“Some guys were looking at me, it was different" - When Chris Evert opened up about dealing with her newfound singledom after Jimmy Connors break-up

By Pritha Ghosh

Modified Apr 02, 2025 13:55 GMT

Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors breakup — Chris Evert (L) pictured with ex-fiance Jimmy Connors | Image Source: Getty

Chris Evert once shared that after her highly publicized breakup with ex-fiancé Jimmy Connors, she noticed a change in how people treated her. She mentioned that she suddenly started getting more attention from men, something she hadn’t experienced as much while she was in a relationship.

Evert and Connors began dating in 1973, got engaged in 1974, and later called off their wedding that same year. Their breakup stemmed from personal and professional conflicts, including career differences and an abortion decision, as Connors revealed in his 2013 autobiography, The Outsider: A Memoir.

After their breakup, Evert shared her experience in a 1975 interview with The New York Times. She recalled going dancing with friends at a popular local discotheque and feeling "weird" and uncomfortable due to the way some men kept staring at her.

"Some guys were turning and looking at me,” she said. “It‐was a different look than I'd ever noticed before. I was aware they knew about my splitting up with Jimmy, but didn't realize it would produce that kind of reaction."

About the author

Pritha is one of the driving forces behind Sportskeeda's tennis & baseball coverage, serving as an assistant content manager and editor. What began as a casual escape from her tiring biotechnology degree course in early 2022 has blossomed into a passion she loves, cherishes, and breathes every day.

Pritha’s love for the sport was spawned by her dad who showed her clips of "GOAT" Steffi Graf’s matches. Despite a thwarted dream of playing professionally due to injury, she finds solace in reporting the sport, while also mentoring other writers to ensure every article is error-free and top-notch. She double checks credible sources, such as the tournament/player handles and big tennis media outlets, and gives proper credit where required.

Pritha's journey at Sportskeeda is marked by nearly 2000 articles and close to 12 million views, with the "dream-come-true" moment of having her article shared by Chris Evert serving as a highlight of her career. A lifelong Wimbledon fan, Pritha also adores Rafael Nadal, Elena Rybakina, and Naomi Osaka.

When she's not seeking unique angles to elevate tennis coverage at Sportskeeda, she loves to channel her inner astrophysics "nerd" by exploring new sci-fi series and movies. A big Lionel Messi, Lewis Hamilton, and Randy Orton fan, she is always ready to engage in sports conversations anytime, anywhere, albeit not without a cup of coffee.

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Edited by Pritha Ghosh