“I held the racquet with both hands because that was the only way I could lift it.”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #www.espn.com
- #corroborated
Figure timeline
Jimmy Connors
James Scott Connors 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, 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,…
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
sports · American tennis player (born 1952) · tennis player · tennis coach · also Jimmy Connors, James Scott Connors, Connors
Born 2 September 1952 · Q53393
63 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
Photos & media
5 photos
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
In the news
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Recent highlights
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
- Quote
- Quote
2026· 12 entries
“t bother hiding his contempt for those who don”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #www.theguardian.com
- #corroborated
“Play 30 minutes right, then I could go ride my pony or minibike.”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #www.si.com
“t recall the incident.) --> But Riordan did provide Connors with a close, influential adult male figure for the only time in his life--and it showed. Away from the tennis Establishment, Connors exhibited an ease and good humor that he has never again shown. Granted, some of his comic material came with lines written, inflection indicated, by Riordan, but the public image was of a dead-end kid who could stop and laugh at the world and himself. Since Riordan”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #www.si.com
“t recall the incident.) Jimmy was so at home with Riordan because he obviously could see much of his father in him. Like Big Jim, hanging around the Stop Light Restaurant back home, telling stories, having some Scotches, laughing with the gang--”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #www.si.com
“There has to be an extra $250,000 for Jimbo.”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #www.si.com
“I went out and played a match everybody dreams will happen and he played one of those matches you hope you have only one time in your career.”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Public attention spiked: 10,050 Wikipedia readers in one day, 7.6× the usual 1,328, with 0 article edits.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #attention
- #spike
- #pageviews
Public attention spiked: 4,329 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.3× the usual 1,328, with 1 article edits.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #attention
- #spike
- #pageviews
Public attention spiked: 5,653 Wikipedia readers in one day, 4.3× the usual 1,328, with 0 article edits.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #attention
- #spike
- #pageviews
Public attention spiked: 4,277 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.2× the usual 1,328, with 0 article edits.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #attention
- #spike
- #pageviews
The New York Times: Jimmy Connors
- #news
- #headline
2025· 2 entries
Yardbarker: Jimmy Connors urges Grand Slam reform after Aryna Sabalenka’s comments on Coco Gauff
- #news
- #headline
Sports Illustrated: Jimmy Connors Defends Novak Djokovic Against Australian Open Fans
- #news
- #headline
2013· 2 entries
NBC News: Tennis legend Jimmy Connors reveals all
- #news
- #headline
Connors published his autobiography The Outsider
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2008· 2 entries
Connors was arrested outside an NCAA basketball game between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of California at Santa Barbara after refusing to comply with an order to leave an area near
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Roddick announced that Connors was no longer his coach
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2007· 1 entry
Connors's mother Gloria died at age 82
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2000· 1 entry
Also declined to join a gathering of 58 former champions held to mark the millennium
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1998· 2 entries
And Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Hall of Fame in 1986
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
And thieves subsequently stripped its copper piping
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1995· 1 entry
John Connors had opened the casino with announced plans to include a Jimmy Connors theme area
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1990· 3 entries
And 1991, during its coverage of the French Open and Wimbledon tournaments
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
When he played only three tournament matches and lost all three, dropping to No
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Connors signed with Estusa
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1988· 1 entry
Connors auditioned to host the NBC daytime version of Wheel of Fortune, a show of which he and his wife "never missed an episode"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1987· 3 entries
By saying "Lendl and I didn't get along, and I won a lot early
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
By saying "We went at it on and off the court
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Finally switched to a graphite racket when he signed a contract with Slazenger to play their Panther Pro Ceramic
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1986· 1 entry
Connors lost in the opening round to Robert Seguso
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1985· 1 entry
Connors made the semifinals of the French Open, but struggled with the wind and slow clay in losing in straight sets to Lendl
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1984· 1 entry
Won the ATP Indian Wells Open with ATP Mens (1984).
- #sportsdb
- #honour
- #title
1983· 2 entries
Connors, McEnroe and Lendl traded the No
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Fred Perry ranked the greatest male players of all time and put them into two categories, before World War II and after
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1982· 1 entry
At age 29, Connors was back in the Wimbledon singles final, where he faced McEnroe, who by then was established firmly as the world's top player
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1981· 2 entries
Won the ATP Indian Wells Open with ATP Mens (1981).
- #sportsdb
- #honour
- #title
Including a five set victory over McEnroe in the final of the Wembley championships in which McEnroe was fined for whacking a microphone with his racket
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1980· 1 entry
Beating McEnroe in four sets in the final
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1979· 2 entries
Connors married Playboy model Patti McGuire
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
In 1979, Connors married Playboy model Patti McGuire.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #personal-life
1977· 3 entries
Won the ATP World Tour Finals with _Retired Tennis (1977).
- #sportsdb
- #honour
- #title
Declined to participate in a parade of former champions to celebrate the tournament's centenary, choosing instead to practice in the grounds with Ilie Nastase while the parade took place
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Playing with an injured right thumb, Connors lost in the final to Borg 6–4 in the fifth set
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1976· 4 entries
Won the ATP Indian Wells Open with ATP Mens (1976).
- #sportsdb
- #honour
- #title
Connors and Evert briefly reconciled in 1976 and 1978, before permanently ending their relationship.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #personal-life
Played for United States Davis Cup team (1976–1984).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #team
- #sports
And 1978, before permanently ending their relationship
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1975· 2 entries
The British press reported that Riordan had filed lawsuits claiming damages against Arthur Ashe and ATP secretary Bob Briner
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Connors won two highly touted "Challenge Matches", both arranged by the Riordan company and televised nationally by CBS Sports from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1974· 7 entries
And held it for 160 consecutive weeks, a record until it was surpassed by Roger Federer on February 26, 2007
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
After he had signed a contract to play World Team Tennis (WTT) for the Baltimore Banners
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
And won 15 tournaments of the 21 he entered, including three of the four Grand Slam singles titles
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Connors and Riordan began filing lawsuits against the ATP and its president, Arthur Ashe, for allegedly restricting his freedom in the game
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Due to his association with World Team Tennis (WTT) and in the other four years chose not to participate
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
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
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Defeating Phil Dent in a "dour" four-set final
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1973· 1 entry
And reached the quarter finals, losing in four sets to Alex Metreveli in a match in which Connors "failed badly with volleys"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1972· 3 entries
Won the ATP Cincinnati Open with ATP Mens (1972).
- #sportsdb
- #honour
- #title
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
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
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 organize
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1971· 1 entry
Connors won the NCAA singles title as a Freshman while attending UCLA and attained All-American status
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1952· 1 entry
Born 1952-09-02.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #birth