September has barely begun, and you’re already looking back fondly on your last language and tennis trip with LEC? Our organization invites you to relive those moments for a few minutes through a profile of the legendary Jimmy Connors, whose birthday is today!
A career that is, to say the least, prolific
Jimmy Connors was born on September 2, 1952, in East St. Louis, a city in the state ofIllinois. And to say the least, the American player had a prolific career: he graced the tennis courts from the early 1970s, not retiring until 1996!
A formidable left-hander
As you may be reminded during an upcoming tennis language camp, Jimmy Connors had an innate flair for the dramatic: there were countless matches in which the legendary player alternated between playful antics and moments of genius. His style? A perfectly executed left-handed game and a fierce attacker at the net… coupled with a thunderous forehand and backhand.
Winner in Australia, London, and the United States… but not in Paris!
At the end of his illustrious career, Jimmy Connors—born James Scott Connors—had won more than 100 ATP tournaments and held the world No. 1 ranking for a total of 268 weeks (including 160 consecutive weeks). Among his most memorable victories were:
- the 1974Australian Open
- Wimbledon that same year, as well as in 1982
- the US Open… five times
And what about Roland Garros in all this? Like many great champions before and after him, he would only reach the semifinals, his run halted by John McEnroe or Ivan Lendl.
Jimmy Connors, the coach
Once his playing career was over, Jimmy Connors turned to coaching. He took Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova under his wing for varying lengths of time. Perhaps one day he’ll share his many secrets during a tennis-language camp?