Jimmy Connors

Jimmy Connors - Sportspersons, Timeline and Childhood

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Jimmy Connors Biography Stories 

Jimmy Connors's Personal Details

Jimmy Connors is a former World No

InformationDetail
BirthdaySeptember 2, 1952
NationalityAmerican
FamousLeft Handed, University Of California, Los Angeles, Sportspersons, Tennis Players
City/StateIllinois
SpousesPatti McGuire
SiblingsJohn Connors
Known asJames Scott Connors
ChildrensAubree Connors, Brett Connors
Universities
  • University Of California, Los Angeles
Notable Alumnis
  • University Of California
  • Los Angeles
Birth PlaceEast St. Louis, Illinois
Height177
GenderMale
FatherJames Connors
MotherGloria Thompson
Net Worth$185 million as of June 6,2017
Sun SignVirgo
Born inEast St. Louis, Illinois
Famous asTennis Player

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Jimmy Connors's photo

Who is Jimmy Connors?

The winner of eight Grand Slam singles titles, Jimmy Connors is a former World No.1 tennis player who held the No. 1 ranking for 160 consecutive weeks from 29 July, 1974 to 22 August, 1977—a record in his era. A brilliant player, he also holds the honor of being the first male player in the Open Era to have held the top world ranking for more than five years in total. An athletic kid from a young age, Jimmy always loved to play tennis. His mother, a former tennis player herself, was a big support to him during his growing years. In fact, his mother was such a fan of tennis that she created a court in her backyard while she was pregnant with him! She taught him how to play tennis when he was a young boy and ensured that he got the best possible coaching as he grew up. He started competing at the national level as a kid of nine, and went from success to success from there. Famous for his strong arms, high energy, and dedication towards the game, he was equally notorious for his fiery demeanor and temper. After his retirement as an active tennis player he embarked on a career as a commentator and coach.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born as James Scott Connors, Jr., to James Connors and his wife Gloria Thompson. His father worked as a toll bridge attendant while his mother was a former tennis player. He has one elder brother, Johnny.

He was primarily raised by his mother and grandmother and was taught to play tennis from a young age. His mother was very passionate about the sport and fortunately Jimmy inherited her passion.

Though initially coached by his mother, he was mentored by Pancho Segura from 1968 in order to groom him for a professional tennis career.

Career

The first significant victory of his playing career came in 1970, when he defeated Roy Emerson in the first round of the Pacific Southwest Open in Los Angeles.

At that time he was attending the University of California, Los Angeles, and decided to drop out to pursue a professional tennis career. He turned pro in 1972. At about the same time, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) was formed which he refused to join, reinstating his rebellious nature.

In 1973, he played against the legendary Arthur Ashe in the U.S. Pro Singles in a five-set final which he won. This was just the beginning of his rise to stardom in the tennis world!

The year 1974 was a great one for the promising player. He won three Grand Slam tournaments—Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. He was named the No.1 male tennis player that year.

Starting from 1974, he reached the final of the U.S. Open in five consecutive years and won three of them. What made him especially skilled was the fact that he had won each of these on a different surface—grass in 1974, clay in 1976 and hard in 1978.

His streak of success continued into the 1980s. Playing in the World Championship Tennis (WCT) finals in 1980, he defeated the defending champion, John McEnroe, who was one of the most formidable players of that time.

Some of his major competitors during the 1980s were John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl and Bj�rn Borg. He defeated Ivan in the 1982 U.S. Open final in spite of the fact that Ivan was seven years younger than him.

However age and health issues were catching up on him and his career suffered during the late 1980s. But he silenced his detractors when in the 1991 U.S. Open Semifinals he defeated Aaron Krickstein. Connors was 39 while Aaron was 24 and in the prime of his youth! He played his last match in April 1996 and retired as a tennis player.

During the later years of his playing career, he had also started commentating on NBC-TV. He commentated on the French Open and Wimbledon tournaments in 1990 and 1991. He also commentated during the Wimbledon tournaments of 2005, 2006, and 2007.

He embarked on a career as a coach in 2006 when he began coaching Andy Roddick at the start of the Countrywide Classic tournament in Los Angeles.

He published his autobiography, ‘The Outsider’ in 2013. The book won the British Sports Book Awards in the Best Autobiography/Biography category.

Awards & Achievements

Winner of eight Grand Slam singles titles and two Grand Slam doubles titles, Jimmy Connors dominated the world of tennis throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The first male player to have held the No. 1 rank in world tennis, there is no doubt he is one of the legends who made tennis their passion.His Grand Slam single titles include: Australian Open (1974), Wimbledon (1974, 1982), US Open (1974, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983)

In 1982, he was named the World Champion by The International Tennis Federation (ITF).

He received Player of the Year Award from The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) in 1982 and the Comeback Player of the Year Award from the same organization in 1991.

Personal Life & Legacy

He married former Playboy model, Patti McGuire, in 1979. The couple is blessed with two children.

Trivia

This brilliant former world No.1 tennis player was notorious for his brash, rude, and often vulgar on-court behavior.

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Jimmy Connors biography timelines

  • // 2nd Sep 1952
    He was born as James Scott Connors, Jr., to James Connors and his wife Gloria Thompson. His father worked as a toll bridge attendant while his mother was a former tennis player. He has one elder brother, Johnny.
  • // 1968
    Though initially coached by his mother, he was mentored by Pancho Segura from 1968 in order to groom him for a professional tennis career.
  • // 1970
    The first significant victory of his playing career came in 1970, when he defeated Roy Emerson in the first round of the Pacific Southwest Open in Los Angeles.
  • // 1972
    At that time he was attending the University of California, Los Angeles, and decided to drop out to pursue a professional tennis career. He turned pro in 1972. At about the same time, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) was formed which he refused to join, reinstating his rebellious nature.
  • // 1973
    In 1973, he played against the legendary Arthur Ashe in the U.S. Pro Singles in a five-set final which he won. This was just the beginning of his rise to stardom in the tennis world!
  • // 1974
    The year 1974 was a great one for the promising player. He won three Grand Slam tournaments—Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. He was named the No.1 male tennis player that year.
  • // 1979
    He married former Playboy model, Patti McGuire, in 1979. The couple is blessed with two children.
  • // 1980
    His streak of success continued into the 1980s. Playing in the World Championship Tennis (WCT) finals in 1980, he defeated the defending champion, John McEnroe, who was one of the most formidable players of that time.
  • // 1982
    In 1982, he was named the World Champion by The International Tennis Federation (ITF).
  • // 1996
    However age and health issues were catching up on him and his career suffered during the late 1980s. But he silenced his detractors when in the 1991 U.S. Open Semifinals he defeated Aaron Krickstein. Connors was 39 while Aaron was 24 and in the prime of his youth! He played his last match in April 1996 and retired as a tennis player.
  • // 2006
    He embarked on a career as a coach in 2006 when he began coaching Andy Roddick at the start of the Countrywide Classic tournament in Los Angeles.
  • // 2013
    He published his autobiography, ‘The Outsider’ in 2013. The book won the British Sports Book Awards in the Best Autobiography/Biography category.

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Jimmy Connors's FAQ

  • What is Jimmy Connors birthday?

    Jimmy Connors was born at 1952-09-02

  • Where is Jimmy Connors's birth place?

    Jimmy Connors was born in East St. Louis, Illinois

  • What is Jimmy Connors nationalities?

    Jimmy Connors's nationalities is American

  • Who is Jimmy Connors spouses?

    Jimmy Connors's spouses is Patti McGuire

  • Who is Jimmy Connors siblings?

    Jimmy Connors's siblings is John Connors

  • Who is Jimmy Connors childrens?

    Jimmy Connors's childrens is Aubree Connors, Brett Connors

  • What was Jimmy Connors universities?

    Jimmy Connors studied at University Of California, Los Angeles

  • What was Jimmy Connors notable alumnis?

    Jimmy Connors's notable alumnis is University Of California, Los Angeles

  • How tall is Jimmy Connors?

    Jimmy Connors's height is 177

  • Who is Jimmy Connors's father?

    Jimmy Connors's father is James Connors

  • Who is Jimmy Connors's mother?

    Jimmy Connors's mother is Gloria Thompson

  • What is Jimmy Connors's sun sign?

    Jimmy Connors is Virgo

  • How famous is Jimmy Connors?

    Jimmy Connors is famouse as Tennis Player