Jimmy Connors: Style and talent

Tennis legend Jimmy Connors.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/may/27/jimmy-connors-outsider-autobiography-review

(May be subject to copyright)

With the United States Open in full swing, I am reminded of my favourite tennis player of all time. He was not just a flashy, acrobatic player, but he was a showman.

It was Jimmy Connors’ birthday yesterday, and I was reminded not only of the great player he was, but an epic battle he had with his nemesis in the semi-final of the U.S. Open forty years ago.

History lesson
Jimmy Connors first came to my attention when he seemed to battle, and lose to, Bjorn Borg at Wimbledon every year. After winning Wimbledon in 1974, he lost the 1975 final to Arthur Ashe, then lost in the final to Borg in 1977 and 1978, and the semi-final in 1979.

Borg seemed to have Connors’ number, which made him an under dog in my eyes, and someone I cheered for.

Yet Connors had a lot of success in the 1970s, winning the Australian Open and U.S. Open as well as Wimbledon in 1974. He did not participate in the French Open that year.

In 1975, he did not win any grand slam tournament but reached the final of the French Open and U.S. Open as well as Wimbledon. He again did not participate in the French Open.

In 1976, he won the U.S. Open and reached the quarter-final of Wimbledon but was absent from the others. In fact, after 1976, he did not go to the Australian Open again.

In 1977, he again reached the finals of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, but did not compete in the others.

He won the U.S. Open in 1978, and reached the final of Wimbledon, but did not play in the other grand slams.

In 1979, he reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the French Open.

As the 1980s were about to begin, Jimmy Connors was one of the best players in the world, and would continue to have success in the early part of the decade.

Dawn of the decade
Connors repeated the same feat in 1980, that he did in 1979, when he reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the French Open. It was more of the same in 1981, with Connors reaching the semi-finals of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, but going as far as the quarter-finals of the French Open.

He would then have the last string of success in his career.

Back on top
Jimmy Connors rose to the top again in 1982, winning both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. He also advanced to the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open.

He won the U.S. Open again in 1983, the last grand slam title of his career. He again reached the quarter-finals of the French Open, and the fourth round of Wimbledon.

Winding down
Connors reached the final of Wimbledon in 1984 and the semi-finals of both the French Open and the U.S. Open.

In 1985, he got as far as the semi-finals of all three of Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the French Open.

In 1986, he reached the third round of the U.S. Open, went out in the first round at Wimbledon, and did not participate in the French Open.

In 1987, Connors reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, and the quarter-finals of the French Open.

In 1988, he reached the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open and the fourth round of Wimbledon, but again did not compete in the French Open.

He closed out the decade in 1989 by reaching the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open, and going out in the second round of both Wimbledon and the French Open.

The years after
Jimmy Connors did not compete in any grand slams in 1990. He reached his last semi-final, in the U.S. Open, in 1991, and went as far as the third round of Wimbledon and the French Open. In 1992, he reached the second round of the U.S. Open, but bowed out in the first round of both the French Open and Wimbledon.

He would keep on playing until 1996 when he played his final match on the ATP tour (Association of Tennis Professionals).

Memories
I did not get to watch a lot of tennis in the ‘80s. It was just not available in the three channel universe, except for the finals of various grand slam tournaments.

What I did see, especially when watching Jimmy Connors was playing, was memorable. Instead of specific matches, I remember moments.

One time, I recall Connors going after a ball, jumping into the stands, and just sitting on the ledge. He was right in front of a fan who had a drink. Connors took it and had a sip. He was all style.

As much as he had that rivalry with Bjorn Borg at Wimbledon, his rivalry with fellow American John McEnroe was on another level.

I recall tennis commentator Bud Collins describing it as the bad blood between two hot-blooded Irishmen. They met in the 1984 U.S. Open semi-final, won by McEnroe, but it was an epic five-set match at Flushing Meadows. The tennis was awesome, but so was the drama. It was the first, and maybe only, time I saw one player directly yell at another player. McEnroe would get into it with the umpire, and Connors would just tell him to get on with it.

Wikipedia reveals Connors was known as a bad boy but, quite honestly, by the time I saw him play he had mellowed and was more showman than bad boy. That mantle had been taken up by McEnroe.

Parting thoughts
Jimmy Connors was my favourite player. Although his best years were 1974 to 1978, before I started watching tennis, when he was the best men’s tennis player in the world.

It was just this style he had, his way with the crowd, and the way he took his opponents head on, no matter who they were.