Connors–McEnroe rivalry

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.

Jimmy Connors
World No. 1
8 Major singles
109 singles titles
John McEnroe
World No. 1
7 Major singles
77 singles titles

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
Legend Connors McEnroe
Grand Slam 3 6
Masters Grand Prix 0 2
WCT Finals 1 2
ATP International Series 10 10
Total 14 20

Official matches (34)

Connors 14 – McEnroe 20

No. Date Tournament Surface Round Winner Score Connors McEnroe
1. Jul 1977 Wimbledon Grass Semifinals Connors 6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4 1 0
2. Aug 1977 US Pro Tennis Championships Clay Last 32 Connors 5–7, 6–2, 7–5 2 0
3. Aug 1978 US Clay Court Championships Clay Quarterfinals Connors 3–6, 6–1, 6–1 3 0
4. Sep 1978 US Open Hard Semifinals Connors 6–2, 6–2, 7–5 4 0
5. Jan 1979 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Round Robin McEnroe 7–5, 3–0 RET 4 1
6. Feb 1979 Pepsi Grand Slam Clay Semifinals Connors 6–3, 6–4 5 1
7. Apr 1979 Alan King Tennis Classic Hard Semifinals Connors 7–5, 6–4 6 1
8. May 1979 WCT Finals Carpet Semifinals McEnroe 6–1, 6–4, 6–4 6 2
9. Sep 1979 US Open Hard Semifinals McEnroe 6–3, 6–3, 7–5 6 3
10. Jan 1980 US Pro Indoor Carpet Final Connors 6–3, 2–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4 7 3
11. Mar 1980 US Indoor Championships Carpet Final McEnroe 7–6(8–6), 7–6(7–4) 7 4
12. May 1980 WCT Finals Carpet Final Connors 2–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–1, 6–2 8 4
13. Jul 1980 Wimbledon Grass Semifinals McEnroe 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 8 5
14. Sep 1980 US Open Hard Semifinals McEnroe 6–4, 5–7, 0–6, 6–3, 7–6(7–3) 8 6
15. Nov 1981 Wembley Championships Carpet Final Connors 3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–2 9 6
16. Jan 1981 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Round Robin McEnroe 6–2, 7–5 9 7
17. Jan 1982 US Pro Indoor Carpet Final McEnroe 6–3, 6–3, 6–1 9 8
18. Jun 1982 Queen's Club Championships Grass Final Connors 7–5, 6–3 10 8
19. Jul 1982 Wimbledon Grass Final Connors 3–6, 6–3, 6–7(2–7), 7–6(7–5), 6–4 11 8
20. Sep 1982 Pacific Coast Championships Carpet Final McEnroe 6–1, 6–3 11 9
21. Jun 1983 Queen's Club Championships Grass Final Connors 6–3, 6–3 12 9
22. Sep 1983 ATP Championships Hard Semifinals McEnroe 6–7, 6–1, 6–4 12 10
23. Nov 1983 Wembley Championships Carpet Final McEnroe 7–5, 6–1, 6–4 12 11
24. Apr 1984 WCT Finals Carpet Final McEnroe 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 12 12
25. Jun 1984 French Open Clay Semifinals McEnroe 7–5, 6–1, 6–2 12 13
26. Jun 1984 Queen's Club Championships Grass Semifinals McEnroe 6–2, 6–2 12 14
27. Jul 1984 Wimbledon Grass Final McEnroe 6–1, 6–1, 6–2 12 15
28. Aug 1984 Canadian Open Hard Semifinals McEnroe 2–6, 6–2, 6–3 12 16
29. Sep 1984 US Open Hard Semifinals McEnroe 6–4, 4–6, 7–5, 4–6, 6–3 12 17
— Apr 1985 Chicago Grand Prix Carpet Final (McEnroe) Walkover 12 17
30. Aug 1985 Canadian Open Hard Semifinals McEnroe 6–2, 6–3 12 18
31. Sep 1986 Pacific Coast Championships Carpet Final McEnroe 7–6(8–6), 6–3 12 19
32. Aug 1987 Canadian Open Hard Quarterfinals Connors 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 13 19
33. Oct 1989 Grand Prix de Tennis de Toulouse Carpet Final Connors 6–3, 6–3 14 19
34. Sep 1991 Swiss Indoors Hard (i) Semifinals McEnroe 6–1, 6–3 14 20

Head-to-head tallies

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

  • All matches: (34) McEnroe 20–14
  • All finals: (15)* Tied 7–7, (1 Walkover not included in the head to head results)
    • Grand Slam finals: Tied 1–1
    • Grand Slam matches: McEnroe 6–3
    • Masters matches: McEnroe 2–0
    • WCT Finals matches: McEnroe 2–1
    • Clay court matches: Connors 3–1
    • Grass court matches: Connors 4–3
    • Hard court matches: McEnroe 6–3
    • Indoor matches: McEnroe 10–4

Other matches

Invitational matches

Connors–McEnroe (6–9)

No. Year Tournament Surface Round Winner Score
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 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
John McEnroe 21 4 3 2 1 1 1 1 2 14 10 11 4 13 28 20 1219

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
John McEnroe 21 4 3 2 1 1 1 1 2 14 10 11 4 13 28 20 1219

See also

References
  1. "Connors vs McEnroe Head-to-Head". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
  2. "Ten great tennis rivalries". The Independent. July 8, 2008. Retrieved 2010-12-08. John McEnroe v Jimmy Connors. Time span: '77-91 (34 matches) Head to head: McEnroe 20, Connors 14. Grand Slam finals: Two; one win each. Wimbledon: Two finals, 1982, 84; One each. Two fierce personalities who fought like puppies in a sack on the court, and during points in a sporting sense. Fire and fire. And they didn't stop at playing each other when it was a Mac-Jimmy day. They played the umpire, the audience, the ball boys, you name it, in order to get any advantage going.
  3. John Roberts (1999-09-23). "Tennis: Connors still stirred by rivalry with McEnroe". The Independent. London. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
  4. Douglas Robson (2007-08-27). "Will the U.S. embrace the Roger-Rafa rivalry at Open?". USAToday. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
  5. Fein, Paul (2003). Tennis Confidential. Washington D.C.: Brassey's, Inc. p. 98. ISBN 9781574885262.
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