Jimmy Connors

Eight Grand Slam singles titles and the most combative champion tennis has produced — Jimmy Connors never retreated, never gave up a point without a battle and made his baseline game into a statement of pure competitive will. He was the world number one for 268 weeks across his career and won the US Open five times on three different surfaces. His 1991 US Open run at 39 years old — through five-set matches after a wild card entry — remains the most extraordinary late-career tournament performance in tennis history.

James Scott Connors was born in East St Louis, Illinois in 1952 and compiled the most prolific playing record in men's professional tennis history — playing 1,557 matches, winning 1,274 and losing 283, a win rate of 83.5%. He turned professional in 1972 and played competitively until 1996, winning 8 Grand Slam singles titles: the Australian Open (1974), Wimbledon (1974, 1982) and the US Open (1974, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983). He spent 268 weeks as world number one. He won 109 career titles — the most in Open Era men's tennis. He served 1,470 career aces. His two-handed backhand — unusual in the early 1970s — became his most devastating weapon, and his aggressive baseline game and relentless competitive intensity made him the most durable elite player the sport has produced. He was US Open finalist as late as 1991 at 39 years old — reaching the semi-final after recovering from wrist surgery in one of the greatest late-career tournament runs in tennis history. His fierce rivalries with Björn Borg, John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl defined three decades of men's tennis. He was known for his confrontational relationship with crowds and officials, his personality as divisive as his tennis was effective.

Connors was known for his aggressive baseline game, featuring powerful two-handed backhands and precise groundstrokes. He possessed exceptional return of serve skills and was famous for his competitive fire and mental toughness on court. His flat, penetrating shots and ability to take the ball early put constant pressure on opponents.

Connors revolutionized tennis with his two-handed backhand and aggressive style, inspiring a generation of players to adopt similar techniques. His longevity and passionate approach to competition helped popularize professional tennis during its boom years in the 1970s and 1980s.

• US Open 1974, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983 (5 titles)
• Wimbledon 1974, 1982
• Australian Open 1974
• 109 career titles (3rd all-time men's)
• 268 weeks at world No.1
• 1,557 career match wins — all-time men's record