Jimmy Connors' mother Gloria who taught him how to beat men | Tennis parents you never knew

Jimmy Connors is one of the greatest players in tennis history with eight Grand Slam singles titles to his name. Connors' mother Gloria has had a huge impact on his career, as stated by the former World No. 1 himself.

The American was a dominant force in tennis during the 1970s and the first half of the 1980s. He won eight Major singles titles, five of which came at the US Open. Connor holds the joint record for most tournament wins at the New York Major by a male player. The American also won three Grand Slam doubles titles.

Jimmy Connors was introduced to tennis by his mother Gloria, who also coached him since his childhood days. She played tennis herself and competed in two editions of the US Open (1942 and 1943). Gloria Connors later taught tennis, and her son became her most accomplished pupil.

Jimmy Connors has credited his acquaintance with the sport to his mother and grandmother.

"I would have never known about the game if it wasn't for my mom and my grandmother from a little town in Illinois, where, which is pretty extraordinary, tennis wasn't it back then," the former World No. 1 said on his podcast, 'Advantage Connors' while talking to his friend Casey Defranco.

The eight-time Grand Slam singles champion also stated that his mother taught him to beat men, something that she was criticized for.

"To beat men. Exactly. It's interesting that you say that, Casey, because my mom took a lot of criticism for that," Connors said.

The tennis legend's mother passed away in 2007, aged 82.

---

Jimmy Connors once said his mother taught him a woman's tennis game

Jimmy Connors at the 2012 US Open (Image Source: Getty)

During an interview in 2007, Jimmy Connors said that he was "taught a woman's game" by his mother. The former World No. 1 also stated that his mother suggested he use a two-handed backhand, which was far from common in tennis at the time but later became a key weapon of his, along with his service return.

"I was taught a woman’s game,” Connors said. “Very compact and easy, no excess motion, the way she played. The racket goes back and through like a swinging gate. At first I was too small to hit a one-handed backhand, so she told me to use two. A two-handed backhand was nonexistent in tennis, and that turned out to be my signature weapon along with my return of serve."

Jimmy Connor's illustrious tennis career came to an end in 1996. To this day, the American still holds the record for the most number of matches and titles won by a male player in the Open Era.

He was also the World No. 1 for a total of 268 weeks.