors

Jimmy Connors (born the September 2nd 1952 with Belleville, East Saint Louis, Illinois) was a player of Tennis the United States which disputed the international circuit of 1970 with 1996. It was world number one and gained 8 titles of the Large slam. He is currently the trainer of Andy Roddick. Cut 1 78.Domicilié meter with Sanibel Harbor.

Career 1970-1996

Style of play

Born in 1952 in the Illinois, Jimmy Connors is with the Australien Rod Laver, the Swedish Björn Borg, the ex- Tchécoslovaque Ivan Lendl, the American S John McEnroe, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and the Suisse Roger Federer, one of the largest players of the open era. It was also one of those which had more the long career: only chronologically Bill Tilden, Pancho Gonzales and Ken Rosewall, its victim quadragénaire finally of Wimbledon and the US Open 1974, did better. In addition to one strong combativeness, the play of this left-handed was built around its reverse. Its blow right consequently was often its weak point, floating and vague. But to have opportunity of aiming its right blow of left-handed person, it was already necessary to manage to contain the immense basic aggressiveness of court of its reverse with two hands.

This gesture, today so widespread in the professional players (Ievgueni Kafelnikov, Andre Agassi, Marat Safin inter alia) was in the years 1970 still relatively not very frequent. And it is Connors which democratized it by making some an immoderate use. The exceptional length of its career made of it an extremely popular player in the United States. However, Connors passed by several phases in the American public. Haï in the years 1970 until the arrival of John McEnroe which will monopolize resentments of the public to the turning of the years 1980, Connors gained respect at the same time as it gained in age.

The arrogance of its youth became a respected combativeness then admired by the Americans, but also by Europeans: one of its last matches marked the spirits of the French public. In 1/16e of finale of Roland-Garros 1991 vis-a-vis Michael Chang, Connors fought during more than 3 hours, yielding only by abandonment to the 5th set, not without to have gained the 4th handle and the first point of 5th over an attack of reverse.

Beginnings

Connors began on the circuit in 1970 and in September it beat its first player of Top20, Roy Emerson, with the first turn of Pacific Southwest Open Championships of Los Angeles. In September 1971 it beat Stan Smith then better player of the world of the moment in demifinale of the same tournament of Los Angeles. It passed professional in 1972. Quickly, it was essential like one of the great American hopes with Solomon and Tanner. During two seasons, he managed to seize 17 professional titles and in particular that of U.S. Pro 1973 while beating with the first Smith turn and finally Arthur Ashe. In 1972, year when he became professional player, Connors qualified for the Masters Grand Prix reserved with the independent professionals (in opposition to the professionals under contract with the organization WCT), showing thus that he was part from now on of Top20 even of Top15 of the best players of the world. In 1973 it reached the quarterfinals of the US Open which attracted the most beautiful plate of the year in front of Roland Garros. He played also the quarters of Wimbledon devaluated of 1972 (prohibited with the pros under contract of the WCT) and of 1973 (the tournament of the boycott of the ATP with only 4 of the 20 best players of the world of the moment, Ilie Năstase, Jan Kodeš, Roger Taylor and Connors itself). At the end of the 1973 all experts classified it between 5th and the 9th world place (the computer of the ATP placed it even at one 3rd somewhat over-estimated place).

The small slam of 1974: Connors on the roof of the world

Whereas it started to make its place in the landscape of world tennis in 1973, it crosses a course the following year, triumphing over the former generation (of which Ilie Năstase and Stan Smith) by carrying out the small slam, extremely rare exploit lasting the open era (realized by Mats Wilander in 1988 and Roger Federer into 2004,2006 and 2007). It carried initially the Australian by beating Phil Dent, the father of the current American player Taylor Dent. It was private of Roland-Garros. Sometimes indeed, at the time, the American professionals preferred to play of the lucrative exhibitions (an American interurban championship in particular) little before the tournament and hesitated to make Parisian displacement. In reaction, Philippe Chatrier, then president of FFT banishes tournament the whole of the players of these interurban, of which Connors. For the player, it was a cruel disillusion. Because at the time, it was quite simply irresistible, even on beaten ground. It connected on victories in Wimbledon and US Open, crushing twice finally Australian Ken Rosewall. Prohibition to dispute Roland-Garros probably deprived it of a Large Slam (carried out to date, only by two players: Donald Budge in 1938; Rod Laver in 1962 and 1969). Jimmy Connors carried the business in front of justice and tackled the French federation of Tennis. It took as lawyer Robert Badinter, but was débouté.

1975-1978: the duel vis-a-vis Borg

From now on world number one, Connors would spend the next years to fight against Swedish Björn Borg, player Swedish 18 years who had carried it in Roland-Garros 1974.

The year 1975 was difficult for Connors which lost its 3 titles of the large slam finally, overcome by John Newcombe in Australia (it will rejouera this tournament never again), by the American champion Arthur Ashe, 33 years, finally of Wimbledon, then by the Spaniard Manuel Orantes finally of US Open passed for 3 editions (1975, 1976 and 1977) on hardware-tru, name of the American beaten ground.

It remained nevertheless world number 1, not disputing neither Australian, nor Roland-Garros the following year. Overcome into 1/4 of Wimbledon by a compatriot and frightening waiter, Roscoe To tan, it beat the US Borg finally Open one (6-4/3-6/7-6 (11-9) /6-4. The two men shared the titles: Borg carried it in Wimbledon, Connors with US Open, clashing often finally various " gros" tournaments.

These years, two people followed it tennistiquement, one having propelled it in tennis with a titanic will, his/her excellent mother, Gloria Connors (deceased in January 2007), itself ex tenniswoman and teaching tennis professionally, but also such an atypical player him, Pancho Segura.

In 1977, always world number 1, it yielded at the time of two finales. Vis-a-vis Borg during a Homeric fight of 5 sets (6-3/2-6/1-6/7-5/4-6, ghost from 0-4 to 4-4 (15/0) in the fifth set, then made a double fault and crumbled then multiplying the direct faults vis-a-vis imperturbable Borg). As vis-a-vis Argentinian Guillermo Vilas recent winner of Roland Garros, in a match as it believed to have in its hand on multiple occasions to lead two sets to one, cracking completely consequently, vis-a-vis Villas as solid imperturbable and pitiless as had been to it Borg two months earlier. This occasion, the public attended with a course of end of new match; on a match point - Connors had just saved some several - an approach of right blow of Connors was judged line, then fault… The public invading the exchange made impossible any dispute, carrying the Argentinian one in triumph soon; one of the spectators having invaded the ground going even to cause Connors which it received of a punch. These emotions passed, the American carried his single Masters in janv 78, in New York, Borg leaf finally (6-4/1-6/6-4), itself having beaten Vilas (6-3/6-3) in semi-final, adversary which it had chosen by declaring fixed price in his last match " of pool" , in order to avoid facing the American at this stage of the competition, where Vilas had beaten hen Connors to him (6-4/3-6/7-5).

Seeming for the first time a bit laid out to return on its last bouderies and to gratifier Roland Garros of his arrival, it fell sick in spring, and a mononucleosis held it far away from the grounds more than one month. It is not, according to what had become a practice, that in England and on grass that it found Borg to the maximum of its radiation after its triumphal Parisian about fifteen 78. Jimmy Connors lost (6-2/6-2/6-3) without glory, finding vis-a-vis him a metamorphosed player who attacked without slackening, amount, volleyant, and being useful with one by the way désarçonnant which it could not already psychologically answer. Passed this new traumatism, the final of Flushing Meadows was the occasion for him of one vivifying revenge. The new stage where the US Open was held, Flushing Meadows in the " borough" Queens, had chosen American cement (" Déco Turf2"), surface with the franker rebound, higher, perfectly adapted to the play of the American, was to him place of rebirth, it triumphed 6-4/6-2/6-2, giving bright demonstration of controlled aggressiveness there, vis-a-vis Borg however very sharpened in spite of a wound with the inch. This match is, in spite of the apparent dryness of the score, one of best than they divided, because even if at the beginning of the second set unfoldings and outcomes seemed inescapable, the Swede gave superb counterpart to his torturer of the day. In half finale, Connors had still drawn aside its young McEnroe compatriot in semi-final (6-3/6-2/7-5), as it had done in Wimbledon one year and half earlier, returning this time from 1-5 to 7-5 in the last set.

With the any end of the year 1978, the career of Connors slows down, because of arrival with the more high level of a new rival, its compatriot waiter-volley-ball player John McEnroe and especially owing to the fact that a radical change occurred in its emotional life. Indeed, far from any family, it Maria in Tokyo with an American playmate of which he had a child (Brett) as of the following months (August 1979). The aggressiveness of its play was some consequently blunted at the time when Borg became more and more extremely physically and where Mac found finally its cruising speed and convainquit fully of its aptitude to be involved between them.

Decline?

At the time of the seasons 1979 to 1981, Connors did not reach only one final of tournament of the large slam, and gained professional titles less and less. In the tournaments of the Large Slam it was beaten constantly by McEnroe and Borg. It returned to Roland-Garros in 1979, for the first time since 1973. It was the only large title which it missed. It failed vis-a-vis the Paraguayan Victor Pecci in semi-finals 1979, vis-a-vis American Vitas Gerulaitis in semi-finals 1980 and vis-a-vis Argentinian the Jose Luis Clerk in quarterfinals 1981, being on this single occasion at some points of the victory in the fourth set. Regrets it could have this year of it, since its following adversary should have been Ivan Lendl, player whom it had implacably dominated until there. Moreover the play of Connors put up badly with a wet beaten ground and door such that which it had to press against Clerc, where as of the following day, the good weather was going to settle and the exchanges to accelerate… It thus missed its last chance to defy Borg on its Parisian grounds, in the most hoped final for time.

It then seemed to decline, idea accentuated by its three successive defeats in semi-finals of Wimbledon into 1979,1980 and 1981 vis-a-vis Borg and McEnroe. Gone down the third world place, it also failed in the US semi-finals Open one of the years. Sometimes, its eliminations severe, as to Wimbledon 1979 (victory of Borg 6-2, 6-3, 6-2) or at US the Open 1981 (Borg 6-2, 7-5, 6-4), had left where it led however 4-1 to the second set, obtaining even several balls of 5-1, with service to be followed. Borg was used with this occasion a rain as aces which seemed to break the moral one of the American.

It could however still threaten its rivals in these tournaments. In semi-final of Wimbledon 1981, Borg carried it only 0-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-4. For US the Open 1980, it was necessary to await the tie break of the 5th set so that McEnroe manages to eliminate it 6-4, 5-7, 0-6, 6-3, 7-6. In the same way in Masters of janv 80 and 81, it was twice close to a success vis-a-vis Borg (6-3, 3-6, 6-7 and 4-6, 7-6, 3-6).

The return to the foreground

Borg, mentally tired by a dozen years entirely devoted to tennis left in semi-retirement in October 1981 and thus left McEnroe, Lendl and Connors to dispute the leadership of tennis. Connors became again n°1 world in 1982 with the costs of McEnroe to the favor of victories in Wimbledon (where it beat it finally 3-6, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4) and with US Open (vis-a-vis Ivan Lendl). The following year, it gained its last title of the large slam, at 31 years with US Open vis-a-vis Lendl.

In spite of its age, it remained in the ten best players of the world until 1989. He did not manage to gain Roland-Garros (semi-finalist in 1984 and 1985, quarter of finalist in 1981,1982,1983 and 1987). It rejoua not the Open one of Australia, even after this one had reinstalled in January after one decade during which he was disputed in Christmas. He did not manage nevertheless to revive the excitation of a final of Wimbledon in 1984 (lost 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 vis-a-vis one Mc Enroe this year there at the top of its art, however after a superb victory over Lendl), also that to make a success of at almost 35 years the most beautiful increase of the history of Wimbledon (of 1-6, 1-6, 1-4… vis-a-vis the Swede Michael Pernfors) not yielding any more but in half finale vis-a-vis the future winner (the Australian Stalemate Cash), also of the semi-finals at US the Open 1984 (carrying out with the passage one of the most beautiful matches of the history, reinforcing five sets with one McEnroe, this year there however untouchable on fast surface, its rival losing there one match of all the season…) and 1985 (sinking for the first time vis-a-vis Lendl in large slam on fast surface, it is true at 33 years completed).

The arrival of players younger than him, like Swedish Stefan Edberg, German Boris Becker or its compatriot Andre Agassi caused her slow retreat of the world hierarchy. It continued nevertheless to play and gain some professional titles (2 into 1988,2 in 1989, beating on the occasion - US Open 89 and at 37 years - the world number two, Stefan Edberg, by giving up only six plays in three sets to him! ). Still quarter of finalist vis-a-vis Agassi at US the Open 1988 (for the first time - at 37 years - exceeded by a sharper player and rapid that him) and 1989 (making this time good match with Kid of Las Vegas, 18ans its junior…), it seemed to be withdrawn in 1990, obtaining this season of absence for only result only one defeat with the first turn (vis-a-vis Agenor which it would victoriously find at the time of a memorable second turn of the Roland Garros of the following year) of the tournament of Toulouse, of which it was the holding double of the title (88 and 89, titles acquired vis-a-vis Chesnokov then… McEnroe). It seemed lost for the play. Indeed, since months its left wrist made it suffer, some time later, the surgery was going to reconstitute it, leaving him nevertheless little hope remake of it the intensive use which its career had required.

Last return

It returned however in 1991 to the more high level. At 39 years, whereas it was classified beyond the 100e world place, it pushed Michael Chang with the five sets in 1/16e of Roland-Garros finale and eliminated his compatriot Aaron Krickstein in Wimbledon. The US organization Open one granted an invitation to him.

It reached the semi-finals of the tournament, after some matches remained in the American collective memory: vis-a-vis Patrick McEnroe, the brother of John beaten 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, and vis-a-vis Aaron Krickstein then 6th world player and former semi-finalist of the tournament, which however carried out 5-2 in the last sleeve. Its course was completed in semi-finals vis-a-vis Jim Courier, in three sets.

After this season, Connors made a last round of good-byes, more discrete, poor this time in thundering victories, in 1992, celebrating all the same on the short its fortieth Open birthday and its US 22e (record) by a convincing victory (6-1/6-2/6-3) over Brazilian the Jaime Oncins with the first turn. It was its last match gained in large slam, Lendl taking a patient pleasure to use it to the cord with the following turn, letting to him more gain one play with the fourth and last set, avenging the 6-0 which the American at the time of the finale of 1983 had inflicted to him.

It rejoua still some matches on the circuit following years. It thus reached the quarterfinals of the tournament of Halle in 1995. It disputed its last match with Atlanta in 1996.

He played then a few years in the senior turn, of which he had been on the initiative of creation, finishing at the head of the first six editions, again beating Borg and Mac much more often than in his turn.

Jimmy Connors definitively gave up the competition in the year 2000. He is today the trainer of Andy Roddick since 2006

Prize list in Large Slam:

Victories: (8)

Finales: (7)

Detail of its performances in Large Slam and with Masters:

Other striking facts in its career:

1 lost finale of Coupe Davis in 1984 (the only edition which it disputed, except its defeat in 1975 of edition 1976 vis-a-vis Ramirez and its two victories of July 81, vis-a-vis Tomas Smid and Lendl)

He is the player who disputed the most US the Open consecutive ones (22), that which connected the most season classified with the computer (1973-1996), the 3rd longer reign of the history in the first world place (behind Sampras and Lendl).

He occupied the first world place of the ATP (see Records of tennis and ATP Tour) during 268 weeks, 2 less than Lendl, until February 26th had the record of the number of consecutive weeks with the first place of the ATP (160) (record in progress by Federer) and finished 5 consecutive seasons with this row (record beaten by Pete Sampras in 1998). The majority of the experts of tennis classified world Connors n°1 into 1974,1976 and 1982 (see Tennis players world numbers 1) .

Moreover it gained other great tournaments: Cincinnati in 1972, U.S. Pro with Boston in 1973, Los Angeles in 1973,1974,1982 and 1984, Wembley pro in 1976 and 1981, Masters of the WCT in Dallas (concurrent organization of the Grand Prix of the ITF) in 1977 and 1980, Philadelphia in 1976,1978,1979 and 1980, the first professional tournament disputed in China with Canton in 1980, the tournament of Palm Springs in 1976, the tournament of Quinta in 1981 and 1984 (the future Masters d' Indian Wells) and Boca West (the future Masters of Miami) in 1984. With 138 gained tournaments, he is the second player more titrated open era behind untouchable the Ivan Lendl with 144 titles.

Lastly, it always holds the record of the number of victories into simple over circuit ATP: 1.222 matches gained.

Gained tournaments: 138

Titles into simple: 109 (105 listed by the Web site of the ATP and *4 observers in the ATP Player' S Guides)

Titles not listed by the Web site of the ATP: 18 (Tournament of 8-Players and more)

Titles not listed by the Web site of the ATP: 11 (Tournament on invitation with 4-Players)

Lost finales: 55 (50 listed on the Web site of the ATP and *5 observers in the ATP Player' S Guides)

¹ Final cancelled.
² Finale stopped to 5-5 and not taken again following the bad weather (rain).
³ Finale definitively stopped following a bomb scare.

Lost finales not listed by the Web site of the ATP: 14

Titles in double: 19 (15 listed by the Web site of the ATP and *4 observers in the ATP Player' S Guide)

Lost finales: 13 (11 listed by the Web site of the ATP and *2 observers in the ATP Player' S Guides)

Sources for this section

John Barrett, editor, World off Tennis Yearbooks , London, of 1976 to 1983.

Michel Sutter, Victorious Winners 1946-2003 , Paris, 2003. Sutter, initially, tried to count all the international tournaments of 1946 with the autumn 1991. For each tournament it indicated the city, the date of the finale, the winner, the finalist and the score of the finale. A tournament is included in its list if: (1) the table includes/understands at least eight players (with some exceptions near like the tournaments Pepsi Grand Slam of second half of the years 1970; and (2) the level of the tournament was at least equal to that of the tournaments challenger of now. The book of Sutter is probably the most exhaustive source of tournaments since the Second world war, even if some professional tournaments of the period previous the open era are not recorded. Thereafter Sutter published an 2nd edition, with for only indications the players, their victories and the years corresponding, over the period 1946 - April 27th, 2003.

Various bonds

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