Connors–McEnroe rivalry explained

The Connors–McEnroe rivalry was a tennis rivalry between Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe, who played 34 times between 1977 and 1991.[1] [2] Their head-to-head was 20–14, favoring McEnroe.

Connors and McEnroe played again in the late 1990s and the early 2000s on the senior tour. With regard to their matches, Connors has stated, "Something like that never goes away, especially between Mac and myself...To have carried on this rivalry for so many years, and for you still to be talking about it, must mean that we made our mark somewhere."[3] This rivalry is said to have been one of the most contentious and embittered in all of tennis history.[4] [5]

Head-to-head

Legendwidth=82ConnorsMcEnroe
Grand Slam36
Masters Grand Prix02
WCT Finals12
ATP International Series1010
Total1420

Official matches (34)

Connors 14 – McEnroe 20

No.width=55Datewidth=250TournamentSurfaceRoundWinnerwidth=210 class=unsortableScorewidth=55ConnorsMcEnroe
1.Jul 1977WimbledonGrassSemifinalsConnors6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 6–410
2.Aug 1977US Pro Tennis ChampionshipsClayLast 32Connors5–7, 6–2, 7–520
3.Aug 1978US Clay Court ChampionshipsClayQuarterfinalsConnors3–6, 6–1, 6–130
4.Sep 1978US OpenHardSemifinalsConnors6–2, 6–2, 7–540
5.Jan 1979Masters Grand PrixCarpetRound RobinMcEnroe7–5, 3–0 RET41
6.Feb 1979Pepsi Grand SlamClaySemifinalsConnors6–3, 6–451
7.Apr 1979Alan King Tennis ClassicHardSemifinalsConnors7–5, 6–461
8.May 1979WCT FinalsCarpetSemifinalsMcEnroe6–1, 6–4, 6–462
9.Sep 1979US OpenHardSemifinalsMcEnroe6–3, 6–3, 7–563
10.Jan 1980US Pro IndoorCarpetFinalConnors6–3, 2–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–473
11.Mar 1980US Indoor ChampionshipsCarpetFinalMcEnroe7–6(8–6), 7–6(7–4)74
12.May 1980WCT FinalsCarpetFinalConnors2–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–1, 6–284
13.Jul 1980WimbledonGrassSemifinalsMcEnroe6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–485
14.Sep 1980US OpenHardSemifinalsMcEnroe6–4, 5–7, 0–6, 6–3, 7–6(7–3)86
15.Nov 1981Wembley ChampionshipsCarpetFinalConnors3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–296
16.Jan 1981Masters Grand PrixCarpetRound RobinMcEnroe6–2, 7–597
17.Jan 1982US Pro IndoorCarpetFinalMcEnroe6–3, 6–3, 6–198
18.Jun 1982Queen's Club ChampionshipsGrassFinalConnors7–5, 6–3108
19.Jul 1982WimbledonGrassFinalConnors3–6, 6–3, 6–7(2–7), 7–6(7–5), 6–4118
20.Sep 1982Pacific Coast ChampionshipsCarpetFinalMcEnroe6–1, 6–3119
21.Jun 1983Queen's Club ChampionshipsGrassFinalConnors6–3, 6–3129
22.Sep 1983ATP ChampionshipsHardSemifinalsMcEnroe6–7, 6–1, 6–41210
23.Nov 1983Wembley ChampionshipsCarpetFinalMcEnroe7–5, 6–1, 6–41211
24.Apr 1984WCT FinalsCarpetFinalMcEnroe6–1, 6–2, 6–31212
25.Jun 1984French OpenClaySemifinalsMcEnroe7–5, 6–1, 6–21213
26.Jun 1984Queen's Club ChampionshipsGrassSemifinalsMcEnroe6–2, 6–21214
27.Jul 1984WimbledonGrassFinalMcEnroe6–1, 6–1, 6–21215
28.Aug 1984Canadian OpenHardSemifinalsMcEnroe2–6, 6–2, 6–31216
29.Sep 1984US OpenHardSemifinalsMcEnroe6–4, 4–6, 7–5, 4–6, 6–31217
—Apr 1985Chicago Grand PrixCarpetFinal(McEnroe)Walkover1217
30.Aug 1985Canadian OpenHardSemifinalsMcEnroe6–2, 6–31218
31.Sep 1986Pacific Coast ChampionshipsCarpetFinalMcEnroe7–6(8–6), 6–31219
32.Aug 1987Canadian OpenHardQuarterfinalsConnors6–3, 3–6, 6–31319
33.Oct 1989Grand Prix de Tennis de ToulouseCarpetFinalConnors6–3, 6–31419
34.Sep 1991Swiss IndoorsHard (i)SemifinalsMcEnroe6–1, 6–31420

Head-to-head tallies

The following is a breakdown of their head-to-head results:

Other matches

Invitational matches

Connors–McEnroe (6–9)

No.Yearwidth=250TournamentSurfaceRoundWinnerwidth=200 class=unsortableScore
1.1979FrejusCarpetFinalMcEnroe6–4, 6–3
2.1979Aix-en-ProvenceCarpetThird PlaceMcEnroe6–4, 6–3
3.1979MontpellierCarpetFinalConnors7–6, 2–6, 7–5
4.1979FrankfurtCarpetSemifinalsConnors7–5, 6–4
5.1980BrusselsCarpetSemifinalsMcEnroe6–1, 7–5
6.1980Suntory CupCarpetFinalConnors7–5, 6–3
7.1980Challenge of ChampionsCarpetFinalMcEnroe6–2, 6–4, 6–1
8.1981Suntory CupCarpetFinalConnors6–4, 7–6
9.1981Challenge of ChampionsCarpetFinalConnors6–7, 7–5, 6–7, 7–5, 6–4
10.1982Challenge of ChampionsCarpetSemifinalsConnors6–1, 5–7, 6–2
11.1984Suntory CupCarpetSemifinalsMcEnroe4–6, 6–3, 6–4
12.1984Challenge of ChampionsCarpetRound RobinMcEnroe6–3, 4–6, 6–2
13.1987Challenge of ChampionsCarpetSemifinalsMcEnroe6–4, 6–4
14.1988Challenge of ChampionsClayRound RobinMcEnroe7–5, 6–1
15.1989Scottish Grass Court ChampionshipsGrassFinalMcEnroe7–6, 7–6

ATP rankings

Year-end ranking timeline

Player197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996
Jimmy Connors3bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime123323248471493649843706724191300
John McEnroe21432bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime1214101141328201219

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=lime1bgcolor=thistle233bgcolor=thistle23bgcolor=thistle248471493649843706724191300
John McEnroe2143bgcolor=thistle2bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=lime1bgcolor=thistle214101141328201219

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Connors vs McEnroe Head-to-Head . Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
  2. News: Ten great tennis rivalries . . July 8, 2008 . 2010-12-08 .
  3. News: Tennis: Connors still stirred by rivalry with McEnroe . John Roberts . The Independent . 2009-06-21 . London . 1999-09-23.
  4. News: Will the U.S. embrace the Roger-Rafa rivalry at Open? . Douglas Robson . USAToday . 2009-06-21 . 2007-08-27.
  5. Book: Tennis Confidential . Fein. Paul . 2003 . 98 . Brassey's, Inc.. Washington D.C. . 9781574885262 .

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