Jimmy Connors

Jimmy Connors is a former professional tennis player who turned pro in 1972 and played in more than 401 tournaments. Known for his bad boy behavior and two-fisted backhand, Connors never officially retired from the game and remains ranked in the ATP system.¹

Fast Facts

1. Born: September 2, 1952
2. Birth Place: Belleville, Illinois
3. Handed: Left
4. Eight Grand Slam singles titles
5. First male tennis player to win three Grand Slam singles titles on three different surfaces (hard court, grass and clay)
6. Married model Patti McGuire in 1980
7. He is the current coach of Andy Roddick
8. Ranked #1 for 160 Consecutive weeks
9. Inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1998

Connors Career Highlights

Jimmy Connors won his first title in 1972 in Jacksonville, Florida. He won Wimbledon twice, in 1974 and 1982, and the Australian Open in 1974. Connors continued on to win five championships at the U.S. Open, but in 1990, faced a career downfall due to an injured left wrist. It wasn't until after surgery that Connors returned to the tennis scene, playing fourteen tournaments in 1991 and reached the semifinals at the U.S. Open that year.¹

Quotes

“Tennis was never work for me, tennis was fun. And the tougher the battle and the longer the match, the more fun I had. To go and beat somebody 6-2 6-2 6-2 was fun, but to beat somebody 7-6 in the fifth, to walk off after playing somebody for four hours and 48 minutes when you’ve left every ounce of blood on the court, every ounce of everything, was the ultimate.” -Jimmy Connors²

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