Jimmy Connors (b.1952,) fully James Scott Connors, is an American retired professional tennis player. A former World No. 1 and a left-handed player, he was known for his two-handed backhand and powerful return-of-serve, which helped him win eight Grand Slam championships.
Born in East St Louis, Illinois, he was Wimbledon men’s singles champion in 1974 and 1982, won the Australian Open in 1974, and the U.S. Open in 1974, 1976, 1978, 1982, and 1983. With Romanian Ilie Nastase, Connors won the Wimbledon men’s doubles in 1973 and the U.S. Open men’s doubles in 1975. Connors was World Championship Tennis champion in 1977 and 1980, and Masters champion in 1978. He was also a member of the U.S. Davis Cup team in 1976 and 1981.
Connors’s passion for the sport brought fans, press, and sponsors to the game. He played professional tennis past his 40th birthday and launched the Champions Tour for male players over thirty-five years old.
Connors’ autobiography is The Outsider (2013.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Jimmy Connors
Rather than viewing a brief relapse back to inactivity as a failure, treat it as a challenge and try to get back on track as soon as possible.
—Jimmy Connors
Topics: Concentration, Focus
New Yorkers love it when you spill your guts out there. Spill your guts at Wimbledon and they make you stop and clean it up.
—Jimmy Connors
I hate to lose more than I love to win.
—Jimmy Connors
Topics: Losing, Losers, Loss
The trouble with experience is that by the time you have it you are too old to take advantage of it.
—Jimmy Connors
Topics: Experience
Use it or lose it.
—Jimmy Connors
Topics: Exercise
People say I’m around because I have a lot of heart, but I know all the heart in the world couldn’t have helped me if I wasn’t physically fit.
—Jimmy Connors
Experience is a great advantage. The problem is that when you get the experience, you’re too damned old to do anything about it.
—Jimmy Connors
Topics: Experience
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