Tennis giants tied in a knot: Did their lady-loves bring them luck?

Jimmy Connors

Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert

Jimmy Connors won eight Grand Slam singles titles. He turned pro in 1972. He was the first male player to be ranked no. 1 for more than five years in total. In 1974, Connors was the leading player. He had a 99-4 record that year and won three out of four Grand Slam singles tournaments. Connors is one of of six men to have won three or more Grand Slams in a calendar year.

Connors was engaged to fellow tennis pro Chris Evert in 1974. Their relationship didn’t transform into marriage as they broke the engagement off in 1975 just before the Wimbledon championship. Connors married Playboy model Patti McGuire in 1979. They have two children together.

Connors’ performance suffered a downfall from 1979 to 1981, during which he was knocked out in the semis in eight out of the nine Grand Slam tournaments he played. His main rivals included John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg.

John McEnroe defeated Connors at the 1979 US Open 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 and again in 1980, in a thrilling five set match that finished 6-4, 5-7, 0-6, 6-3, 7-6.

Bjorn Borg overcame Connors in the 1981 Wimbledon and US Open scoring with scores of 0-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 and 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 respectively.

It was only in 1982 that Connors came back to his leading position by winning two Major titles – Wimbledon and the US Open. His comeback was much appreciated by the critics. At the 1983 US Open, he won the last Grand Slam singles title of his career.

Connors retired in 1996. Thereafter, he worked as a commentator and coached tennis pros like Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova.