Connors–Lendl rivalry explained

The Connors–Lendl rivalry was a tennis rivalry between Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl. They met 35 times, with the head-to-head finishing at 22–13, favoring Lendl.[1] Their rivalry transitioned significantly over time: Connors (who is 7 and a half years older than Lendl) won their first 8 matches, while Lendl won the last 17.

Lendl and Connors were both world No. 1s and major champions, with each winning eight major titles. At the majors they met seven times, with Lendl winning the final four meetings and Connors winning the first three. The rivalry between the two, as well as their rivalries with fellow player John McEnroe, have been described as "spikey."[2]

The rivalry was first noted in the 1982 US Open final when Connors dared Lendl to drive the ball past him. Connors subsequently won the final in four sets. In a rematch in 1983, Connors was rushed to the locker room late in the second set before coming back out to defeat Lendl once again in four sets. The final match between the two was also at the US Open, in 1992, where Connors led for a set and a half before falling to his 17th defeat in 8 years to Lendl.[3]

Head-to-head

LegendConnorswidth=75Lendl
Grand Slam34
Masters Grand Prix14
WCT Finals11
ATP International Series713
Davis Cup10
Total1322

Official matches (35)

Connors 13 – Lendl 22

No.Yearwidth=250TournamentSurfaceRoundWinnerwidth=200ScoreConnorswidth=55Lendl
1.1979US Clay Court ChampionshipsClayQuarterfinalsConnors6–2, 7–6(7–0)10
2.1980US Indoor ChampionshipsCarpetLast 16Connors6–2, 6–320
3.1980WCT FinalsCarpetSemifinalsConnors6–4, 7–5, 6–330
4.1980Volvo InternationalClaySemifinalsConnors6–4, 6–240
5.1980Cincinnati OpenHardQuarterfinalsConnors6–2, 6–050
6.1980Masters Grand PrixCarpetRound RobinConnors7–6(7–1), 6–160
7.1981Indian Wells MastersHardFinalConnors6–3, 7–6(7–5)70
8.1981Davis CupHardQuarterfinalsConnors7–5, 6–480
9.1982Cincinnati OpenHardSemifinalsLendl6–1, 6–181
10.1982US OpenHardFinalConnors6–3, 6–2, 4–6, 6–491
11.1982Masters Grand PrixCarpetSemifinalsLendl6–3, 6–192
12.1983Queen's Club ChampionshipsGrassSemifinalsConnors6–0, 6–3102
13.1983Canadian OpenHardSemifinalsLendl6–1, 6–3103
14.1983US OpenHardFinalConnors6–3, 6–7(2–7), 7–5, 6–0113
15.1983Masters Grand PrixCarpetSemifinalsLendl6–3, 6–4114
—1984Rotterdam OpenCarpetFinal(No Result)114
16.1984WCT Tournament of ChampionsClaySemifinalsLendl6–0, 6–0115
17.1984WimbledonGrassSemifinalsConnors6–7(4–7), 6–3, 7–5, 6–1125
18.1984Tokyo IndoorCarpetFinalConnors6–4, 3–6, 6–0135
19.1984Wembley ChampionshipsCarpetSemifinalsLendl6–4, 6–2136
20.1984Masters Grand PrixCarpetSemifinalsLendl7–5, 6–7, 7–5137
21.1985Paine Webber ClassicHardFinalLendl6–3, 6–2138
22.1985WCT FinalsCarpetSemifinalsLendl6–3, 2–1 RET139
23.1985French OpenClaySemifinalsLendl6–2, 6–3, 6–11310
24.1985Volvo InternationalHardSemifinalsLendl6–0, 4–6, 6–41311
25.1985US OpenHardSemifinalsLendl6–2, 6–3, 7–51312
26.1986Miami OpenHardSemifinalsLendl1–6, 6–1, 6–2, 2–6, 5–2 DEF1313
27.1986Paine Webber ClassicHardFinalLendl6–2, 6–01314
28.1986Volvo InternationalHardSemifinalsLendl6–4, 3–6, 6–21315
29.1987Miami OpenHardSemifinalsLendl3–6, 7–6(9–7), 7–6(11–9), 6–31316
30.1987Washington OpenHardSemifinalsLendl6–4, 7–6(7–3)1317
31.1987Canadian OpenHardSemifinalsLendl7–5, 6–41318
32.1987US OpenHardSemifinalsLendl6–4, 6–2, 6–21319
33.1987Masters Grand PrixCarpetRound RobinLendl4–3 RET1320
34.1988Canadian OpenHardSemifinalsLendl6–4, 6–41321
35.1992US OpenHardLast 64Lendl3–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–01322

Head-to-head breakdown

Other matches

Invitational matches

Connors–Lendl (3–8)

No.Yearwidth=250TournamentSurfaceRoundWinnerwidth=160Score
1.1981Challenge of ChampionsCarpetRound RobinConnors6–2, 3–6, 6–3
2.1982Molson Light ChallengeCarpetRound RobinLendl6–4, 6–3
3.1982Challenge of ChampionsCarpetFinalLendl4–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–4
4.1983Sun CityHardFinalConnors7–5, 7–6
5.1983Nastase-Hamptons InvitationalHardFinalConnors6–3, 7–6, 6–1
6.1985Hamlet Challenge CupHardFinalLendl6–1, 6–3
7.1985Meadowlands Tennis ChallengeCarpetSemifinalsLendl6–1, 6–3
8.1985Challenge of ChampionsCarpetRound RobinLendl6–3, 5–7, 6–1
9.1985Challenge of ChampionsCarpetFinalLendl6–2, 6–3
10.1990WCT Tournament of ChampionsHardQuarterfinalsLendl3–6, 7–5, 1–0 RET
11.1991Transcontinental Tennis CupHardFinalLendlConnors retired in 3rd set

ATP rankings

Note: Connors was active in 1970–1972, but the ATP rankings started in 1973.

Year-end ranking timeline

Player197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996
Jimmy Connors3bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime123323248471493649843706724191300
Ivan Lendl742062323111213581954

ATP Year-end ranking timeline by age

Age at end of season

Year-end rankingwidth=2518!width=2519!width=2520!width=2521!width=2522!width=2523!width=2524!width=2525!width=2526!width=2527!width=2528!width=2529!width=2530!width=2531!width=2532!width=2533!width=2534!width=2535!width=2536!width=2537!width=2538!width=2539!width=2540!width=2541!width=2542!width=2543!width=2544
Jimmy ConnorsNo ATP rankings3bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime123323248471493649843706724191300
Ivan Lendl742062323111213581954

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Ivan Lendl and Jimmy Connors. An eight-year age gap made the ledger lopsided at either end — Connors won 13 of their first 18 meetings, Lendl the final 17. Their two biggest showdowns, in the 1982 and 1983 US Open finals, were both won by Connors.. . 2006-08-25. 2010-12-08 .
  2. News: Golden era: Federer and Nadal show shines on . London . The Independent . Paul . Newman . 2010-12-01.
  3. News: U.S. OPEN '92; As Night Wears On, Lendl Wears Connors Out . The New York Times . Harvey . Araton . 1992-09-05.

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