"Chris Evert & I were criticized" - Jimmy Connors beams with pride over how he & ex-fiancee heralded start of new era in tennis

Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert may have had a strained relationship and public fallout in the past, but that hasn’t stopped them from speaking highly of each other now. Connors recently expressed pride in how he and his ex-fiancee helped usher in a new era in tennis.

Connors was referring to their use of the two-handed backhand in the 1970s, a time when the one-handed stroke was the norm. The technique was often seen as unconventional or even a weakness, with critics arguing it limited reach and adaptability, especially on low balls.

However, the duo proved everyone wrong by dominating their respective tours with consistent and powerful baseline play. Their success helped popularize the two-handed backhand, transforming it into a staple of modern tennis.

On a recent episode of the Advantage Connors podcast, Jimmy Connors took a trip down memory lane while speaking with his son Brett. He recalled how he and Chris Evert silenced the naysayers.

"The two-handed backhand, which came about back when I was young, your grandmother gave me that, but also Chrissie had a two-handed backhand so that was the start of something different, a new era in tennis of the two-handed backhand. We were criticized for that too, 'You're not fast enough and you might have power, but you're not going to have the reach and you're not going to do this,'" Connors said (at 58:00).

"But all of a sudden they saw the success that that was happening, that it happened with the two of us and all of a sudden, boom, it exploded," he added.

The eight-time Grand Slam champion added:

"So yeah, I was lucky. I didn't have to change, but I guess a lot of guys today, I know [Rafael] Nadal had changed on his from his forehand to his back and he changed, but yeah, it's your own personal feel."

Connors and Evert were engaged in 1974 but eventually called off their wedding.

A look into Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors' careers

Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert | Image Source: Getty

Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors were two of the biggest names in tennis during the 1970s and ‘80s, known for their fierce competitiveness and larger-than-life personalities.

Evert won 18 Grand Slam singles titles and held the No. 1 ranking for 260 weeks. Nearly unbeatable on clay, she captured seven French Open titles, along with six US Opens, three Wimbledons, and two Australian Opens. Her rivalry with Martina Navratilova became one of the greatest in sports history.

Meanwhile, Connors won eight Majors, including five US Opens, and held the world No. 1 spot for a record 268 weeks. His rivalries with Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe defined an era, making him one of the most entertaining and controversial players of his time.