Connors–Lendl rivalry

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.

Jimmy Connors
– World No. 1
– 8 Major singles
– 3 year-end championships
Ivan Lendl
– World No. 1
– 8 Major singles
– 7 year-end championships

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
Legend Connors Lendl
Grand Slam 3 4
Masters Grand Prix 1 4
WCT Finals 1 1
ATP International Series 7 13
Davis Cup 1 0
Total 13 22

Official matches (35)

Connors 13 – Lendl 22

No. Year Tournament Surface Round Winner Score Connors Lendl
1. 1979 US Clay Court Championships Clay Quarterfinals Connors 6–2, 7–6(7–0) 1 0
2. 1980 US Indoor Championships Carpet Last 16 Connors 6–2, 6–3 2 0
3. 1980 WCT Finals Carpet Semifinals Connors 6–4, 7–5, 6–3 3 0
4. 1980 Volvo International Clay Semifinals Connors 6–4, 6–2 4 0
5. 1980 Cincinnati Open Hard Quarterfinals Connors 6–2, 6–0 5 0
6. 1980 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Round Robin Connors 7–6(7–1), 6–1 6 0
7. 1981 Indian Wells Masters Hard Final Connors 6–3, 7–6(7–5) 7 0
8. 1981 Davis Cup Hard Quarterfinals Connors 7–5, 6–4 8 0
9. 1982 Cincinnati Open Hard Semifinals Lendl 6–1, 6–1 8 1
10. 1982 US Open Hard Final Connors 6–3, 6–2, 4–6, 6–4 9 1
11. 1982 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Semifinals Lendl 6–3, 6–1 9 2
12. 1983 Queen's Club Championships Grass Semifinals Connors 6–0, 6–3 10 2
13. 1983 Canadian Open Hard Semifinals Lendl 6–1, 6–3 10 3
14. 1983 US Open Hard Final Connors 6–3, 6–7(2–7), 7–5, 6–0 11 3
15. 1983 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Semifinals Lendl 6–3, 6–4 11 4
— 1984 Rotterdam Open Carpet Final (No Result) 0–6, 0–1 Abandoned due to a bomb scare 11 4
16. 1984 WCT Tournament of Champions Clay Semifinals Lendl 6–0, 6–0 11 5
17. 1984 Wimbledon Grass Semifinals Connors 6–7(4–7), 6–3, 7–5, 6–1 12 5
18. 1984 Tokyo Indoor Carpet Final Connors 6–4, 3–6, 6–0 13 5
19. 1984 Wembley Championships Carpet Semifinals Lendl 6–4, 6–2 13 6
20. 1984 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Semifinals Lendl 7–5, 6–7, 7–5 13 7
21. 1985 Paine Webber Classic Hard Final Lendl 6–3, 6–2 13 8
22. 1985 WCT Finals Carpet Semifinals Lendl 6–3, 2–1 RET 13 9
23. 1985 French Open Clay Semifinals Lendl 6–2, 6–3, 6–1 13 10
24. 1985 Volvo International Hard Semifinals Lendl 6–0, 4–6, 6–4 13 11
25. 1985 US Open Hard Semifinals Lendl 6–2, 6–3, 7–5 13 12
26. 1986 Miami Open Hard Semifinals Lendl 1–6, 6–1, 6–2, 2–6, 5–2 DEF 13 13
27. 1986 Paine Webber Classic Hard Final Lendl 6–2, 6–0 13 14
28. 1986 Volvo International Hard Semifinals Lendl 6–4, 3–6, 6–2 13 15
29. 1987 Miami Open Hard Semifinals Lendl 3–6, 7–6(9–7), 7–6(11–9), 6–3 13 16
30. 1987 Washington Open Hard Semifinals Lendl 6–4, 7–6(7–3) 13 17
31. 1987 Canadian Open Hard Semifinals Lendl 7–5, 6–4 13 18
32. 1987 US Open Hard Semifinals Lendl 6–4, 6–2, 6–2 13 19
33. 1987 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Round Robin Lendl 4–3 RET 13 20
34. 1988 Canadian Open Hard Semifinals Lendl 6–4, 6–4 13 21
35. 1992 US Open Hard Last 64 Lendl 3–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–0 13 22
  • Note: The ABD 1984 Rotterdam final with Lendl leading 6-0, 1-0, was abandoned due to a bomb scare. There was no result.

Head-to-head breakdown
  • All matches: (35) Lendl 22–13
  • All finals: (7)* Connors 4–2 , *(1 No Result)
    • Grand Slam matches: Lendl 4–3
    • Grand Slam finals: Connors 2–0
    • Masters matches: Lendl 4–1
    • WCT Finals matches: tied 1–1
    • Clay court matches: tied 2–2
    • Grass court matches: Connors 2–0
    • Hard court matches: Lendl 14–5
    • Indoor carpet matches: Lendl 6–4

Other matches

Invitational matches

Connors–Lendl (3–8)

No. Year Tournament Surface Round Winner Score
1. 1981 Challenge of Champions Carpet Round Robin Connors 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
2. 1982 Molson Light Challenge Carpet Round Robin Lendl 6–4, 6–3
3. 1982 Challenge of Champions Carpet Final Lendl 4–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–4
4. 1983 Sun City Hard Final Connors 7–5, 7–6
5. 1983 Nastase-Hamptons Invitational Hard Final Connors 6–3, 7–6, 6–1
6. 1985 Hamlet Challenge Cup Hard Final Lendl 6–1, 6–3
7. 1985 Meadowlands Tennis Challenge Carpet Semifinals Lendl 6–1, 6–3
8. 1985 Challenge of Champions Carpet Round Robin Lendl 6–3, 5–7, 6–1
9. 1985 Challenge of Champions Carpet Final Lendl 6–2, 6–3
10. 1990 WCT Tournament of Champions Hard Quarterfinals Lendl 3–6, 7–5, 1–0 RET
11. 1991 Transcontinental Tennis Cup Hard Final Lendl Connors 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 Connors 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 2 3 2 4 8 4 7 14 936 49 84 370 672 419 1300
Ivan Lendl 74 20 6 2 3 2 3 1 1 1 2 1 3 5 8 19 54

ATP Year-end ranking timeline by age

Age at end of season

Year-end ranking181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344
Jimmy Connors No ATP rankings 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 2 3 2 4 8 4 7 14 936 49 84 370 672 419 1300
Ivan Lendl 74 20 6 2 3 2 3 1 1 1 2 1 3 5 8 19 54

See also

References
  1. "Ivan Lendl and Jimmy Connors". Boston Globe. 2006-08-25. Retrieved 2010-12-08. 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.
  2. Newman, Paul (2010-12-01). "Golden era: Federer and Nadal show shines on". The Independent. London.
  3. Araton, Harvey (1992-09-05). "U.S. OPEN '92; As Night Wears On, Lendl Wears Connors Out". The New York Times.
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