Jimmy Connors!
James Scott Connors is a former American tennis player, now coach, born in St. Louis, Illinois on September 2, 1952.
Multiple winner, with 106 ATP titles, Connors is the only player who overcame the barrier of 100 tournaments over the course of history. Won three of the four Grand Slam tournaments, Open Australia (1974), Wimbledon (in 1974 and 1982), and the U.S. Open (1974, 1976, 1978, 1982 and 1983). His only outstanding matter was the Tournament of Roland Garros. It reached number one in the world on 29 July 1974.
[Edit] BiografíaFue started in tennis by her mother (sport teacher) and her grandmother who taught him his first strokes at 3 years. As a young teen she moved to California with his family and there might be coached by tennis legends such as Pancho Gonzales and Pancho Segura.
Connors went to college for a year at UCLA which won the NCAA title in 1971.
His debut on the ATP Tour took place in August 1970 when he played the Open Merion, on tour fast courts of the United States. Overcame Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Chanfreau 6-4, 6-3. Exactly one year later, in Columbia Open, reached his first final, being defeated by compatriot Tom Gorman, 6-7, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3. In 1972 he won his first title by defeating Clark Graebner at the end of Jacksonville. That same year she achieved the titles of Columbia, London, Cincinnati, Albany and Baltimore.
The extreme competitiveness did stand out early. Refused to accept his defeat and gave absolutely everything at every point of the game, no matter how seemingly futile was his effort. He loved to play before crowds and do anything to take advantage, as arguing with the "umpire" or your opponent His tantrums against umpires and linesmen were famous. His impetuous behavior earned him a reputation as the rebel of world tennis. He earned the nickname "Brash Basher of Belleville" (something like "momentum masher Belleville"). He was also known by his nickname "Jimbo."
In 1973 he won 11 titles, all on hard courts, including 9 in the U.S., one in Canada and one in South Africa.
Left-handed two-handed backhand (though learn to hit well with one hand), Connors had a very aggressive baseline game with flat shots, with little or no topspin, which made it better for fast courts. One of his opponents said: "Playing with Connors is how to fight Joe Frazier. Always comes to you. Never stops, "
Having refused to join the newly formed Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), which was accepted by most tennis players, was part of a circuit of smaller tournaments organized by Bill Riordan. In 1974 began demands for ATP and its president Arthur Ashe for $ 10 million prohibited from acting freely, allowing you to participate in the Tournament of Roland Garros for having signed a contract to play World Cup Tennis (WTT) for Baltimore, which was penalized by the ATP.
The French Open this year was the only major tournament that Connors did not win. He was the star of the year with 14 titles, 3 Grand Slam. He got his first grand slam by winning the Australia Open when he beat Australian Phil Dent in 4 sets. Would later become his first Wimbledon and U.S. Open. UU. in both finals by defeating the veteran Australian Ken Rosewall with convincing wins in straight sets. In the final of U.S. Open gave only 2 games in an emphatic 6-1 6-0 6-1. In July of that year reached No. 1 in the world and keep it for 160 straight weeks, a new record surpassed in 2007 by Roger Federer. In 1975 he had another outstanding performance by reaching the final of the 3 Slams he had achieved the previous year, but lost them all. In Australia they lost to John Newcombe local and U.S. Open. UU. was surprised by the Spanish Manuel Orantes in the first time the tournament was played on green clay. But the most anticipated was the Wimbledon final, which saw a duel between the defendant and the plaintiff Arthur Ashe Connors. Despite being far from their best years, Ashe surprised everyone and won in 4 sets, winning the match and becoming the first black man to win Wimbledon. Connors raised objections and moved away shortly after Bill Riordan.
In 1976, remained at No. 1 and had 12 titles with her second U.S. Open (the first in clay) to defeat the "Iceman" Björn Borg in 4 sets in the first of 4 Grand Slam finals played between the two.
Despite its success is still maintained as an independent with little respect for the traditions and others. In 1977 he refused to join a party of former Wimbledon champions to celebrate the centenary of the tournament and was booed out to play the next day. Anyway, they are rigged to reach the final where he lost to Borg in 5 battles sets. He also lost the final of U.S. Open against Argentina's Guillermo Vilas, who surprised him with unusual approaches to the network. After participating in the championship eluded the previous 3 years Masters, Connors decided to do this year and defeated Borg in the final to win the title. With some help from poor score at the time, managed to be crowned for the fourth consecutive year as No. 1 in the world.
In 1978 he easily defeated Borg in the Wimbledon final but recovered and won in straight sets in the final of U.S. Open, now played on hard courts, becoming the only man to win the tournament in 3 different surfaces ( grass, clay and DecoTurf). Completed its fifth consecutive year as No. 1 in the world but lost his kingdom for a week at the hands of Borg to win him back then for 84 consecutive weeks more.
After a few years not as spectacular as the previous ones, in which won 18 titles (7 in 1979, 6 in 1980 and 4 in 1981) and lost world leadership in 1979 at the hands of Borg, yet again in 1982.
Reached the final of Wimbledon and surprised the new young star of world tennis John McEnroe in 5 sets after catching be 3 points to lose the match in the tie-break in the fourth set. Soon after, get rid of another young star, the Czech Ivan Lendl in 4 sets at the end of his fifth and final title in the U.S. Open. Regained the No. 1 position in the world for a few weeks but ended the season 2 º below McEnroe
In 1983 he won his last grand slam (and with nearly 31 years) to beat Lendl again in the final of U.S. Open in 4 sets. 4 times reached the semifinals of Roland Garros, but never made it to the final
In 1984 for the fifth time reach the Wimbledon final but lost to McEnroe, who took revenge for the defeat of two years ago and easily beat losing only 4 games. Despite this, when asked if he admitted that his opponent was better, Connors said, "Never."
Its level declined in the following years but his energy and kept playing until the age of 41, players will battle a lot younger than him. Reached its last title (the 105) in Tel Aviv in 1989. In 1990 he played only three matches, lost and fell to the No. 936. Everyone thought that his exceptional tennis career was over but after his damaged left wrist surgery back in 1991 playing 14 tournaments, reaching its highest level in the U.S. Open where he reached the semifinals after harsh battles. In the first round, overcame a 2-0 lead in sets to beat Patrick McEnroe in the eighth and final in a game remembered for his quarrels with the arbitrator and a red hot stadium Aaron Krickstein defeated in the tie- break of the fifth set. His luck ended with his compatriot Jim Courier in the semifinals with millions of viewers worldwide.
In his career he scored 109 singles titles and 15 doubles (including two Grand Slam with Ilie Nastase also controversial). With 43 years he played his last game in the tournament in Atlanta in 1996 where he lost to Richey Reneberg.
[Edit] Cup DavisConnnors not played a Davis Cup according to his resume. Whether his fights with officers of the crown or its negative in its 20-year career took only 7 series. Debuted in 1975 and in 1981 helped U.S.. UU. en route to the title by winning his two singles matches in the quarter-final against Czechoslovakia.
His only previous feature was in 1984 when he participated in the 4 series of his country towards the end. Got 5 wins and 2 defeats in singles. In the final against Sweden in Gothenburg lost the first match against Mats Wilander and McEnroe to defeat Henrik Sundstrom definitely inclined the balance in favor of Sweden who took the series 4-1 and the silver bowl.
[Edit] Personal life and honoresEn its start in tennis was the boyfriend with another tennis legend, Chris Evert in the U.S. who had planned to marry in 1974 but eventually canceled.
In 1980 he married the model Patti McGuire (Playboy Playmate of the Year 1977) with whom he lives in Santa Barbara, California and has 2 children.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame International Tennis in 1988 and has his own star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame. Jack Kramer saw it as one of the 21 best players ever in 1979. Was placed in the No. 7 by TENNIS magazine within the top 40 players / ace of the Open Era.
Today's occasional commentator for the BBC and is no longer the coach of Andy Roddick after just over a year and a half directing.
In November 2008 he was arrested for violating a restraining order.
