Jimmy Connors
Encyclopedia
James Scott "Jimmy" Connors (born September 2, 1952, in East St. Louis, Illinois
, also known as "Jimbo") is an American former world no. 1 tennis player.
Connors held the top ranking for 160 consecutive weeks from July 29, 1974 to August 22, 1977 (record at that time) and an additional eight times during his career (a total of 268 weeks). He won eight Grand Slam
singles titles and two Grand Slam doubles titles with Ilie Năstase
. He was also a runner-up seven times in Grand Slam singles, a doubles runner-up with Nastase at the 1973 French Open
, and a mixed doubles runner-up with Chris Evert
at the 1974 US Open.
In 1974, Connors became the second male in the open era to win three or more Grand Slam singles titles in a calendar year (Rod Laver
being the first in 1969 and having been joined since by Mats Wilander
, Roger Federer
, Rafael Nadal
, and Novak Djokovic
). Connors' victory at the 1976 US Open came during the brief period (1975–77) when that tournament was held on clay courts, which makes him one of only five men (along with Wilander, Andre Agassi
, Federer, and Nadal) to have won Grand Slam singles titles on all surfaces. Connors is also the only man to win U.S. Open singles championships on grass, clay, and hard courts, which is a feat that will most likely never be duplicated, due to the fact the U.S. Open is now played solely on hard courts.
Connors won three year-end championship titles, including two WCT Finals
and one Masters Grand Prix
. He also won 18 Championship Series titles (1973–1984).
Connors is the first male player to rank no. 1 for more than 200 weeks in total and the first male player to be no. 1 for more than five years (268 weeks) in total. He is the only male player to win more than 100 singles titles during his career. He is also the only male player to reach 31 Grand Slam semifinals and 41 Grand Slam quarterfinals in his career.
Connors is cited as one of the greatest male tennis players of all time.
when he was age 16.
In 1970, Connors recorded his first significant victory in the first round of the Pacific Southwest Open in Los Angeles, defeating Roy Emerson
.
In 1971, Connors won the NCAA
singles title while attending the University of California, Los Angeles
and attaining All-American status. He turned professional in 1972 and won his first tournament at Jacksonville.
Connors was acquiring a reputation as a maverick in 1972 when he refused to join the newly formed Association of Tennis Professionals
(ATP), the union that was embraced by most male professional players, in order to play in and dominate a series of smaller tournaments organized by Bill Riordan, his manager and a clever promoter. However, Connors played in other tournaments and made his first big splash by winning the 1973 U.S. Pro Singles, his first significant title, toppling Arthur Ashe
in a five-set final, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 3-6. 6-2.
. He did not participate in the French Open during his peak years (1974–78) and only played in two Australian Opens in his entire career, winning it in 1974 and reaching the final in 1975.
Connors reached the final of the US Open in five straight years from 1974 through 1978, winning three times with each win being on a different surface (1974 on grass, 1976 on clay, and 1978 on hard). He reached the final of Wimbledon four out of five years during his peak (1974, 1975, 1977, and 1978). Despite not being allowed to play in the French Open in his prime, he was still able to reach the semifinals four times in his later years.
In 1974, Connors was by far the most dominant player. He had a stunning 99-4 record that year and won 15 tournaments, including all the Grand Slam singles titles except the French Open. The French Open did not allow Connors to participate due to his association with World Team Tennis
(WTT). However, he won the Australian Open, defeating Phil Dent
in four sets. He also beat Ken Rosewall
in straight sets in the finals of both Wimbledon and the US Open. His exclusion from the French Open most likely prevented him from becoming the first male player since Rod Laver
to win all four Grand Slam singles titles in a calendar year.
In the open era, Connors is one of only six men to win three or more Grand Slam singles titles in a calendar year. Others include: Rod Laver
won the Grand Slam
in 1969; Mats Wilander
won the Australian, French, and US Open in 1988; Roger Federer
won the Australian, Wimbledon, and US Open in 2004, 2006, and 2007; Rafael Nadal
won the French, Wimbledon, and US Open in 2010; and Novak Djokovic
won the Australian, Wimbledon, and US Open in 2011.
Connors reached the world no. 1 ranking on July 29, 1974, and held it for 160 consecutive weeks (a record until it was surpassed by Roger Federer
on February 26, 2007). He was considered the year-end no. 1 player from 1974 through 1978 and held the world no. 1 ranking for a total of 268 weeks during his career.
, Brian Gottfried
, Raúl Ramírez
, Harold Soloman, Dick Stockton
, Roscoe Tanner
, and Guillermo Vilas
. Older rivals included Arthur Ashe
, Phil Dent
, Rod Laver
, Ilie Năstase
, John Newcombe
, Manuel Orantes
, Ken Rosewall
, and Stan Smith
. Younger opponents included Björn Borg
, Vitas Gerulaitis
, Ivan Lendl
, and John McEnroe
.
from Caesars Palace
in Las Vegas
. The first match, in February and billed as $100,000 ($ today) winner-takes-all, was against Laver. Connors won that match, 6–4, 6–2, 3–6, 7–5. In April, Connors met Newcombe in a match billed as a $250,000 winner-takes-all. Connors won the match, 6–3, 4–6, 6–2, 6–4. Connors would end his business relationship with Riordan later in 1975.
Connors played Newcombe in only two tour events from 1974 to 1978, with Newcombe winning the 1975 Australian Open and Connors taking the 1978 Sydney Indoor. Connors won all three meetings with Rod Laver in tour events.
(WTT) for the Baltimore Banners. Connors was seeking to enter the French Open, but the ATP and French officials opposed WTT because of scheduling conflicts, so the entries of WTT players were refused between 1974 and 1978, ironically Connors' best years. Interestingly, Ashe's only victory against Connors came at the 1975 Wimbledon final when they met as opposing litigants on Centre Court
. Ashe was able to beat Connors, 6-1, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 that day, which may have prompted Connors to drop Riordan and the lawsuits shortly thereafter.
Despite this turnabout, Connors remained an independent character. At Wimbledon in 1977, he refused to participate in a parade of former champions to celebrate the tournament's centenary and was booed when he played in the final the following day. He lost in five sets to Borg, who a month later was able briefly to interrupt Connors's long hold on the world no. 1 ranking. Connors also irritated sponsors and tennis officials by shunning the end-of-year Masters
championship from 1974 through 1976. However, he entered this round-robin competition in 1977 when it moved to New York City. Although Connors lost a celebrated late-night match to Vilas, 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, he took the title by defeating Borg in the final, 6–4, 1–6, 6–4.
and Ivan Lendl
, both of whom rose to prominence after Connors peaked in the mid-1970s. He would continue to compete against much younger players and had one of the most remarkable comebacks for any athlete when he reached the semifinals of the 1991 US Open at the age of 39.
. McEnroe and Borg were battling for the top spot in those years, while Connors played the role of the spoiler. However, in 1982, at age 29, Connors was back in the Wimbledon singles final, where he faced McEnroe, who by then was established firmly as the world's top player. Connors recovered from being three points away from defeat in a fourth-set tie-break (at 3–4) to win the match, 3–6, 6–3, 6–7(2), 7–6(5), 6–4, and claim his second Wimbledon title, eight years after his first. Although Connors' tour record against McEnroe is 14-20, McEnroe is six years younger than Connors and had a losing record against Connors until he won 12 out of their last 14 meetings. Head to head in major championship finals, they split their two meetings, Connors winning the 1982 Wimbledon and McEnroe winning the 1984 Wimbledon.
A low point in Connors' career occurred on February 21, 1986, when he was defaulted in the fifth set of a semifinal match against Lendl at the Lipton International Players Championships in Boca Raton, Florida
after being angered by the officiating. He paid a $20,000 fine and accepted a ten-week suspension from the professional tour, starting March 30. He was forced to miss the French Open. He subsequently lost in the first round at Wimbledon and the third round at the US Open, a tournament where he had reached at least the semifinals for twelve consecutive years.
In the fourth round of the 1987 Wimbledon Championships
, Connors defeated Mikael Pernfors
, ten years his junior, 1–6, 1–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–2, after having trailed 4–1 in the third set and 3–0 in the fourth set. In July 1988, Connors ended a four-year title drought by winning the Sovran Bank Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C. It was the 106th title of his career. Connors had played in 56 tournaments and 12 finals since his previous victory in the Tokyo Indoors against Lendl in October 1984.
At the 1989 US Open, Connors defeated the third seed (and future two-time champion), Stefan Edberg
, in straight sets in the fourth round and pushed sixth-seeded Andre Agassi
to five sets in a quarterfinal.
His career seemed to be at an end in 1990, when he played only three tournament matches (and lost all three), dropping to no. 936 in the world rankings. However, after surgery on his deteriorating left wrist, he came back to play 14 tournaments in 1991. An ailing back forced him to retire from a five-sets match in the third round of the French Open against Michael Chang
, the 1989 champion. Ironically, Connors walked off the court after hitting a winner against Chang.
The defining moment of Connors' later career came when he made an improbable run to the 1991 US Open semifinals at the age of 39. On his birthday, he defeated 24-year-old Aaron Krickstein
, 3–6, 7–6(8), 1–6, 6–3, 7–6(4), in 4 hours and 41 minutes, coming back from a 2–5 deficit in the final set. Connors then was defeated in a semifinal by Jim Courier
.
Connors participated in his last major tournament in the 1992 US Open, where he beat Jaime Oncins
, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, in the first round, before losing to Lendl (then ranked no. 7), 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 0-6, in the second round.
In September 1992, Connors played Martina Navratilova in the third Battle of the Sexes tennis match at Caesars Palace
in Las Vegas, Nevada
. Connors was allowed only one serve per point and Navratilova was allowed to hit into half the doubles court. Connors won, 7–5, 6–2.
However, this would not be the end of his playing career. As late as June 1995, three months shy of his 43rd birthday Connors beat Sébastien Lareau
, 6-4, 7-6, and Martin Sinner
, 7-6, 6-0, to progress to the quarterfinals of the Halle event in Germany. Connors lost this quarterfinal, 6-7, 3-6 to Marc Rosset
. Connors' last match on the main ATP tour came in April 1996, when he lost, 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, to Richey Reneberg
in Atlanta.
In his 1979 autobiography, Jack Kramer
, the long-time tennis promoter and great player himself, ranked Connors as one of the 21 best players of all time.
Connors won more matches (1,337) than any other male professional tennis player in the open era. His career win-loss record was 1,337–285 for a winning percentage of 82.4. He played 401 tournaments and through many years it was a record until Fabrice Santoro
overcame it in 2008.
Connors was the only player to win the US Open on three different surfaces: grass
, clay
, and hard. Connors was also the first male tennis player to win Grand Slam
singles titles on three different surfaces: grass (1974), clay (1976), and hard (1978).
Connors reached the semifinals or better of Grand Slam Men's Singles events a total of 31 times, an all time record. This achievement is particularly remarkable considering that he entered the Australian Open Men's Singles only twice and that he did not enter the French Open Men's Singles for five of his peak career years. Roger Federer holds the record for most consecutive semifinal appearances at these events, but he falls short of Connors' total career number in this category.
Connors was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
in 1998 and Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Hall of Fame in 1986.
His on-court antics, designed to get the crowd involved, both helped and hurt his play. Schwartz said, "While tennis fans enjoyed Connors' gritty style and his never-say-die attitude, they often were shocked by his antics. His sometimes vulgar on-court behavior—like giving the finger to a linesman after disagreeing with a call or strutting about the court with the tennis racket handle between his legs; sometimes he would yank on the handle in a grotesque manner and his fans would go wild or groan in disapproval—did not help his approval rating. During the early part of his career, Connors frequently argued with umpires, linesmen, the players union, Davis Cup
officials and other players. He was even booed at Wimbledon – a rare show of disapproval there—for snubbing the Parade of Champions on the first day of the Centenary in 1977." His brash behavior both on and off the court earned him a reputation as the brat of the tennis world. Tennis commentator Bud Collins
nicknamed Connors the "Brash Basher of Belleville
" after the St Louis
suburb where he grew up. But Connors himself thrived on the energy of the crowd, positive or negative, and manipulated and exploited it to his advantage in many of the greatest matches of his career.
Connors was taught to hit the ball on the rise by his teaching-pro mother, Gloria Connors, a technique he used to defeat the opposition in the early years of his career. Gloria sent her son to Southern California to work with Pancho Segura
at age 16. Segura advanced Connors' game of hitting the ball on the rise which enabled Connors to reflect the power and velocity of his opponents back at them. Segura was the master strategist in developing Jimmy's complete game. In the 1975 Wimbledon final, Arthur Ashe
countered this strategy by taking the pace off the ball, giving Connors only soft junk shots (dinks, drop shots, and lobs) to hit.
Ashe and Connors did not get along, as Ashe frequently criticized Connors for playing in lucrative exhibitions instead of representing his country in Davis Cup
competition. Connors' racial insensitivity also played a role; while playing Ashe in an exhibition in South Africa, he derisively complained that the pro-Ashe crowd reminded him of Harlem
. When Connors had three legs of the grand slam in hand, he was denied the opportunity to play the French Open and sued Ashe, et al., due to Ashe's role in the ban. They settled out of court after Ashe defeated Connors in the 1975 Wimbledon final. The enmity Connors held for Ashe continued even after Ashe's death, as Connors refused to attend the US Open Champions Ceremony during the christening of Arthur Ashe Stadium
in 1997.
In an era where serve and volley was the norm, Björn Borg
excepted, Connors was one of the few players to hit the ball flat, low, and predominantly from the baseline. Connors hit his forehand with a continental grip and with little net clearance. Some considered his forehand to be his greatest weakness, especially on extreme pressure points, as it lacked the safety margin of hard forehands hit with topspin. His serve, while accurate and capable, was never a great weapon for him as it did not reach the velocity and power of his opponents.
His lack of a dominating serve and net game, combined with his individualist style and maverick tendencies, meant that he was not as successful in doubles as he was in singles, although he did win Grand Slam
titles with Ilie Năstase
and Chris Evert
and amassed 15 doubles titles during his career.
He played with this chrome tubular steel racket until 1984, when most other pros had shifted to new racket technologies, materials, and designs. The T2000 in the eighties "had the aura of a dinosaur – it had been introduced in 1968."
In 1984, Connors switched to the new Wilson ProStaff that had been designed especially for him. But 1985 again found Connors playing with the T2000. Not until 1987 did he finally switch to a graphite racket when he contracted with Slazenger
to play their Panther Pro Ceramic. In 1990 Connors signed with Estusa.
Connors used lead tape which he would wind around the racquet head to provide the proper "feel" for his style of game.
in 1990 and 1991, during their coverage of the French Open and Wimbledon
tournaments. During the Wimbledon tournaments of 2005, 2006 and 2007, Connors commentated for the BBC
alongside John McEnroe
(among others), providing moments of heated discussion between two former arch-rivals. Connors has also served as a commentator and analyst for the Tennis Channel since the 2009 US Open tournament.
formally announced his partnership with Connors as his coach. On March 6, 2008, Roddick announced the end of that 19-month relationship.
in Southern California. Segura refined his game, mentored him, and provided the court strategy that made Jimmy great.
Connors and Chris Evert
had planned to marry in November 1974, but it was called off. In 1979, Connors married Playboy
model Patti McGuire. They have two children and live in the Santa Barbara, California
area.
In the 1990s he joined his brother John Connors as investors in the Argosy Gaming Company
which owned riverboat casino
s on the Mississippi River
. The two owned 19 percent of the company which was headquartered in the St. Louis suburb of East Alton, Illinois
. Argosy narrowly averted bankruptcy in the late 1990s and Jimmy's brother John personally sought Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In the liquidation, Jimmy, through his company Smooth Swing, acquired the Alystra Casino in Henderson, Nevada
from Union Planters Bank
for $1.9 million in 2000 which had foreclosed on John. John had opened the casino in 1995 with announced plans to include a Jimmy Connors theme area. It was shuttered in 1998 and became a magnet for homeless and thieves who stripped its copper piping. The casino never reopened under Jimmy's ownership and it was destroyed in a May 2008 fire.
In October 2005, Connors had successful hip-replacement surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
in Los Angeles.
On January 8, 2007, Connors's mother and long-time coach, Gloria, died at the age of 82.
On November 21, 2008, Connors was arrested outside an NCAA Basketball game between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
and University of California at Santa Barbara after refusing to comply with an order to leave an area near the entrance to the stadium. The charges were dismissed by a judge on February 10, 2009.
In December 2010, Douglas Henderson Jr., a long-time Connors associate and close friend, published Endeavor to Persevere, his book detailing his relationship with Connors and Arthur Ashe.http://www.amazon.com/Endeavor-Persevere-Memoir-Connors-ebook/dp/B004EYTBHG
s are neither official match wins nor losses.
Web site. These mainly are special events like invitational tournaments and exhibitions – draw at least eight players (24).
Web site:
1(Federer's titles came consecutively.)
East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis is a city located in St. Clair County, Illinois, USA, directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri in the Metro-East region of Southern Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 27,006, less than one-third of its peak of 82,366 in 1950...
, also known as "Jimbo") is an American former world no. 1 tennis player.
Connors held the top ranking for 160 consecutive weeks from July 29, 1974 to August 22, 1977 (record at that time) and an additional eight times during his career (a total of 268 weeks). He won eight Grand Slam
Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
singles titles and two Grand Slam doubles titles with Ilie Năstase
Ilie Nastase
Ilie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the...
. He was also a runner-up seven times in Grand Slam singles, a doubles runner-up with Nastase at the 1973 French Open
1973 French Open
List of the 1973 French Open champions:-Men's singles: Ilie Năstase def. Nikola Pilić, 6–3, 6–3, 6–0*It was Năstase's 2nd career Grand Slam title, and his 1st French Open title.-Women's singles: Margaret Court def...
, and a mixed doubles runner-up with Chris Evert
Chris Evert
Christine Marie "Chris" Evert is a former world number 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record seven championships at the French Open and a record six championships at the U.S. Open. She was the year-ending World No...
at the 1974 US Open.
In 1974, Connors became the second male in the open era to win three or more Grand Slam singles titles in a calendar year (Rod Laver
Rod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
being the first in 1969 and having been joined since by Mats Wilander
Mats Wilander
Mats Wilander is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Sweden. From 1982 through 1988, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , and one Grand Slam men's doubles title...
, Roger Federer
Roger Federer
Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player who held the ATP no. 1 position for a record 237 consecutive weeks, and 285 weeks overall. As of 28 November 2011, he is ranked World No. 3 by the Association of Tennis Professionals . Federer has won a men's record 16 Grand Slam singles titles...
, Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal
Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera is a Spanish professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. , he is ranked No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals...
, and Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic is a Serbian professional tennis player who has been ranked world no. 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals since 4 July 2011. He has won four Grand Slam singles titles: the 2008 and 2011 Australian Open, the 2011 Wimbledon Championships, and the 2011 US Open...
). Connors' victory at the 1976 US Open came during the brief period (1975–77) when that tournament was held on clay courts, which makes him one of only five men (along with Wilander, Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi
Andre Kirk Agassi is a retired American professional tennis player and former world no. 1. Generally considered by critics and fellow players to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Agassi has been called the best service returner in the history of the game...
, Federer, and Nadal) to have won Grand Slam singles titles on all surfaces. Connors is also the only man to win U.S. Open singles championships on grass, clay, and hard courts, which is a feat that will most likely never be duplicated, due to the fact the U.S. Open is now played solely on hard courts.
Connors won three year-end championship titles, including two WCT Finals
WCT Finals
The WCT Finals was a tennis tournament that served as the season-ending championship for the World Championship Tennis circuit. The event was held annually in Dallas, Texas, and played on indoor carpet courts. The 1971 quarterfinals and semifinals were played in Houston, and final played at Moody...
and one Masters Grand Prix
Masters Cup
The Masters Cup is an annual disc golf tournament held at De Laveaga Disc Golf Course in Santa Cruz, California. The event features both amateur and professional divisions...
. He also won 18 Championship Series titles (1973–1984).
Connors is the first male player to rank no. 1 for more than 200 weeks in total and the first male player to be no. 1 for more than five years (268 weeks) in total. He is the only male player to win more than 100 singles titles during his career. He is also the only male player to reach 31 Grand Slam semifinals and 41 Grand Slam quarterfinals in his career.
Connors is cited as one of the greatest male tennis players of all time.
Early years
Connors grew up in Belleville, Illinois, across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. He played in his first U.S. Championship, the U.S. boys' 11-and-under of 1961, when he was only eight years old. Connors was coached by Pancho SeguraPancho Segura
Pancho Segura, born Francisco Olegario Segura , was a leading tennis player of the 1940s and 1950s, both as an amateur and as a professional. In 1950 and 1952, as a professional, he was the World Co-No. 1 player...
when he was age 16.
In 1970, Connors recorded his first significant victory in the first round of the Pacific Southwest Open in Los Angeles, defeating Roy Emerson
Roy Emerson
Roy Stanley Emerson is an Australian former tennis player who won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles. He is the only male player to have won singles and doubles titles at all four Grand Slam tournaments. His 28 Grand Slam titles are an all-time record for a male...
.
In 1971, Connors won the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
singles title while attending the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
and attaining All-American status. He turned professional in 1972 and won his first tournament at Jacksonville.
Connors was acquiring a reputation as a maverick in 1972 when he refused to join the newly formed Association of Tennis Professionals
Association of Tennis Professionals
The Association of Tennis Professionals or ATP was formed in 1972 by Donald Dell, Jack Kramer, and Cliff Drysdale to protect the interests of male professional tennis players. Since 1990, the association has organized the worldwide tennis tour for men and linked the title of the tour with the...
(ATP), the union that was embraced by most male professional players, in order to play in and dominate a series of smaller tournaments organized by Bill Riordan, his manager and a clever promoter. However, Connors played in other tournaments and made his first big splash by winning the 1973 U.S. Pro Singles, his first significant title, toppling Arthur Ashe
Arthur Ashe
Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was a professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. During his career, he won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best ever from the United States...
in a five-set final, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 3-6. 6-2.
Peak years
Connors won eight Grand Slam singles championships: five U.S. Opens, two Wimbledons, one Australian OpenAustralian Open
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
. He did not participate in the French Open during his peak years (1974–78) and only played in two Australian Opens in his entire career, winning it in 1974 and reaching the final in 1975.
Connors reached the final of the US Open in five straight years from 1974 through 1978, winning three times with each win being on a different surface (1974 on grass, 1976 on clay, and 1978 on hard). He reached the final of Wimbledon four out of five years during his peak (1974, 1975, 1977, and 1978). Despite not being allowed to play in the French Open in his prime, he was still able to reach the semifinals four times in his later years.
In 1974, Connors was by far the most dominant player. He had a stunning 99-4 record that year and won 15 tournaments, including all the Grand Slam singles titles except the French Open. The French Open did not allow Connors to participate due to his association with World Team Tennis
World Team Tennis
World TeamTennis is a coed professional tennis league played with a unique team format in the United States. Each match consists of five sets. Each set features a different configuration . Coaches, before the match, decide the order in which the sets will be played...
(WTT). However, he won the Australian Open, defeating Phil Dent
Phil Dent
Phillip "Phil" Dent, born on 14 February 1950, in Sydney, Australia, is a former professional tennis player. Dent's high water mark as a pro singles player was reaching the Australian Open final in 1974, which he lost to Jimmy Connors 7–6, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3...
in four sets. He also beat Ken Rosewall
Ken Rosewall
Kenneth Robert Rosewall AM MBE is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia. He won 23 Majors including eight Grand Slam singles titles and before the Open Era a record fifteen Pro Slam titles . Rosewall won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam...
in straight sets in the finals of both Wimbledon and the US Open. His exclusion from the French Open most likely prevented him from becoming the first male player since Rod Laver
Rod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
to win all four Grand Slam singles titles in a calendar year.
In the open era, Connors is one of only six men to win three or more Grand Slam singles titles in a calendar year. Others include: Rod Laver
Rod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
won the Grand Slam
Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
in 1969; Mats Wilander
Mats Wilander
Mats Wilander is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Sweden. From 1982 through 1988, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , and one Grand Slam men's doubles title...
won the Australian, French, and US Open in 1988; Roger Federer
Roger Federer
Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player who held the ATP no. 1 position for a record 237 consecutive weeks, and 285 weeks overall. As of 28 November 2011, he is ranked World No. 3 by the Association of Tennis Professionals . Federer has won a men's record 16 Grand Slam singles titles...
won the Australian, Wimbledon, and US Open in 2004, 2006, and 2007; Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal
Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera is a Spanish professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. , he is ranked No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals...
won the French, Wimbledon, and US Open in 2010; and Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic is a Serbian professional tennis player who has been ranked world no. 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals since 4 July 2011. He has won four Grand Slam singles titles: the 2008 and 2011 Australian Open, the 2011 Wimbledon Championships, and the 2011 US Open...
won the Australian, Wimbledon, and US Open in 2011.
Connors reached the world no. 1 ranking on July 29, 1974, and held it for 160 consecutive weeks (a record until it was surpassed by Roger Federer
Roger Federer
Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player who held the ATP no. 1 position for a record 237 consecutive weeks, and 285 weeks overall. As of 28 November 2011, he is ranked World No. 3 by the Association of Tennis Professionals . Federer has won a men's record 16 Grand Slam singles titles...
on February 26, 2007). He was considered the year-end no. 1 player from 1974 through 1978 and held the world no. 1 ranking for a total of 268 weeks during his career.
Contemporaries and rivalries
Contemporaries included Eddie DibbsEddie Dibbs
Eddie Dibbs is a retired American tennis player. He attained a career high ranking of World No. 5 in July 1978.-Wins :-Runner-ups :-Grand Slam singles tournament timeline:...
, Brian Gottfried
Brian Gottfried
Brian Edward Gottfried is a retired tennis player from the United States who won 25 singles titles and 54 doubles titles during his professional career. The right-hander reached his highest ranking on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour on June 19, 1977, when he became World No....
, Raúl Ramírez
Raúl Ramírez
Raúl Ramírez is a retired Mexican professional tennis player. He was active during the 1970s and 1980s, and is regarded as one of the great all-around players of the modern era. Ramírez was also the first player to finish first in both singles and doubles Grand Prix point standings, accomplishing...
, Harold Soloman, Dick Stockton
Dick Stockton (tennis)
Dick Stockton , was a professional tennis player from the United States. He is currently the head coach of the men's tennis team at the University of Virginia....
, Roscoe Tanner
Roscoe Tanner
Roscoe Tanner is an American former professional tennis player, who turned pro in 1972 and reached a career high world singles ranking of World No...
, and Guillermo Vilas
Guillermo Vilas
Guillermo Apolinario Vilas is a retired and former World No. 2 professional tennis player from Argentina. He was the second Latin-American to win a Grand Slam tournament.-Career:...
. Older rivals included Arthur Ashe
Arthur Ashe
Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was a professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. During his career, he won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best ever from the United States...
, Phil Dent
Phil Dent
Phillip "Phil" Dent, born on 14 February 1950, in Sydney, Australia, is a former professional tennis player. Dent's high water mark as a pro singles player was reaching the Australian Open final in 1974, which he lost to Jimmy Connors 7–6, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3...
, Rod Laver
Rod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
, Ilie Năstase
Ilie Nastase
Ilie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the...
, John Newcombe
John Newcombe
John David Newcombe, AO, OBE is a former World No. 1 tennis player.-Biography:He won seven Grand Slam singles titles, A natural athlete, Newcombe played several sports as a boy until devoting himself to tennis. He was the Australian junior champion in 1961, 1962, and 1963 and was a member of...
, Manuel Orantes
Manuel Orantes
Manuel Orantes Corral was a tennis champion in the 1970s and 1980s. He won the US Open in 1975, beating defending champion Jimmy Connors in the final.-Career:...
, Ken Rosewall
Ken Rosewall
Kenneth Robert Rosewall AM MBE is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia. He won 23 Majors including eight Grand Slam singles titles and before the Open Era a record fifteen Pro Slam titles . Rosewall won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam...
, and Stan Smith
Stan Smith
Stanley Roger "Stan" Smith is a former American tennis player and two time Grand Slam singles champion who also, with his partner Bob Lutz, formed one of the most successful doubles teams of all time. Together, they won many major titles all over the world...
. Younger opponents included Björn Borg
Björn Borg
Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles...
, Vitas Gerulaitis
Vitas Gerulaitis
Vytautas Kevin Gerulaitis was a Lithuanian–American professional tennis player. He is known for winning the men's singles title at one of the two Australian Open tournaments held in 1977. Gerulaitis won the tournament held in December, while Roscoe Tanner won the earlier January tournament...
, Ivan Lendl
Ivan Lendl
Ivan Lendl is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player. Originally from Czechoslovakia, Lendl became a United States citizen. He was one of the game's most dominant players in the 1980s and remained a top competitor into the early 1990s. He is considered to be one of the greatest tennis...
, and John McEnroe
John McEnroe
John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...
.
Björn Borg
During his best years of 1974 through 1978, Connors was challenged the most by Borg, with twelve matches on tour during that timeframe. Borg only won four of those meetings, but two of those wins were in the Wimbledon finals of 1977 and 1978. Connors lost his stranglehold on the top ranking to Borg in early 1979 and eventually ended up with a tour record of 8-15 against Borg. However, Borg is four years younger than Connors and had a losing record against Connors until Borg won the last ten times they met. Head to head in major championship finals, they split their four meetings, Borg winning two Wimbledons (1977 & 1978) and Connors winning two US Opens (1976 & 1978).Ilie Năstase
Nastase was another rival in Connors' prime, with Connors winning five of their eight meetings from 1974 through 1978. Interestingly, they only met once in 1974, which was Connors' best year. The two would team up to win the doubles championships at the 1973 Wimbledon and the 1975 US Open.Manuel Orantes and Guillermo Vilas
As the world no. 1, Connors went 7-2 against Orantes, but Orantes beat Connors in the final of the 1975 US Open. Connors was 2-2 against Vilas during those years, but Vilas won the 1977 US Open final against Connors.Rod Laver and John Newcombe
In 1975, Connors won two highly-touted "Challenge Matches", both arranged by Riordan and televised nationally by CBS SportsCBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
from Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace is a luxury hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, an unincorporated township in Clark County, Nevada, United States in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Caesars Palace is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corp....
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
. The first match, in February and billed as $100,000 ($ today) winner-takes-all, was against Laver. Connors won that match, 6–4, 6–2, 3–6, 7–5. In April, Connors met Newcombe in a match billed as a $250,000 winner-takes-all. Connors won the match, 6–3, 4–6, 6–2, 6–4. Connors would end his business relationship with Riordan later in 1975.
Connors played Newcombe in only two tour events from 1974 to 1978, with Newcombe winning the 1975 Australian Open and Connors taking the 1978 Sydney Indoor. Connors won all three meetings with Rod Laver in tour events.
Maverick
In 1974, Connors and Riordan began filing lawsuits, amounting to $10 million, against the ATP and its president, Arthur Ashe, for allegedly restricting his freedom in the game. The lawsuits stemmed from the French Open banning Connors in 1974 after he had signed a contract to play World Team TennisWorld Team Tennis
World TeamTennis is a coed professional tennis league played with a unique team format in the United States. Each match consists of five sets. Each set features a different configuration . Coaches, before the match, decide the order in which the sets will be played...
(WTT) for the Baltimore Banners. Connors was seeking to enter the French Open, but the ATP and French officials opposed WTT because of scheduling conflicts, so the entries of WTT players were refused between 1974 and 1978, ironically Connors' best years. Interestingly, Ashe's only victory against Connors came at the 1975 Wimbledon final when they met as opposing litigants on Centre Court
Centre Court
Centre Court is the main court at the Wimbledon Championship, the 3rd annual Grand Slam event of the tennis calendar. It is situated adjacent to Aorangi Terrace and is home to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Its only regular use is for the two weeks a year that the Championships take...
. Ashe was able to beat Connors, 6-1, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 that day, which may have prompted Connors to drop Riordan and the lawsuits shortly thereafter.
Despite this turnabout, Connors remained an independent character. At Wimbledon in 1977, he refused to participate in a parade of former champions to celebrate the tournament's centenary and was booed when he played in the final the following day. He lost in five sets to Borg, who a month later was able briefly to interrupt Connors's long hold on the world no. 1 ranking. Connors also irritated sponsors and tennis officials by shunning the end-of-year Masters
Tennis Masters Cup
The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals is a tennis tournament played at the end of each year, involving the top eight players in the men's tennis world rankings....
championship from 1974 through 1976. However, he entered this round-robin competition in 1977 when it moved to New York City. Although Connors lost a celebrated late-night match to Vilas, 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, he took the title by defeating Borg in the final, 6–4, 1–6, 6–4.
Later years
Connors had shining moments against John McEnroeJohn McEnroe
John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...
and Ivan Lendl
Ivan Lendl
Ivan Lendl is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player. Originally from Czechoslovakia, Lendl became a United States citizen. He was one of the game's most dominant players in the 1980s and remained a top competitor into the early 1990s. He is considered to be one of the greatest tennis...
, both of whom rose to prominence after Connors peaked in the mid-1970s. He would continue to compete against much younger players and had one of the most remarkable comebacks for any athlete when he reached the semifinals of the 1991 US Open at the age of 39.
John McEnroe
Connors' best win during 1979-81 was the 1980 WCT Finals, when he defeated the defending champion, John McEnroeJohn McEnroe
John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...
. McEnroe and Borg were battling for the top spot in those years, while Connors played the role of the spoiler. However, in 1982, at age 29, Connors was back in the Wimbledon singles final, where he faced McEnroe, who by then was established firmly as the world's top player. Connors recovered from being three points away from defeat in a fourth-set tie-break (at 3–4) to win the match, 3–6, 6–3, 6–7(2), 7–6(5), 6–4, and claim his second Wimbledon title, eight years after his first. Although Connors' tour record against McEnroe is 14-20, McEnroe is six years younger than Connors and had a losing record against Connors until he won 12 out of their last 14 meetings. Head to head in major championship finals, they split their two meetings, Connors winning the 1982 Wimbledon and McEnroe winning the 1984 Wimbledon.
Ivan Lendl
Connors defeated another of the next generation of tennis stars, Ivan Lendl, in the 1982 U.S. Open final and soon regained the world no. 1 ranking. Connors has a tour record of 13-22 against Lendl, but Lendl is seven years younger than Connors and had a losing record against Connors until he won their last seventeen matches from 1984 through 1992, well after Connors' prime. Head to head in major championship finals, Connors took both meetings, winning the 1982 and 1983 U.S. Opens.A low point in Connors' career occurred on February 21, 1986, when he was defaulted in the fifth set of a semifinal match against Lendl at the Lipton International Players Championships in Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
after being angered by the officiating. He paid a $20,000 fine and accepted a ten-week suspension from the professional tour, starting March 30. He was forced to miss the French Open. He subsequently lost in the first round at Wimbledon and the third round at the US Open, a tournament where he had reached at least the semifinals for twelve consecutive years.
Respected elder
Connors gradually transformed himself into a respected elder of the tennis world in the later years of his career. He continued to compete forcefully against much younger men until he was well into his 41st year.In the fourth round of the 1987 Wimbledon Championships
1987 Wimbledon Championships
The 1987 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament played on :grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London in England...
, Connors defeated Mikael Pernfors
Mikael Pernfors
Mikael Pernfors is a former professional tennis player from Sweden. He is best remembered for reaching the men's singles final at the French Open in 1986.-Career:Pernfors was born in Malmö....
, ten years his junior, 1–6, 1–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–2, after having trailed 4–1 in the third set and 3–0 in the fourth set. In July 1988, Connors ended a four-year title drought by winning the Sovran Bank Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C. It was the 106th title of his career. Connors had played in 56 tournaments and 12 finals since his previous victory in the Tokyo Indoors against Lendl in October 1984.
At the 1989 US Open, Connors defeated the third seed (and future two-time champion), Stefan Edberg
Stefan Edberg
Stefan Bengt Edberg is a former World No. 1 professional tennis player from Sweden. A major proponent of the serve-and-volley style of tennis, he won six Grand Slam singles titles and three Grand Slam men's doubles titles. He also won one season ending championship title the Masters Grand Prix...
, in straight sets in the fourth round and pushed sixth-seeded Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi
Andre Kirk Agassi is a retired American professional tennis player and former world no. 1. Generally considered by critics and fellow players to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Agassi has been called the best service returner in the history of the game...
to five sets in a quarterfinal.
His career seemed to be at an end in 1990, when he played only three tournament matches (and lost all three), dropping to no. 936 in the world rankings. However, after surgery on his deteriorating left wrist, he came back to play 14 tournaments in 1991. An ailing back forced him to retire from a five-sets match in the third round of the French Open against Michael Chang
Michael Chang
Michael Te-Pei Chang is a former American professional tennis player. He is best remembered for becoming the youngest-ever male player to win a Grand Slam singles title when he won the French Open in 1989 at the age of 17....
, the 1989 champion. Ironically, Connors walked off the court after hitting a winner against Chang.
The defining moment of Connors' later career came when he made an improbable run to the 1991 US Open semifinals at the age of 39. On his birthday, he defeated 24-year-old Aaron Krickstein
Aaron Krickstein
Aaron Krickstein , nicknamed "Marathon Man", is a former American professional tennis player, who competed on the ATP Tour from 1983 to 1996. Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he currently competes on the Outback Champions Series Over-30 tour.Krickstein reached his career high ATP ranking of World No....
, 3–6, 7–6(8), 1–6, 6–3, 7–6(4), in 4 hours and 41 minutes, coming back from a 2–5 deficit in the final set. Connors then was defeated in a semifinal by Jim Courier
Jim Courier
James Spencer "Jim" Courier, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won four Grand Slam singles titles, two at the French Open and two at the Australian Open...
.
Connors participated in his last major tournament in the 1992 US Open, where he beat Jaime Oncins
Jaime Oncins
Jaime Oncins is a former tennis player from Brazil.Oncins represented his native country at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, where he reached the quarter-finals before falling to Russia's Andrei Cherkasov. The right-hander won two individual career titles...
, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, in the first round, before losing to Lendl (then ranked no. 7), 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 0-6, in the second round.
In September 1992, Connors played Martina Navratilova in the third Battle of the Sexes tennis match at Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace is a luxury hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, an unincorporated township in Clark County, Nevada, United States in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Caesars Palace is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corp....
in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. Connors was allowed only one serve per point and Navratilova was allowed to hit into half the doubles court. Connors won, 7–5, 6–2.
However, this would not be the end of his playing career. As late as June 1995, three months shy of his 43rd birthday Connors beat Sébastien Lareau
Sébastien Lareau
Sébastien Lareau is a former touring professional tennis player.-As a singles player:The right-handed Lareau achieved a career best singles ranking of World No. 76 in April 1995. In January 1999 he reached a career second best ranking of World No. 78. He had a career ATP tour event win-loss...
, 6-4, 7-6, and Martin Sinner
Martin Sinner
Martin Sinner , is a professional tennis player from Germany. He achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 42 in 1995.He played professional tennis for 15 years and earned $896,974....
, 7-6, 6-0, to progress to the quarterfinals of the Halle event in Germany. Connors lost this quarterfinal, 6-7, 3-6 to Marc Rosset
Marc Rosset
Marc Rosset is a former professional tennis player from Switzerland who is best remembered for winning the men's singles Gold Medal at the 1992 Olympic Games....
. Connors' last match on the main ATP tour came in April 1996, when he lost, 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, to Richey Reneberg
Richey Reneberg
Richey Reneberg was an American professional male tennis player.He attended Southern Methodist University, where he was a three-time All-American and reached the 1986 National Collegiate Athletics Association finals....
in Atlanta.
Distinctions and honors
Connors won a male record 109 singles titles. He also won 15 doubles titles (including the men's doubles titles at Wimbledon in 1973 and the US Open in 1975).In his 1979 autobiography, Jack Kramer
Jack Kramer (tennis player)
John Albert Kramer was an American tennis player of the 1940s. A World Number 1 player for a number of years, he is a possible candidate for the title of the greatest tennis player of all time. He was considered the father and the leading promoter of the professional tennis tours...
, the long-time tennis promoter and great player himself, ranked Connors as one of the 21 best players of all time.
Connors won more matches (1,337) than any other male professional tennis player in the open era. His career win-loss record was 1,337–285 for a winning percentage of 82.4. He played 401 tournaments and through many years it was a record until Fabrice Santoro
Fabrice Santoro
Fabrice Vetea Santoro is a retired French professional male tennis player from Tahiti. Though not counted among the top ranked players, he had an unusually long professional career – with many of his accomplishments coming toward the end of his career – and he is popular among spectators and other...
overcame it in 2008.
Connors was the only player to win the US Open on three different surfaces: grass
Grass court
A grass court is one of the four different types of tennis court. Grass courts are made of rye grass in different compositions depending on the tournament...
, clay
Clay court
A clay court is one of the four different types of tennis court. Clay courts are made of crushed shale, stone or brick. The red clay is slower than the green, or Har-Tru "American" clay. The French Open uses clay courts, making it unique among the Grand Slam tournaments.Clay courts are more common...
, and hard. Connors was also the first male tennis player to win Grand Slam
Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
singles titles on three different surfaces: grass (1974), clay (1976), and hard (1978).
Connors reached the semifinals or better of Grand Slam Men's Singles events a total of 31 times, an all time record. This achievement is particularly remarkable considering that he entered the Australian Open Men's Singles only twice and that he did not enter the French Open Men's Singles for five of his peak career years. Roger Federer holds the record for most consecutive semifinal appearances at these events, but he falls short of Connors' total career number in this category.
Connors was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
International Tennis Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. The hall of fame and honors players and contributors to the sport of tennis and includes a museum, grass tennis courts, an indoor tennis facility, and a court tennis facility.-History:The hall of fame and...
in 1998 and Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Hall of Fame in 1986.
Playing style
Larry Schwartz on ESPN.com said about Connors, "His biggest weapons were an indomitable spirit, a two-handed backhand and the best service return in the game. It is difficult to say which was more instrumental in Connors becoming a champion. ... Though smaller than most of his competitors, Connors didn't let it bother him, making up for a lack of size with determination." Of his own competitive nature Connors has said, "[T]here's always somebody out there who's willing to push it that extra inch, or mile, and that was me. (Laughter) I didn't care if it took me 30 minutes or five hours. If you beat me, you had to be the best, or the best you had that day. But that was my passion for the game. If I won, I won, and if I lost, well, I didn't take it so well."His on-court antics, designed to get the crowd involved, both helped and hurt his play. Schwartz said, "While tennis fans enjoyed Connors' gritty style and his never-say-die attitude, they often were shocked by his antics. His sometimes vulgar on-court behavior—like giving the finger to a linesman after disagreeing with a call or strutting about the court with the tennis racket handle between his legs; sometimes he would yank on the handle in a grotesque manner and his fans would go wild or groan in disapproval—did not help his approval rating. During the early part of his career, Connors frequently argued with umpires, linesmen, the players union, Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
officials and other players. He was even booed at Wimbledon – a rare show of disapproval there—for snubbing the Parade of Champions on the first day of the Centenary in 1977." His brash behavior both on and off the court earned him a reputation as the brat of the tennis world. Tennis commentator Bud Collins
Bud Collins
-External links:*** 2001 interview with Collins*...
nicknamed Connors the "Brash Basher of Belleville
Belleville, Illinois
Belleville is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city has a population of 44,478. It is the eighth-most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area and the most populated city south of Springfield in the state of Illinois. It is the county...
" after the St Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
suburb where he grew up. But Connors himself thrived on the energy of the crowd, positive or negative, and manipulated and exploited it to his advantage in many of the greatest matches of his career.
Connors was taught to hit the ball on the rise by his teaching-pro mother, Gloria Connors, a technique he used to defeat the opposition in the early years of his career. Gloria sent her son to Southern California to work with Pancho Segura
Pancho Segura
Pancho Segura, born Francisco Olegario Segura , was a leading tennis player of the 1940s and 1950s, both as an amateur and as a professional. In 1950 and 1952, as a professional, he was the World Co-No. 1 player...
at age 16. Segura advanced Connors' game of hitting the ball on the rise which enabled Connors to reflect the power and velocity of his opponents back at them. Segura was the master strategist in developing Jimmy's complete game. In the 1975 Wimbledon final, Arthur Ashe
Arthur Ashe
Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was a professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. During his career, he won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best ever from the United States...
countered this strategy by taking the pace off the ball, giving Connors only soft junk shots (dinks, drop shots, and lobs) to hit.
Ashe and Connors did not get along, as Ashe frequently criticized Connors for playing in lucrative exhibitions instead of representing his country in Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
competition. Connors' racial insensitivity also played a role; while playing Ashe in an exhibition in South Africa, he derisively complained that the pro-Ashe crowd reminded him of Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
. When Connors had three legs of the grand slam in hand, he was denied the opportunity to play the French Open and sued Ashe, et al., due to Ashe's role in the ban. They settled out of court after Ashe defeated Connors in the 1975 Wimbledon final. The enmity Connors held for Ashe continued even after Ashe's death, as Connors refused to attend the US Open Champions Ceremony during the christening of Arthur Ashe Stadium
Arthur Ashe Stadium
Arthur Ashe Stadium, a part of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center located within Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in the New York City borough of Queens, is the main tennis stadium of the US Open, the last of each year's four Grand Slam tournaments, and also where the annual Arthur Ashe...
in 1997.
In an era where serve and volley was the norm, Björn Borg
Björn Borg
Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles...
excepted, Connors was one of the few players to hit the ball flat, low, and predominantly from the baseline. Connors hit his forehand with a continental grip and with little net clearance. Some considered his forehand to be his greatest weakness, especially on extreme pressure points, as it lacked the safety margin of hard forehands hit with topspin. His serve, while accurate and capable, was never a great weapon for him as it did not reach the velocity and power of his opponents.
His lack of a dominating serve and net game, combined with his individualist style and maverick tendencies, meant that he was not as successful in doubles as he was in singles, although he did win Grand Slam
Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
titles with Ilie Năstase
Ilie Nastase
Ilie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the...
and Chris Evert
Chris Evert
Christine Marie "Chris" Evert is a former world number 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record seven championships at the French Open and a record six championships at the U.S. Open. She was the year-ending World No...
and amassed 15 doubles titles during his career.
Racket evolution
At a time when most other tennis pros played with wooden rackets, Connors pioneered the Wilson T2000 steel racket, which utilized a method for stringing devised and patented by Lacoste in 1953. "The T2000 set the wood racquet traditionalists on their ears with its lightweight steel construction. It didn't need a racket-press (it didn't warp), and its slender framework meant less wind resistance."He played with this chrome tubular steel racket until 1984, when most other pros had shifted to new racket technologies, materials, and designs. The T2000 in the eighties "had the aura of a dinosaur – it had been introduced in 1968."
In 1984, Connors switched to the new Wilson ProStaff that had been designed especially for him. But 1985 again found Connors playing with the T2000. Not until 1987 did he finally switch to a graphite racket when he contracted with Slazenger
Slazenger
Slazenger is a British sports equipment brand name sold throughout the world, involving a variety of sporting categories namely cricket, tennis and hockey...
to play their Panther Pro Ceramic. In 1990 Connors signed with Estusa.
Connors used lead tape which he would wind around the racquet head to provide the proper "feel" for his style of game.
Commentating
Connors did commentary with NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in 1990 and 1991, during their coverage of the French Open and Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
tournaments. During the Wimbledon tournaments of 2005, 2006 and 2007, Connors commentated for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
alongside John McEnroe
John McEnroe
John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...
(among others), providing moments of heated discussion between two former arch-rivals. Connors has also served as a commentator and analyst for the Tennis Channel since the 2009 US Open tournament.
Coaching
On July 24, 2006, at the start of the Countrywide Classic tournament in Los Angeles, American tennis player Andy RoddickAndy Roddick
Andrew Stephen "Andy" Roddick is an American professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. He is currently the second highest-ranked American player, behind Mardy Fish....
formally announced his partnership with Connors as his coach. On March 6, 2008, Roddick announced the end of that 19-month relationship.
Personal life
In 1968, Connors' mother Gloria sent her son to work with Pancho SeguraPancho Segura
Pancho Segura, born Francisco Olegario Segura , was a leading tennis player of the 1940s and 1950s, both as an amateur and as a professional. In 1950 and 1952, as a professional, he was the World Co-No. 1 player...
in Southern California. Segura refined his game, mentored him, and provided the court strategy that made Jimmy great.
Connors and Chris Evert
Chris Evert
Christine Marie "Chris" Evert is a former world number 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record seven championships at the French Open and a record six championships at the U.S. Open. She was the year-ending World No...
had planned to marry in November 1974, but it was called off. In 1979, Connors married Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
model Patti McGuire. They have two children and live in the Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
area.
In the 1990s he joined his brother John Connors as investors in the Argosy Gaming Company
Argosy Gaming Company
Argosy Gaming Company was an Alton, Illinois based casino operator.-History:The company through the political connections of its chairman William F. Cellini received the first gambling license in Illinois in modern times. It began operations in September, 1991 with the opening of the Alton Belle...
which owned riverboat casino
Riverboat casino
A riverboat casino is a type of casino found in several areas of the United States which use a riverboat as a casino. Several states authorized this type of casino to limit the areas where casinos could be constructed under a type of legal fiction.-History:...
s on the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. The two owned 19 percent of the company which was headquartered in the St. Louis suburb of East Alton, Illinois
East Alton, Illinois
East Alton is a village in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,830 at the 2000 census.-Geography:East Alton is located at ....
. Argosy narrowly averted bankruptcy in the late 1990s and Jimmy's brother John personally sought Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In the liquidation, Jimmy, through his company Smooth Swing, acquired the Alystra Casino in Henderson, Nevada
Henderson, Nevada
-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...
from Union Planters Bank
Union Planters
Union Planters Bank was a United States financial institution and multi-state bank holding corporation headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee prior to being acquired by Regions Financial Corporation. With over $34 billion in assets, Union Planters Bank was the largest bank in Tennessee and among the...
for $1.9 million in 2000 which had foreclosed on John. John had opened the casino in 1995 with announced plans to include a Jimmy Connors theme area. It was shuttered in 1998 and became a magnet for homeless and thieves who stripped its copper piping. The casino never reopened under Jimmy's ownership and it was destroyed in a May 2008 fire.
In October 2005, Connors had successful hip-replacement surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Originally established as Kaspare Cohn Hospital in 1902, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a non-profit, tertiary 958-bed hospital and multi-specialty academic health science centre located in Los Angeles, California, US. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over...
in Los Angeles.
On January 8, 2007, Connors's mother and long-time coach, Gloria, died at the age of 82.
On November 21, 2008, Connors was arrested outside an NCAA Basketball game between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
and University of California at Santa Barbara after refusing to comply with an order to leave an area near the entrance to the stadium. The charges were dismissed by a judge on February 10, 2009.
In December 2010, Douglas Henderson Jr., a long-time Connors associate and close friend, published Endeavor to Persevere, his book detailing his relationship with Connors and Arthur Ashe.http://www.amazon.com/Endeavor-Persevere-Memoir-Connors-ebook/dp/B004EYTBHG
Singles: 15 finals (8 titles, 7 runner-ups)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Winner | 1974 | Australian Open | Grass |  Phil DentPhil Dent Phillip "Phil" Dent, born on 14 February 1950, in Sydney, Australia, is a former professional tennis player. Dent's high water mark as a pro singles player was reaching the Australian Open final in 1974, which he lost to Jimmy Connors 7–6, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3... |
7–6(7), 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
| Winner | 1974 | Wimbledon | Grass | Ken Rosewall Ken Rosewall Kenneth Robert Rosewall AM MBE is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia. He won 23 Majors including eight Grand Slam singles titles and before the Open Era a record fifteen Pro Slam titles . Rosewall won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam... |
6–1, 6–1, 6–4 |
| Winner | 1974 | US Open | Grass | Ken Rosewall |
6–1, 6–0, 6–1 |
| Runner-up | 1975 | Australian Open | Grass | John Newcombe John Newcombe John David Newcombe, AO, OBE is a former World No. 1 tennis player.-Biography:He won seven Grand Slam singles titles, A natural athlete, Newcombe played several sports as a boy until devoting himself to tennis. He was the Australian junior champion in 1961, 1962, and 1963 and was a member of... |
7–5, 3–6, 6–4, 7–6(7) |
| Runner-up | 1975 | Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... |
Grass |  Arthur AsheArthur Ashe Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was a professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. During his career, he won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best ever from the United States... |
6–1, 6–1, 5–7, 6–4 |
| Runner-up | 1975 | US Open | Clay |  Manuel OrantesManuel Orantes Manuel Orantes Corral was a tennis champion in the 1970s and 1980s. He won the US Open in 1975, beating defending champion Jimmy Connors in the final.-Career:... |
6–4, 6–3, 6–3 |
| Winner | 1976 | US Open (2) | Clay |  Björn BorgBjörn Borg Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles... |
6–4, 3–6, 7–6(9), 6–4 |
| Runner-up | 1977 | Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... (2) |
Grass | Björn Borg Björn Borg Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles... |
3–6, 6–2, 6–1, 5–7, 6–4 |
| Runner-up | 1977 | US Open (2) | Clay |  Guillermo VilasGuillermo Vilas Guillermo Apolinario Vilas is a retired and former World No. 2 professional tennis player from Argentina. He was the second Latin-American to win a Grand Slam tournament.-Career:... |
2–6, 6–3, 7–6(4), 6–0 |
| Runner-up | 1978 | Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... (3) |
Grass | Björn Borg |
6–2, 6–2, 6–3 |
| Winner | 1978 | US Open (3) | Hard | Björn Borg |
6–4, 6–2, 6–2 |
| Winner | 1982 | Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... (2) |
Grass | John McEnroe John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title... |
3–6, 6–3, 6–7(2), 7–6(5), 6–4 |
| Winner | 1982 | US Open (4) | Hard |  Ivan LendlIvan Lendl Ivan Lendl is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player. Originally from Czechoslovakia, Lendl became a United States citizen. He was one of the game's most dominant players in the 1980s and remained a top competitor into the early 1990s. He is considered to be one of the greatest tennis... |
6–3, 6–2, 4–6, 6–4 |
| Winner | 1983 | US Open (5) | Hard | Ivan Lendl |
6–3, 6–7(2), 7–5, 6–0 |
| Runner-up | 1984 | Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... (4) |
Grass | John McEnroe John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title... |
6–1, 6–1, 6–2 |
Doubles: 3 finals (2 titles, 1 runner-up)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
| Runner-up | 1973 | French Open | Clay |  Ilie NăstaseIlie Nastase Ilie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the... |
John Newcombe John Newcombe John David Newcombe, AO, OBE is a former World No. 1 tennis player.-Biography:He won seven Grand Slam singles titles, A natural athlete, Newcombe played several sports as a boy until devoting himself to tennis. He was the Australian junior champion in 1961, 1962, and 1963 and was a member of...  Tom OkkerTom Okker Thomas S. Okker is a former Dutch tennis player. He was ranked among the world's top 10 singles players for seven consecutive years, 1968–74, reaching a career high of world # 3 in 1969. He also was ranked World # 1 in doubles in 1969.-Tennis career:Okker was the Dutch champion from 1964 through... |
6–1, 3–6, 6–3, 5–7, 6–4 |
| Winner | 1973 | Wimbledon | Grass | Ilie Năstase |
John Cooper John Cooper (tennis) John Cooper is a former Australian male tennis player who played on the ATP tour in the 1970s. He achieved a career-high ranking of #66 in September 1973... Neale FraserNeale Fraser Neale Andrew Fraser AO MBE is a former tennis player from Australia, born in Melbourne, Victoria, the son of a Victorian judge. He began playing tennis at age 11 and attended St Kevin's College, Melbourne where he became Captain of Tennis at the school.Fraser won Wimbledon in 1960 and the US... |
3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 8–9(3), 6–1 |
| Winner | 1975 | US Open | Clay | Ilie Năstase |
Tom Okker Marty Riessen Marty Riessen Marty Riessen played amateur and professional tennis in the 1960s and 1970s. He was ranked as high as No. 11 in the world in singles on the ATP Rankings... |
6–4, 7–6 |
Mixed doubles: 1 final (1 runner-up)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
| Runner-up | 1974 | US Open | Grass | Chris Evert Chris Evert Christine Marie "Chris" Evert is a former world number 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record seven championships at the French Open and a record six championships at the U.S. Open. She was the year-ending World No... |
Pam Teeguarden Pam Teeguarden Pam Teeguarden was an American professional tennis player in the 1970s and 1980s, reaching the top 30 in the world. Her father Jerry, together with Teeguarden, helped Virginia Wade to her 1977 Wimbledon triumph.... Geoff MastersGeoff Masters Geoff Masters is a former Australian tennis player.-Tennis tour career:In 1977 Masters and Ross Case won the doubles in Wimbledon.-Doubles titles :-Post-tennis playing career:... |
6–1, 7–6 |
Grand Prix year-end championships singles finals: 1 finals (1 titles)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Winner | 1977 | New York 1977 Colgate-Palmolive Masters – Singles Jimmy Connors won in the final 6–4, 1–6, 6–4 against Björn Borg.-Finals:-Group A: Standings are determined by: 1) Number of wins; 2) Number of matches; 3) In two-players-ties, head-to-head records; 4) In three-players-ties, percentage of sets won, or of games won; 5) Steering... |
Hard (i) | Björn Borg Björn Borg Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles... |
6–4, 1–6, 6–4 |
WCT year end championship singles finals: 3 finals (2 title, 1 runner-ups)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Winner | 1977 | Dallas 1977 World Championship Tennis Finals The 1977 World Championship Tennis Finals was a tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts. It was the 7th edition of the WCT Finals and was part of the 1977 World Championship Tennis circuit... |
Carpet (i) | Dick Stockton Dick Stockton (tennis) Dick Stockton , was a professional tennis player from the United States. He is currently the head coach of the men's tennis team at the University of Virginia.... |
6–7(5), 6–1, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Winner | 1980 | Dallas 1980 World Championship Tennis Finals The 1980 World Championship Tennis Finals was a tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts. It was the 10th edition of the WCT Finals and was part of the 1980 Volvo Grand Prix... |
Carpet (i) | John McEnroe John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title... |
2–6, 7–6(4), 6–1, 6–2 |
| Runner-up | 1984 | Dallas 1984 World Championship Tennis Finals The 1984 World Championship Tennis Finals was a tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts. It was the 14th edition of the WCT Finals and was part of the 1984 World Championship Tennis circuit... |
Carpet (i) | John McEnroe John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title... |
1–6, 2–6, 3–6 |
Singles: 30 (19 titles, 11 runner-ups)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Runner-up | 1971 | Los Angeles Los Angeles Open (tennis) The Los Angeles Open and formerly known as the Countrywide Classic, Los Angeles Tennis Open, Pacific South West Open, and other sponsored names, is an ATP World Tour 250 series tennis tournament on the ATP Tour held in Los Angeles, California, United States... |
Hard | United States Pancho Gonzales Pancho Gonzales Ricardo Alonso González , generally known as Richard "Pancho" Gonzales was an American tennis player. He was the world no. 1 professional tennis player for an unequalled eight years in the 1950s and early 1960s... |
6-3,3-6, 3-6 |
| Winner | 1973 | Johannesburg South African Open (tennis) The South African Open – formerly the South African Championships, the Altech NCR South African Open and the Panasonic South African Open – is a defunct Grand Prix Tennis Tour, World Championship Series and ATP Tour affiliated tennis tournament played from 1891 to 1995... |
Grass | Arthur Ashe Arthur Ashe Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was a professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. During his career, he won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best ever from the United States... |
6-4, 7-6, 6-3 |
| Winner | 1973 | Los Angeles | Hard | Tom Okker Tom Okker Thomas S. Okker is a former Dutch tennis player. He was ranked among the world's top 10 singles players for seven consecutive years, 1968–74, reaching a career high of world # 3 in 1969. He also was ranked World # 1 in doubles in 1969.-Tennis career:Okker was the Dutch champion from 1964 through... |
7-5, 7-6 |
| Winner | 1973 | Boston | Hard | Arthur Ashe |
6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 |
| Winner | 1974 | Johannesburg | Grass | Arthur Ashe |
7-6, 6-3, 6-1 |
| Winner | 1974 | Indianapolis | Clay | Björn Borg Björn Borg Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles... |
5-7, 6-3, 6-4 |
| Winner | 1974 | London | Carpet | Brian Gottfried Brian Gottfried Brian Edward Gottfried is a retired tennis player from the United States who won 25 singles titles and 54 doubles titles during his professional career. The right-hander reached his highest ranking on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour on June 19, 1977, when he became World No.... |
6-2, 7-6 |
| Runner-up | 1975 | London | Carpet | Eddie Dibbs Eddie Dibbs Eddie Dibbs is a retired American tennis player. He attained a career high ranking of World No. 5 in July 1978.-Wins :-Runner-ups :-Grand Slam singles tournament timeline:... |
6-1, 1-6, 5-7 |
| Runner-up | 1975 | Stockholm Stockholm Open The If Stockholm Open is a tennis event on the ATP Tour held in Stockholm, Sweden in the end of October or beginning of November each year. The organizer of the tournament is The Royal Lawn Tennis Club of Stockholm.... |
Hard |  Adriano PanattaAdriano Panatta Adriano Panatta is a former professional tennis player from Italy. He is best remembered for winning the French Open in 1976, and for being the only player to ever defeat Björn Borg at Roland Garros, which he did on two occasions.-Career:... |
4-6, 3-6 |
| Winner | 1976 | Washington Legg Mason Tennis Classic The Legg Mason Tennis Classic is an annual late-summer men's tennis tournament played in Washington, D.C. as part of the ATP Tour. It was first held in 1969. It was later known as the Sovran Bank Classic. . Originally an event of the Grand Prix Tennis Tour and part of the Grand Prix Championship... |
Clay |  Raúl RamírezRaúl Ramírez Raúl Ramírez is a retired Mexican professional tennis player. He was active during the 1970s and 1980s, and is regarded as one of the great all-around players of the modern era. Ramírez was also the first player to finish first in both singles and doubles Grand Prix point standings, accomplishing... |
6-2, 6-4 |
| Winner | 1976 | Indianapolis | Clay |  Wojtek Fibak |
6-2, 6-4 |
| Winner | 1976 | London | Carpet | Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner is an American former professional tennis player, who turned pro in 1972 and reached a career high world singles ranking of World No... |
3-6, 7-6, 6-4 |
| Winner | 1976 | Philadelphia | Carpet | Björn Borg |
7-6, 6-4, 6-0 |
| Winner | 1976 | Las Vegas | Hard | Ken Rosewall Ken Rosewall Kenneth Robert Rosewall AM MBE is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia. He won 23 Majors including eight Grand Slam singles titles and before the Open Era a record fifteen Pro Slam titles . Rosewall won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam... |
6-1, 6-3 |
| Runner-up | 1977 | Indianapolis | Clay |  Manuel OrantesManuel Orantes Manuel Orantes Corral was a tennis champion in the 1970s and 1980s. He won the US Open in 1975, beating defending champion Jimmy Connors in the final.-Career:... |
1-6, 3-6 |
| Runner-up | 1977 | Philadelphia | Carpet | Dick Stockton Dick Stockton (tennis) Dick Stockton , was a professional tennis player from the United States. He is currently the head coach of the men's tennis team at the University of Virginia.... |
6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 1-6, 2-6 |
| Winner | 1977 | Las Vegas | Hard | Raúl Ramírez |
6-4, 5-7, 6-2 |
| Winner | 1978 | Philadelphia | Carpet | Roscoe Tanner |
6–2, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Runner-up | 1979 | Tokyo | Carpet | Björn Borg |
2-6, 2-6 |
| Winner | 1979 | Philadelphia | Carpet | Arthur Ashe |
6-3, 6-4, 6-1 |
| Runner-up | 1979 | Las Vegas | Hard | Björn Borg |
2-6, 2-6 |
| Winner | 1980 | Tokyo | Carpet | Tim Gullikson Tim Gullikson Timothy Ernest "Tim" Gullikson was a tennis player and coach who was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin in the United States.In 1977, he won three tour singles titles and was named the ATP's Newcomer of the Year... |
6-1, 6-2 |
| Winner | 1980 | Philadelphia | Carpet | United States John McEnroe John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title... |
6-3, 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 |
| Winner | 1981 | Monte Carlo | Clay | Guillermo Vilas Guillermo Vilas Guillermo Apolinario Vilas is a retired and former World No. 2 professional tennis player from Argentina. He was the second Latin-American to win a Grand Slam tournament.-Career:... |
5-5 uf |
| Runner-up | 1981 | Hamburg | Clay | Peter McNamara Peter McNamara Peter McNamara is a retired Australian tennis player.He won five singles and nineteen doubles titles during his professional career. A right-hander, McNamara reached his highest singles ATP-ranking on 14 March 1983 when he became World number 7... |
6-7, 6-4, 4-6 |
| Winner | 1981 | London | Carpet | John McEnroe |
3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 |
| Runner-up | 1982 | Philadelphia | Carpet | John McEnroe |
3-6, 3-6, 1-6 |
| Runner-up | 1983 | London | Carpet | John McEnroe |
5-7, 2-6, 1-6 |
| Winner | 1984 | Tokyo | Carpet | Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player. Originally from Czechoslovakia, Lendl became a United States citizen. He was one of the game's most dominant players in the 1980s and remained a top competitor into the early 1990s. He is considered to be one of the greatest tennis... |
6-4, 3-6, 6-0 |
| Runner-up | 1986 | Cincinnati | Hard | Mats Wilander Mats Wilander Mats Wilander is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Sweden. From 1982 through 1988, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , and one Grand Slam men's doubles title... |
4-6, 1-6 |
- Note: before the ATP took over running the men's professional tour in 1990 the Grand Prix Tour had a series of events that were precursors to the Masters Series known as the Grand Prix Tennis Championship Series.
Singles performance timeline
Qualifying matches and WalkoverWalkover
In British English, a walkover or W.O. is the awarding of a victory to a contestant because there are no other contestants, or because the other contestants have been disqualified or have forfeited. The term can apply in sport, but can also apply to elections...
s are neither official match wins nor losses.
| Tournament | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | |SR | |W-L | |Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | W | F | NH | 1 / 2 | 11–1 | 91.66 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| French Open | 2R | 1R | SF | SF | QF | QF | QF | SF | SF | QF | 2R | 3R | 1R | 0 / 13 | 40–13 | 75.47 | ||||||||||||||
| Wimbledon | 1R | QF | QF | W | F | QF | F | F | SF | SF | SF | W | 4R | F | SF | 1R | SF | 4R | 2R | 3R | 1R | 2 / 21 | 84–18 | 82.35 | ||||||
| US Open | 1R | 2R | 1R | QF | W | F | W | F | W | SF | SF | SF | W | W | SF | SF | 3R | SF | QF | QF | SF | 2R | 5 / 22 | 98–17 | 85.22 | |||||
| Win-Loss | 0–1 | 1–1 | 5–3 | 8–3 | 20–0 | 16–3 | 11–1 | 12–2 | 13–1 | 15–3 | 15–3 | 14–3 | 18–1 | 14–2 | 16–3 | 15–3 | 2–2 | 14–3 | 7–2 | 6–3 | 0–0 | 9–3 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 8 / 58 | 232–49 | 82.56 |
| Davis Cup Davis Cup The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By... |
P 1975 Davis Cup The 1975 Davis Cup was the 64th edition of the most important tournament between national teams in men's tennis. 53 teams would enter the competition, 32 in the Europe Zone, 12 in the Americas Zone, and 9 in the Eastern Zone.... |
W 1981 Davis Cup The 1981 Davis Cup was the 70th edition of the tournament between national teams in men's tennis. This was the first year that the tournament moved to a tiered system, with the creation of the 16-team World Group... |
F 1984 Davis Cup The 1984 Davis Cup was the 73rd edition of the most important tournament between national teams in men's tennis. 62 teams would enter the competition, 16 in the World Group, 25 in the Europe Zone, 12 in the Eastern Zone, and 9 in the Americas Zone... |
1 / 3 | 8–3 | 72.73 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Masters Tennis Masters Cup The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals is a tennis tournament played at the end of each year, involving the top eight players in the men's tennis world rankings.... |
SF | SF | W 1977 Colgate-Palmolive Masters – Singles Jimmy Connors won in the final 6–4, 1–6, 6–4 against Björn Borg.-Finals:-Group A: Standings are determined by: 1) Number of wins; 2) Number of matches; 3) In two-players-ties, head-to-head records; 4) In three-players-ties, percentage of sets won, or of games won; 5) Steering... |
RR 1978 Colgate-Palmolive Masters – Singles John McEnroe won in the final 6–7, 6–3, 7–5 against Arthur Ashe.-Finals:-Group A: Standings are determined by: 1) Number of wins; 2) Number of matches; 3) In two-players-ties, head-to-head records; 4) In three-players-ties, pe... |
SF 1979 Colgate-Palmolive Masters – Singles Björn Borg won in the final 6–2, 6–2 againstVitas Gerulaitis.-Finals:-Group A: Standings are determined by: 1) Number of wins; 2) Number of matches; 3) In two-players-ties, head-to-head records; 4) In three-players-ties, percentage of sets won, or of games won; 5) Steering Committee... |
SF 1980 Volvo Masters – Singles Björn Borg won in the final 6–4, 6–2, 6–2 against Ivan Lendl.-Finals:-Group A: Standings are determined by: 1) Number of wins; 2) Number of matches; 3) In two-players-ties, head-to-head records; 4) In three-players-ties, percentage of sets won, or of games won; 5) Steering... |
RR 1981 Volvo Masters – Singles Björn Borg was the defending champion, but did not participate. Ivan Lendl won in the final 6–7, 2–6, 7–6, 6–2, 6–4 against Vitas Gerulaitis.-Finals:-Group A:... |
SF 1982 Volvo Masters – Singles Ivan Lendl won in the final 6–4, 6–4, 6– 2 against John McEnroe.-Finals:-References:*... |
SF 1983 Volvo Masters – Singles John McEnroe won in the final 6–3, 6–4, 6–4 against Ivan Lendl.-Finals:-References:*... |
SF 1984 Volvo Masters – Singles John McEnroe won in the final 7–5, 6–0, 6–4 against Ivan Lendl.-Finals:-References:*... |
RR 1987 Nabisco Masters – Singles Ivan Lendl was the defending champion, and regained his title by defeating Mats Wilander 6–2, 6–2, 6–3 in the final.-Finals:-Group A: Standings are determined by: 1) Number of wins; 2) Number of matches; 3) In two-players-ties, head-to-head records; 4) In three-players-ties, percentage of sets won,... |
1 / 11 | 18–17 | 51.43 | ||||||||||||||||
| Tournaments | 4 | 12 | 28 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 3 | 14 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Career total: 394 | ||
| Titles–Finals | 0–0 | 0–2 | 5–8 | 11–13 | 15–17 | 9–15 | 12–16 | 8–14 | 10–12 | 7–11 | 6–8 | 4–6 | 7–11 | 4–5 | 5–8 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 107 / 394 | 107–161 | 67.72 |
| Overall W-L | 5–4 | 20–11 | 71–24 | 81–14 | 93–4 | 79–8 | 91–7 | 67–11 | 66–6 | 73–12 | 73–15 | 61–12 | 78–10 | 52–11 | 74–14 | 48–14 | 45–15 | 52–19 | 40–10 | 31–13 | 0–3 | 19–14 | 17–15 | 3–5 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 107 / 394 | 1242–277 | 81.76 |
| Y-E Ranking | – | – | – | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 936 | 48 | 84 | 370 | 672 | 419 | 1300 | Career money: $8,641,040 | ||
Career singles titles (149) and runner-ups (54)
109 titles are registered in the ATP Web site, and 40 are not listed in any ATP StatisticsGrand Slam, WCT, and Grand Prix singles titles
Singles titles listed by the Association of Tennis Professionals—ATP (109).- * Denotes ATP Web site non-listed tournaments
|
|
| No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score |
| 1. | 1972 | Jacksonville Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968... , U.S. |
Hard (i) | Clark Graebner Clark Graebner Clark Graebner , is a retired American professional tennis player, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, who won a number of championships. He graduated from Northwestern University, where he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity. Graebner's deceased wife, Carole, was also a successful touring tennis... |
7–5, 6–4 |
| 2. | 1972 | * Roanoke Roanoke, Virginia Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010... , U.S. (1) |
Hard (i) | Vladimír Zedník |
6–4, 7–6 |
| 3. | 1972 | London/Queen's Club Queen's Club Championships The Queen's Club Championships is an annual tournament for male tennis players, held on grass courts at the Queen's Club in West Kensington, London. Between 1970 and 1989 it was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit. The event is now an ATP World Tour 250 series tournament on the Association of... , United Kingdom (1) |
Grass |  John Paish |
6–2, 6–3 |
| 4. | 1972 | Columbus Columbus Open The Columbus Open is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1971 to 1984. It was held in Columbus, Ohio in the United States and played on outdoor hard courts from 1971 to 1976, then played on outdoor clay courts from 1977 to 1979, and then played again on outdoor hard courts... , U.S. (1) |
Hard |  Andrew PattisonAndrew Pattison ----Andrew Pattison is a former South African-born Rhodesian and later Zimbabwean right-handed tennis player. His highest ever ranking was World No. 24, which he reached on 24 September 1974. Pattison won four singles tournaments, and seven doubles tournaments.Pattison became a naturalized... |
7–5, 6–3, 7–5 |
| 5. | 1972 | Cincinnati Cincinnati Masters The Cincinnati Open is an annual outdoor hardcourts tennis event held in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason, Ohio, USA. The event started on September 18, 1899 and is the oldest tennis tournament in the United States played in its original city., Between... , U.S. |
Clay | Guillermo Vilas Guillermo Vilas Guillermo Apolinario Vilas is a retired and former World No. 2 professional tennis player from Argentina. He was the second Latin-American to win a Grand Slam tournament.-Career:... |
6–3, 6–3 |
| 6. | 1972 | Albany SAP Open The SAP Open is a men's tennis tournament held annually in San Jose, California. It is the second-oldest tennis tournament in the United States, which is still played. It is an ATP World Tour 250 series event on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour... , U.S. |
Carpet | Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner is an American former professional tennis player, who turned pro in 1972 and reached a career high world singles ranking of World No... |
6–2, 7–6 |
| 7. | 1973 | Baltimore Baltimore WCT The Baltimore WCT was a men's tennis tournament played in Baltimore, Maryland from 1972-1982. The event was part of the WCT Tour and was held on indoor carpet courts.-Men's singles:-Doubles:-References:*... , U.S. |
Hard (i) | Sandy Mayer Sandy Mayer Alexander "Sandy" Mayer is a former tennis player from the United States, who won ten titles in singles and twenty-four titles in doubles during his professional career. He was part of the winning tennis squad at Stanford University in 1973.... |
6–4, 7–5 |
| 8. | 1973 | Roanoke Roanoke International Tennis Tournament The Roanoke International Tennis Tournament was a men's tennis tournament played in Roanoke, Virginia. The event was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit from 1973-1975 and was held indoors.-Men's singles:-Doubles:-References:*... , U.S.(2) |
Hard (i) | Ian Fletcher Ian Fletcher (tennis) Ian Fletcher is a former professional tennis player from Australia.Fletcher enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career he won 3 doubles titles.-Doubles titles :... |
6–2, 6–3 |
| 9. | 1973 | Salt Lake City, U.S. (1) | Hard (i) | Paul Gerken |
6–1, 6–2 |
| 10. | 1973 | Salisbury, U.S. (1) | Hard (i) |  Karl MeilerKarl Meiler Karl Meiler is a former tennis player from West Germany.Meiler won four singles and seventeen doubles titles during his professional career... |
7–6, 7–6, 6–3 |
| 11. | 1973 | Hampton Hampton Grand Prix The Hampton Grand Prix is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1971 to 1977. It was held in Hampton, Virginia in the United States and played on indoor hard courts.... , U.S. (1) |
Hard (i) | Ilie Năstase Ilie Nastase Ilie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the... |
4–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–3 |
| 12. | 1973 | Paramus Paramus, New Jersey Paramus is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 26,342. A suburb of New York City, Paramus is located between 15–20 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan and approximately west of Upper Manhattan.Paramus is one of... , U.S. |
Hard (i) | Clark Graebner Clark Graebner Clark Graebner , is a retired American professional tennis player, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, who won a number of championships. He graduated from Northwestern University, where he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity. Graebner's deceased wife, Carole, was also a successful touring tennis... |
6–1, 6–2 |
| 13. | 1973 | Boston U.S. Pro Tennis Championships The U.S. Pro Tennis Championships was the oldest professional tennis tournament played until its final year of 1999 and is considered as a part of the professional grand slam from 1927 - 1967 until the advent of Open Era... , U.S. |
Hard | Arthur Ashe Arthur Ashe Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was a professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. During his career, he won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best ever from the United States... |
6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2 |
| 14. | 1973 | Columbus Columbus Open The Columbus Open is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1971 to 1984. It was held in Columbus, Ohio in the United States and played on outdoor hard courts from 1971 to 1976, then played on outdoor clay courts from 1977 to 1979, and then played again on outdoor hard courts... , U.S. (2) |
Hard | Charlie Pasarell Charlie Pasarell Charlie Pasarell, Jr. is a former Puerto Rican tennis player and commentator... |
3–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 15. | 1973 | Los Angeles, U.S. (1) | Hard | Tom Okker Tom Okker Thomas S. Okker is a former Dutch tennis player. He was ranked among the world's top 10 singles players for seven consecutive years, 1968–74, reaching a career high of world # 3 in 1969. He also was ranked World # 1 in doubles in 1969.-Tennis career:Okker was the Dutch champion from 1964 through... |
7–5, 7–6 |
| 16. | 1973 | Quebec Quebec WCT The Quebec WCT was a men's tennis tournament played in Quebec, Canada from 1971-1973 as part of the WCT Tour.-Men's singles:-Doubles:-References:*... , Canada |
Carpet | Marty Riessen Marty Riessen Marty Riessen played amateur and professional tennis in the 1960s and 1970s. He was ranked as high as No. 11 in the world in singles on the ATP Rankings... |
6–1, 6–4, 6–7, 6–0 |
| 17. | 1973 | Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa... , South Africa (1) |
Hard | Arthur Ashe Arthur Ashe Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was a professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. During his career, he won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best ever from the United States... |
6–4, 7–6, 6–3 |
| 18. | 1974 | Australian Open | Grass | Phil Dent Phil Dent Phillip "Phil" Dent, born on 14 February 1950, in Sydney, Australia, is a former professional tennis player. Dent's high water mark as a pro singles player was reaching the Australian Open final in 1974, which he lost to Jimmy Connors 7–6, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3... |
7–6(7), 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
| 19. | 1974 | Roanoke Roanoke International Tennis Tournament The Roanoke International Tennis Tournament was a men's tennis tournament played in Roanoke, Virginia. The event was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit from 1973-1975 and was held indoors.-Men's singles:-Doubles:-References:*... , U.S. (3) |
Hard (i) | Karl Meiler Karl Meiler Karl Meiler is a former tennis player from West Germany.Meiler won four singles and seventeen doubles titles during his professional career... |
6–4, 6–3 |
| 20. | 1974 | Little Rock Arkansas International Tennis Tournament The Arkansas International Tennis Tournament was a men's tennis tournament played in Little Rock, Arkansas from 1974-1979. The event was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit and was played on indoor carpet courts. The results from 1979 are included on the ITF website but not on the ATP... , U.S. |
Carpet | Karl Meiler Karl Meiler Karl Meiler is a former tennis player from West Germany.Meiler won four singles and seventeen doubles titles during his professional career... |
6–2, 6–1 |
| 21. | 1974 | Birmingham ATP Birmingham The ATP Birmingham was a men's tennis tournament played in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, from 1973 until 1980. The inaugural event was held on outdoor hard courts, and all the other editions were played on indoor carpet. The tournament was a part of the World Championship Tennis series in 1977 & 1978... , U.S. (1) |
Carpet | Sandy Mayer Sandy Mayer Alexander "Sandy" Mayer is a former tennis player from the United States, who won ten titles in singles and twenty-four titles in doubles during his professional career. He was part of the winning tennis squad at Stanford University in 1973.... |
7–5, 6–3 |
| 22. | 1974 | Salisbury, U.S. (2) | Carpet |  Frew McMillanFrew McMillan Frew Donald McMillan is a former professional male tennis player from South Africa.He won five major doubles championships including three Wimbledons with Bob Hewitt. The most notable aspect of his game was that he had both a two-handed backhand and forehand, which simultaneously increased his... |
6–4, 7–5, 6–3 |
| 23. | 1974 | Hampton Hampton Grand Prix The Hampton Grand Prix is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1971 to 1977. It was held in Hampton, Virginia in the United States and played on indoor hard courts.... , U.S. (2) |
Carpet | Ilie Năstase Ilie Nastase Ilie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the... |
6–4, 6–4 |
| 24. | 1974 | Salt Lake City, U.S. (2) | Carpet | Vitas Gerulaitis Vitas Gerulaitis Vytautas Kevin Gerulaitis was a Lithuanian–American professional tennis player. He is known for winning the men's singles title at one of the two Australian Open tournaments held in 1977. Gerulaitis won the tournament held in December, while Roscoe Tanner won the earlier January tournament... |
4–6, 7–6, 6–3 |
| 25. | 1974 | Tempe Tempe, Arizona Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale... , U.S. |
Hard |  Vijay AmritrajVijay Amritraj Vijay Amritraj is a former Indian tennis player, sports commentator and actor.Amritraj was born in Chennai, India to Maggie Dhairyam and Robert Amritraj. He and his brothers, Anand Amritraj and Ashok Amritraj, were among the first Indians to play in top-flight international tour tennis... |
6–2, 6–3 |
| 26. | 1974 | Manchester Manchester Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater... , United Kingdom |
Grass | Mike Collins |
13–11, 6–2 |
| 27. | 1974 | Wimbledon (1) | Grass | Ken Rosewall Ken Rosewall Kenneth Robert Rosewall AM MBE is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia. He won 23 Majors including eight Grand Slam singles titles and before the Open Era a record fifteen Pro Slam titles . Rosewall won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam... |
6–1, 6–1, 6–4 |
| 28. | 1974 | Indianapolis, U.S. (1) | Clay | Björn Borg Björn Borg Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles... |
5–7, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 29. | 1974 | US Open (1) | Grass | Ken Rosewall Ken Rosewall Kenneth Robert Rosewall AM MBE is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia. He won 23 Majors including eight Grand Slam singles titles and before the Open Era a record fifteen Pro Slam titles . Rosewall won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam... |
6–1, 6–0, 6–1 |
| 30. | 1974 | Los Angeles, U.S. (2) | Hard | Harold Solomon Harold Solomon Harold Solomon was an American professional tennis player during the 1970s and 1980s. He achieved a career-high ranking of No. 5 in the world in 1980.- Tennis career :... |
6–3, 6–1 |
| 31. | 1974 | London – Dewar Cup, United Kingdom | Carpet | Brian Gottfried Brian Gottfried Brian Edward Gottfried is a retired tennis player from the United States who won 25 singles titles and 54 doubles titles during his professional career. The right-hander reached his highest ranking on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour on June 19, 1977, when he became World No.... |
6–2, 7–6 |
| 32. | 1974 | Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa... , South Africa (2) |
Hard | Arthur Ashe Arthur Ashe Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was a professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. During his career, he won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best ever from the United States... |
7–6, 6–3, 6–1 |
| 33. | 1975 | Nassau, Bahamas Nassau, Bahamas Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas... |
Hard | Karl Meiler Karl Meiler Karl Meiler is a former tennis player from West Germany.Meiler won four singles and seventeen doubles titles during his professional career... |
6–0, 6–2 |
| 34. | 1975 | Birmingham ATP Birmingham The ATP Birmingham was a men's tennis tournament played in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, from 1973 until 1980. The inaugural event was held on outdoor hard courts, and all the other editions were played on indoor carpet. The tournament was a part of the World Championship Tennis series in 1977 & 1978... , U.S. (2) |
Carpet | Billy Martin Billy Martin (tennis) Billy Martin , is a former professional tennis player from the United States. During his career he won 1 singles titles and 3 doubles titles. He achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 32 in 1975.-Singles titles :-Runner-ups :-Doubles titles :-Runner-ups :-External links:... |
6–4, 6–3 |
| 35. | 1975 | Salisbury, U.S. (3) | Carpet | Vitas Gerulaitis Vitas Gerulaitis Vytautas Kevin Gerulaitis was a Lithuanian–American professional tennis player. He is known for winning the men's singles title at one of the two Australian Open tournaments held in 1977. Gerulaitis won the tournament held in December, while Roscoe Tanner won the earlier January tournament... |
5–7, 7–5, 6–1, 3–6, 6–0 |
| 36. | 1975 | Boca Raton, U.S. | Hard | Jürgen Fassbender Jürgen Fassbender Jürgen Fassbender is a retired professional tennis player for West Germany.Fassbender won one singles and sixteen doubles titles on the ATP Tour. His best Grand Slam result was reaching the quarterfinals at the 1973 Wimbledon Championships.-Singles :... |
6–4, 6–2 |
| 37. | 1975 | Hampton Hampton Grand Prix The Hampton Grand Prix is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1971 to 1977. It was held in Hampton, Virginia in the United States and played on indoor hard courts.... , U.S. (3) |
Carpet | Jan Kodeš Jan Kodeš Jan Kodeš is a right-handed Czech former tennis player who won three Grand Slam events in the early-1970s.Kodeš's greatest success was on the clay courts of the French Open. He won the title there in 1970, beating Željko Franulović in the final, and in 1971, defeating Ilie Năstase in the final... |
3–6, 6–3, 6–0 |
| 38. | 1975 | Denver WCT ATP Denver The Denver Open is a defunct WCT and Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1972 to 1982. It was held in Denver, Colorado in the United States and played on indoor carpet courts.... , U.S. (1) |
Carpet | Brian Gottfried Brian Gottfried Brian Edward Gottfried is a retired tennis player from the United States who won 25 singles titles and 54 doubles titles during his professional career. The right-hander reached his highest ranking on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour on June 19, 1977, when he became World No.... |
6–3, 6–4 |
| 39. | 1975 | North Conway, U.S. (1) | Clay | Ken Rosewall Ken Rosewall Kenneth Robert Rosewall AM MBE is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia. He won 23 Majors including eight Grand Slam singles titles and before the Open Era a record fifteen Pro Slam titles . Rosewall won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam... |
6–2, 6–2 |
| 40. | 1975 | Hamilton, Bermuda ATP Bermuda The Bermuda Open is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1975 to 1976. It was held in Paget in Bermuda and played on outdoor clay courts.-Singles:-Doubles:-References:*... |
Clay | Vitas Gerulaitis Vitas Gerulaitis Vytautas Kevin Gerulaitis was a Lithuanian–American professional tennis player. He is known for winning the men's singles title at one of the two Australian Open tournaments held in 1977. Gerulaitis won the tournament held in December, while Roscoe Tanner won the earlier January tournament... |
6–1, 6–4 |
| 41. | 1975 | Maui ATP Maui Seiko Super Tennis was the 1984 name of a men's professional tennis tournament played in Maui or Honolulu, Hawaii from 1974 through 1984. It was played in Maui every year except 1984, when it was played in Honolulu. The event was played on outdoor hard courts.... , U.S. (1) |
Hard | Sandy Mayer Sandy Mayer Alexander "Sandy" Mayer is a former tennis player from the United States, who won ten titles in singles and twenty-four titles in doubles during his professional career. He was part of the winning tennis squad at Stanford University in 1973.... |
6–1, 6–0 |
| 42. | 1976 | Birmingham ATP Birmingham The ATP Birmingham was a men's tennis tournament played in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, from 1973 until 1980. The inaugural event was held on outdoor hard courts, and all the other editions were played on indoor carpet. The tournament was a part of the World Championship Tennis series in 1977 & 1978... , U.S. (3) |
Carpet | Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner is an American former professional tennis player, who turned pro in 1972 and reached a career high world singles ranking of World No... |
6–4, 3–6, 6–1 |
| 43. | 1976 | Philadelphia WCT U.S. Pro Indoor The U.S. Pro Indoor is a defunct professional tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts, and indoor hard courts... , U.S. (1) |
Carpet | Björn Borg Björn Borg Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles... |
7–6(5), 6–4, 6–0 |
| 44. | 1976 | Hampton Hampton Grand Prix The Hampton Grand Prix is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1971 to 1977. It was held in Hampton, Virginia in the United States and played on indoor hard courts.... , U.S. (4) |
Carpet | Ilie Năstase Ilie Nastase Ilie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the... |
6–2, 6–2, 6–2 |
| 45. | 1976 | Palm Springs Indian Wells Masters The Indian Wells Masters is an annual tennis tournament held in Indian Wells, California.... , U.S. (1) |
Hard | Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner is an American former professional tennis player, who turned pro in 1972 and reached a career high world singles ranking of World No... |
6–4, 6–4 |
| 46. | 1976 | Denver WCT ATP Denver The Denver Open is a defunct WCT and Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1972 to 1982. It was held in Denver, Colorado in the United States and played on indoor carpet courts.... , U.S. (2) |
Carpet | Ross Case Ross Case Ross Case was an Australian tennis player.With Geoff Masters he won two Grand Slam titles: the 1974 doubles at the Australian Open and the 1977 doubles at Wimbledon. He was also runner up in 1976 at Wimbledon... |
7–6(1), 6–2 |
| 47. | 1976 | Las Vegas Alan King Tennis Classic The Alan King Tennis Classic was a men's tennis tournament held in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1972-1985 and was part of the WCT Tour from 1972 until 1977 then it became part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit from 1978 until 1985, and one of the major ranking tournaments of both tour's it was part of... , U.S. (1) |
Hard | Ken Rosewall Ken Rosewall Kenneth Robert Rosewall AM MBE is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia. He won 23 Majors including eight Grand Slam singles titles and before the Open Era a record fifteen Pro Slam titles . Rosewall won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam... |
6–1, 6–3 |
| 48. | 1976 | Washington, D.C. Legg Mason Tennis Classic The Legg Mason Tennis Classic is an annual late-summer men's tennis tournament played in Washington, D.C. as part of the ATP Tour. It was first held in 1969. It was later known as the Sovran Bank Classic. . Originally an event of the Grand Prix Tennis Tour and part of the Grand Prix Championship... , U.S. (1) |
Clay | Raúl Ramírez Raúl Ramírez Raúl Ramírez is a retired Mexican professional tennis player. He was active during the 1970s and 1980s, and is regarded as one of the great all-around players of the modern era. Ramírez was also the first player to finish first in both singles and doubles Grand Prix point standings, accomplishing... |
6–2, 6–4 |
| 49. | 1976 | North Conway, U.S. (2) | Clay | Raúl Ramírez Raúl Ramírez Raúl Ramírez is a retired Mexican professional tennis player. He was active during the 1970s and 1980s, and is regarded as one of the great all-around players of the modern era. Ramírez was also the first player to finish first in both singles and doubles Grand Prix point standings, accomplishing... |
7–6, 4–6, 6–3 |
| 50. | 1976 | Indianapolis, U.S. (2) | Clay | Wojtek Fibak |
6–2, 6–4 |
| 51. | 1976 | US Open (2) | Clay | Björn Borg Björn Borg Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles... |
6–4, 3–6, 7–6(9), 6–4 |
| 52. | 1976 | Cologne Cologne Grand Prix The Cologne Grand Prix was a tennis tournament held in Cologne, Germany, between 1976 and 1986. The tournament was a part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit for male tennis players.-Singles:-Doubles:*1981 doubles results not included on ATP website... , West Germany West Germany West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990.... |
Carpet | Frew McMillan Frew McMillan Frew Donald McMillan is a former professional male tennis player from South Africa.He won five major doubles championships including three Wimbledons with Bob Hewitt. The most notable aspect of his game was that he had both a two-handed backhand and forehand, which simultaneously increased his... |
6–2, 6–3 |
| 53. | 1976 | Wembley Wembley Championship The Wembley Championship was a tennis event held from 1934–1990 with some periods of inactivity in between and is considered as a part of the professional grand slam from 1927 - 1967 until the advent of the open era... , United Kingdom (1) |
Carpet | Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner is an American former professional tennis player, who turned pro in 1972 and reached a career high world singles ranking of World No... |
3–6, 7–6, 6–4 |
| 54. | 1977 | Birmingham WCT ATP Birmingham The ATP Birmingham was a men's tennis tournament played in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, from 1973 until 1980. The inaugural event was held on outdoor hard courts, and all the other editions were played on indoor carpet. The tournament was a part of the World Championship Tennis series in 1977 & 1978... , U.S. (4) |
Carpet | Bill Scanlon Bill Scanlon Bill Scanlon is a former tennis player from the United States, who won nine singles and two doubles titles during his professional career. The right-hander reached his highest singles ATP ranking on January 9, 1984, when he reached number 9... |
6–3, 6–3 |
| 55. | 1977 | St. Louis WCT St. Louis WCT The St. Louis WCT was a men's tennis tournament played in St. Louis, Missouri from 1970-1978. The event was part of the WCT Tour and was held on indoor carpet courts except from 1974-1975, when it was held on outdoor clay courts.-Singles:-Doubles:... , U.S. |
Carpet | John Alexander |
7–6, 6–2 |
| 56. | 1977 | Las Vegas Alan King Tennis Classic The Alan King Tennis Classic was a men's tennis tournament held in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1972-1985 and was part of the WCT Tour from 1972 until 1977 then it became part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit from 1978 until 1985, and one of the major ranking tournaments of both tour's it was part of... , U.S. (2) |
Hard | Raúl Ramírez Raúl Ramírez Raúl Ramírez is a retired Mexican professional tennis player. He was active during the 1970s and 1980s, and is regarded as one of the great all-around players of the modern era. Ramírez was also the first player to finish first in both singles and doubles Grand Prix point standings, accomplishing... |
6–4, 5–7, 6–2 |
| 57. | 1977 | Dallas WCT Finals WCT Finals The WCT Finals was a tennis tournament that served as the season-ending championship for the World Championship Tennis circuit. The event was held annually in Dallas, Texas, and played on indoor carpet courts. The 1971 quarterfinals and semifinals were played in Houston, and final played at Moody... , U.S. (1) |
Carpet | Dick Stockton Dick Stockton (tennis) Dick Stockton , was a professional tennis player from the United States. He is currently the head coach of the men's tennis team at the University of Virginia.... |
6–7, 6–1, 6–4, 6–3 |
| 58. | 1977 | Maui ATP Maui Seiko Super Tennis was the 1984 name of a men's professional tennis tournament played in Maui or Honolulu, Hawaii from 1974 through 1984. It was played in Maui every year except 1984, when it was played in Honolulu. The event was played on outdoor hard courts.... , U.S. (2) |
Hard | Brian Gottfried Brian Gottfried Brian Edward Gottfried is a retired tennis player from the United States who won 25 singles titles and 54 doubles titles during his professional career. The right-hander reached his highest ranking on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour on June 19, 1977, when he became World No.... |
6–2, 6–0 |
| 59. | 1977 | Sydney Indoor ATP Sydney Indoor The Australian Indoor Tennis Championship, or Sydney Indoor for short, was a professional men's tennis tournament was played in Sydney, Australia. The event was played under various names as part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit from 1973 through 1989 and as part of the ATP Tour from 1990 through... , Australia (1) |
Hard (i) | Ken Rosewall Ken Rosewall Kenneth Robert Rosewall AM MBE is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia. He won 23 Majors including eight Grand Slam singles titles and before the Open Era a record fifteen Pro Slam titles . Rosewall won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam... |
7–5, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 60. | 1977 | Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous... – WCT Challenge Cup WCT Challenge Cup The WCT Challenge Cup was a men's tennis tournament played from 1976-1980. The tournament was played in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1976, Las Vegas, Nevada in 1977, Montego Bay, Jamaica in 1978, and Montreal, Canada from 1979-1980. The tournament featured a field of four players.-Singles... , U.S. |
Carpet | Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner is an American former professional tennis player, who turned pro in 1972 and reached a career high world singles ranking of World No... |
6–2, 5–7, 3–6, 6–2, 7–5 |
| 61. | 1977 | Colgate Masters Tennis Masters Cup The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals is a tennis tournament played at the end of each year, involving the top eight players in the men's tennis world rankings.... , New York City |
Carpet | Björn Borg Björn Borg Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles... |
6–4, 1–6, 6–4 |
| 62. | 1978 | Philadelphia WCT U.S. Pro Indoor The U.S. Pro Indoor is a defunct professional tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts, and indoor hard courts... , U.S. (2) |
Carpet | Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner is an American former professional tennis player, who turned pro in 1972 and reached a career high world singles ranking of World No... |
6–2, 6–4, 6–3 |
| 63. | 1978 | Denver ATP Denver The Denver Open is a defunct WCT and Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1972 to 1982. It was held in Denver, Colorado in the United States and played on indoor carpet courts.... , U.S. (3) |
Carpet | Stan Smith Stan Smith Stanley Roger "Stan" Smith is a former American tennis player and two time Grand Slam singles champion who also, with his partner Bob Lutz, formed one of the most successful doubles teams of all time. Together, they won many major titles all over the world... |
6–2, 7–6 |
| 64. | 1978 | Memphis, U.S. (1) | Carpet | Tim Gullikson Tim Gullikson Timothy Ernest "Tim" Gullikson was a tennis player and coach who was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin in the United States.In 1977, he won three tour singles titles and was named the ATP's Newcomer of the Year... |
7–6, 6–3 |
| 65. | 1978 | Rotterdam WCT, Netherlands (1) | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez Raúl Ramírez Raúl Ramírez is a retired Mexican professional tennis player. He was active during the 1970s and 1980s, and is regarded as one of the great all-around players of the modern era. Ramírez was also the first player to finish first in both singles and doubles Grand Prix point standings, accomplishing... |
7–5, 7–5 |
| 66. | 1978 | Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... , United Kingdom |
Grass | Raúl Ramírez Raúl Ramírez Raúl Ramírez is a retired Mexican professional tennis player. He was active during the 1970s and 1980s, and is regarded as one of the great all-around players of the modern era. Ramírez was also the first player to finish first in both singles and doubles Grand Prix point standings, accomplishing... |
6–3, 6–1, 6–2 |
| 67. | 1978 | Washington, D.C. Legg Mason Tennis Classic The Legg Mason Tennis Classic is an annual late-summer men's tennis tournament played in Washington, D.C. as part of the ATP Tour. It was first held in 1969. It was later known as the Sovran Bank Classic. . Originally an event of the Grand Prix Tennis Tour and part of the Grand Prix Championship... , U.S. (2) |
Clay | Eddie Dibbs Eddie Dibbs Eddie Dibbs is a retired American tennis player. He attained a career high ranking of World No. 5 in July 1978.-Wins :-Runner-ups :-Grand Slam singles tournament timeline:... |
7–5, 7–5 |
| 68. | 1978 | Indianapolis, U.S. (3) | Clay |  José HiguerasJosé Higueras José Higueras is a tennis coach and former professional tennis player from Spain.Between 1976 and 1984, Higueras won 16 top-level singles titles. A semi-finalist at the French Open in 1982 and 1983, he reached the World No. 6 singles ranking in 1983... |
7–5, 6–1 |
| 69. | 1978 | Stowe ATP Stowe The Stowe Open is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1978 to 1983. It was held in Stowe, Vermont in the United States and played on outdoor hard courts.-Singles:-Doubles:-References:*... , U.S. (1) |
Hard | Tim Gullikson Tim Gullikson Timothy Ernest "Tim" Gullikson was a tennis player and coach who was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin in the United States.In 1977, he won three tour singles titles and was named the ATP's Newcomer of the Year... |
6–2, 6–3 |
| 70. | 1978 | US Open (3) | Hard | Björn Borg Björn Borg Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles... |
6–4, 6–2, 6–2 |
| 71. | 1978 | Sydney Indoor ATP Sydney Indoor The Australian Indoor Tennis Championship, or Sydney Indoor for short, was a professional men's tennis tournament was played in Sydney, Australia. The event was played under various names as part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit from 1973 through 1989 and as part of the ATP Tour from 1990 through... , Australia (2) |
Hard (i) | Geoff Masters Geoff Masters Geoff Masters is a former Australian tennis player.-Tennis tour career:In 1977 Masters and Ross Case won the doubles in Wimbledon.-Doubles titles :-Post-tennis playing career:... |
6–0, 6–0, 6–4 |
| 72. | 1979 | Birmingham ATP Birmingham The ATP Birmingham was a men's tennis tournament played in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, from 1973 until 1980. The inaugural event was held on outdoor hard courts, and all the other editions were played on indoor carpet. The tournament was a part of the World Championship Tennis series in 1977 & 1978... , U.S. (5) |
Carpet | Eddie Dibbs Eddie Dibbs Eddie Dibbs is a retired American tennis player. He attained a career high ranking of World No. 5 in July 1978.-Wins :-Runner-ups :-Grand Slam singles tournament timeline:... |
6–2, 3–6, 7–5 |
| 73. | 1979 | Philadelphia U.S. Pro Indoor The U.S. Pro Indoor is a defunct professional tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts, and indoor hard courts... , U.S. (3) |
Carpet | Arthur Ashe Arthur Ashe Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was a professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. During his career, he won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best ever from the United States... |
6–3, 6–4, 6–1 |
| 74. | 1979 | * Dorado Beach Dorado, Puerto Rico Dorado is a small tourist town in the northern coast of Puerto Rico, west of San Juan and is located in the northern region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Toa Alta, east of Vega Alta, and west of Toa Baja. Dorado is spread over five barrios and Dorado Pueblo... – WCT Tournament of Champions ATP Forest Hills The WCT Tournament of Champions . is a defunct tennis tournament that was held on the WCT Tour from 1977–1990. It was held in Lakeway, Texas in 1977, Las Vegas, Nevada in 1978, Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico in 1979, and Forest Hills, New York City from 1980–89.The tournament commenced in early May... , Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an... |
Hard | Vitas Gerulaitis Vitas Gerulaitis Vytautas Kevin Gerulaitis was a Lithuanian–American professional tennis player. He is known for winning the men's singles title at one of the two Australian Open tournaments held in 1977. Gerulaitis won the tournament held in December, while Roscoe Tanner won the earlier January tournament... |
7–5, 6–0, 6–4 |
| 75. | 1979 | Memphis, U.S. (2) | Carpet | Arthur Ashe Arthur Ashe Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was a professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. During his career, he won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best ever from the United States... |
6–4, 5–7, 6–3 |
| 76. | 1979 | Tulsa ATP Tulsa The ATP Tulsa was a men's tennis tournament played in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event was played as part of the ATP Tour from 1978-1980. The event was played on indoor hard courts.-Singles:-Doubles:... , U.S. |
Hard (i) | Eddie Dibbs Eddie Dibbs Eddie Dibbs is a retired American tennis player. He attained a career high ranking of World No. 5 in July 1978.-Wins :-Runner-ups :-Grand Slam singles tournament timeline:... |
6–7, 7–5, 6–1 |
| 77. | 1979 | Indianapolis, U.S. (4) | Clay | Guillermo Vilas Guillermo Vilas Guillermo Apolinario Vilas is a retired and former World No. 2 professional tennis player from Argentina. He was the second Latin-American to win a Grand Slam tournament.-Career:... |
6–1, 2–6, 6–4 |
| 78. | 1979 | Stowe ATP Stowe The Stowe Open is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1978 to 1983. It was held in Stowe, Vermont in the United States and played on outdoor hard courts.-Singles:-Doubles:-References:*... , U.S. (2) |
Hard | Mike Cahill Mike Cahill Micheal Cahill is a former professional tennis player from the United States.Cahill enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career he won five doubles titles. He achieved a career-high doubles ranking of World No... |
6–0, 6–1 |
| 79. | 1979 | Hong Kong Hong Kong Open (tennis) The Hong Kong Open is a defunct tennis tournament that was held in Hong Kong on the Grand Prix tour from and the ATP Tour from... |
Hard | Pat Du Pré |
7–5, 6–3, 6–1 |
| 80. | 1980 | Birmingham ATP Birmingham The ATP Birmingham was a men's tennis tournament played in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, from 1973 until 1980. The inaugural event was held on outdoor hard courts, and all the other editions were played on indoor carpet. The tournament was a part of the World Championship Tennis series in 1977 & 1978... , U.S. (6) |
Carpet | Eliot Teltscher Eliot Teltscher Eliot Teltscher is a retired professional American tennis player.-Early years:Teltscher's mother was born in Israel; his father emigrated there during the Holocaust, and joined the British army... |
6–3, 6–2 |
| 81. | 1980 | Philadelphia U.S. Pro Indoor The U.S. Pro Indoor is a defunct professional tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts, and indoor hard courts... , U.S. (4) |
Carpet | John McEnroe John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title... |
6–3, 2–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4 |
| 82. | 1980 | Dallas WCT Finals WCT Finals The WCT Finals was a tennis tournament that served as the season-ending championship for the World Championship Tennis circuit. The event was held annually in Dallas, Texas, and played on indoor carpet courts. The 1971 quarterfinals and semifinals were played in Houston, and final played at Moody... , U.S. (2) |
Carpet | John McEnroe John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title... |
2–6, 7–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
| 83. | 1980 | North Conway, U.S. (3) | Clay | Eddie Dibbs Eddie Dibbs Eddie Dibbs is a retired American tennis player. He attained a career high ranking of World No. 5 in July 1978.-Wins :-Runner-ups :-Grand Slam singles tournament timeline:... |
6–3, 5–7, 6–1 |
| 84. | 1980 | Guangzhou Guangzhou Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port... |
Carpet | Eliot Teltscher Eliot Teltscher Eliot Teltscher is a retired professional American tennis player.-Early years:Teltscher's mother was born in Israel; his father emigrated there during the Holocaust, and joined the British army... |
6–2, 6–4 |
| 85. | 1980 | Tokyo Indoor ATP Tokyo Indoor The Tokyo Indoor was a men's tennis tournament played in Tokyo, Japan. It was one of the most prestigious in terms of prize money available. The event was played as part of the Grand Prix Tennis Tour from 1978 to 1989 and part of the Grand Prix Championship Series, the precursors to the Masters... , Japan (1) |
Carpet | Tom Gullikson Tom Gullikson Tom Gullikson is a tennis coach and former professional tennis player from the United States.-Career:... |
6–1, 6–2 |
| 86. | 1981 | La Quinta Indian Wells Masters The Indian Wells Masters is an annual tennis tournament held in Indian Wells, California.... , U.S. (2) |
Hard | Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player. Originally from Czechoslovakia, Lendl became a United States citizen. He was one of the game's most dominant players in the 1980s and remained a top competitor into the early 1990s. He is considered to be one of the greatest tennis... |
6–3, 7–6 |
| 87. | 1981 | Brussels Donnay Indoor Championships The Brussels Indoor was a defunct professional tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts at Forest National in Brussels. It was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit initially and later, for three years, the ATP Championship Series of the ATP Tour... , Belgium |
Carpet | Brian Gottfried Brian Gottfried Brian Edward Gottfried is a retired tennis player from the United States who won 25 singles titles and 54 doubles titles during his professional career. The right-hander reached his highest ranking on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour on June 19, 1977, when he became World No.... |
6–2, 6–4, 6–3 |
| 88. | 1981 | Rotterdam, Netherlands (2) | Carpet | Gene Mayer Gene Mayer Gene Mayer is a former tennis player from the United States who won fourteen singles titles during his career.Mayer was born in Flushing, Queens, New York. He grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, and played tennis at Wayne Valley High School, where he went unbeaten in his two years on the tennis team... |
6–1, 2–6, 6–2 |
| 89. | 1981 | Wembley Wembley Championship The Wembley Championship was a tennis event held from 1934–1990 with some periods of inactivity in between and is considered as a part of the professional grand slam from 1927 - 1967 until the advent of the open era... , United Kingdom (2) |
Carpet | John McEnroe John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title... |
3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 90. | 1982 | Monterrey Monterrey Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the... , Mexico |
Carpet | Johan Kriek Johan Kriek Johan Kriek is a South African American professional male tennis player and founder of the Global Water Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to delivering clean water to the world's neediest communities. Kriek has won two Australian Opens and has reached the semi-finals at the French... |
6–2, 3–6, 6–3 |
| 91. | 1982 | Los Angeles, U.S. (3) | Hard | Mel Purcell Mel Purcell Mel Purcell is a former World No. 17 tennis player in the ATP tennis rankings. He is the head coach of the Murray State University men's tennis team... |
6–2, 6–1 |
| 92. | 1982 | Las Vegas Alan King Tennis Classic The Alan King Tennis Classic was a men's tennis tournament held in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1972-1985 and was part of the WCT Tour from 1972 until 1977 then it became part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit from 1978 until 1985, and one of the major ranking tournaments of both tour's it was part of... , U.S. (3) |
Hard | Gene Mayer Gene Mayer Gene Mayer is a former tennis player from the United States who won fourteen singles titles during his career.Mayer was born in Flushing, Queens, New York. He grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, and played tennis at Wayne Valley High School, where he went unbeaten in his two years on the tennis team... |
5–2, ret. |
| 93. | 1982 | London/Queen's Club Queen's Club Championships The Queen's Club Championships is an annual tournament for male tennis players, held on grass courts at the Queen's Club in West Kensington, London. Between 1970 and 1989 it was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit. The event is now an ATP World Tour 250 series tournament on the Association of... , United Kingdom (2) |
Grass | John McEnroe John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title... |
7–5, 6–3 |
| 94. | 1982 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | John McEnroe John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title... |
3–6, 6–3, 6–7(2), 7–6(5), 6–4 |
| 95. | 1982 | Columbus Columbus Open The Columbus Open is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1971 to 1984. It was held in Columbus, Ohio in the United States and played on outdoor hard courts from 1971 to 1976, then played on outdoor clay courts from 1977 to 1979, and then played again on outdoor hard courts... , U.S. (3) |
Hard | Brian Gottfried Brian Gottfried Brian Edward Gottfried is a retired tennis player from the United States who won 25 singles titles and 54 doubles titles during his professional career. The right-hander reached his highest ranking on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour on June 19, 1977, when he became World No.... |
7–5, 6–0 |
| 96. | 1982 | US Open (4) | Hard | Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player. Originally from Czechoslovakia, Lendl became a United States citizen. He was one of the game's most dominant players in the 1980s and remained a top competitor into the early 1990s. He is considered to be one of the greatest tennis... |
6–3, 6–2, 4–6, 6–4 |
| 97. | 1983 | Memphis, U.S. (3) | Carpet | Gene Mayer Gene Mayer Gene Mayer is a former tennis player from the United States who won fourteen singles titles during his career.Mayer was born in Flushing, Queens, New York. He grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, and played tennis at Wayne Valley High School, where he went unbeaten in his two years on the tennis team... |
7–5, 6–0 |
| 98. | 1983 | Las Vegas Alan King Tennis Classic The Alan King Tennis Classic was a men's tennis tournament held in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1972-1985 and was part of the WCT Tour from 1972 until 1977 then it became part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit from 1978 until 1985, and one of the major ranking tournaments of both tour's it was part of... , U.S. (4) |
Hard | Mark Edmondson Mark Edmondson Mark Edmondson is a former professional Australian male tennis player.... |
7–6, 6–1 |
| 99. | 1983 | London/Queen's Club Queen's Club Championships The Queen's Club Championships is an annual tournament for male tennis players, held on grass courts at the Queen's Club in West Kensington, London. Between 1970 and 1989 it was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit. The event is now an ATP World Tour 250 series tournament on the Association of... , United Kingdom (3) |
Grass | John McEnroe John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title... |
6–3, 6–3 |
| 100. | 1983 | US Open (5) | Hard | Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player. Originally from Czechoslovakia, Lendl became a United States citizen. He was one of the game's most dominant players in the 1980s and remained a top competitor into the early 1990s. He is considered to be one of the greatest tennis... |
6–3, 6–7(2), 7–5, 6–0 |
| 101. | 1984 | Memphis, U.S. (4) | Carpet |  Henri LeconteHenri Leconte Henri Leconte is a former French professional tennis player. He reached the men's singles final at the French Open in 1988, won the French Open men's doubles title in 1984, and helped France win the Davis Cup in 1991.-Biography and career:... |
6–3, 4–6, 7–5 |
| 102. | 1984 | La Quinta Indian Wells Masters The Indian Wells Masters is an annual tennis tournament held in Indian Wells, California.... , U.S. (3) |
Hard | Yannick Noah Yannick Noah Yannick Noah is a former professional tennis player from France. He is best remembered for being the last French man to win the French Open in 1983, and as a highly-successful captain of France's Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams... |
6–2, 6–7(7), 6–3 |
| 103. | 1984 | Boca West Boca West, Florida Boca West is an unincorporated community in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. Boca West was a census-designated place in the 1990 census; its population was then 2847.- Boca West Golf Club :... , U.S. |
Hard | Johan Kriek Johan Kriek Johan Kriek is a South African American professional male tennis player and founder of the Global Water Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to delivering clean water to the world's neediest communities. Kriek has won two Australian Opens and has reached the semi-finals at the French... |
7–5, 6–4 |
| 104. | 1984 | Los Angeles, U.S. (4) | Hard | Eliot Teltscher Eliot Teltscher Eliot Teltscher is a retired professional American tennis player.-Early years:Teltscher's mother was born in Israel; his father emigrated there during the Holocaust, and joined the British army... |
6–4, 4–6, 6–4 |
| 105. | 1984 | Tokyo Indoor ATP Tokyo Indoor The Tokyo Indoor was a men's tennis tournament played in Tokyo, Japan. It was one of the most prestigious in terms of prize money available. The event was played as part of the Grand Prix Tennis Tour from 1978 to 1989 and part of the Grand Prix Championship Series, the precursors to the Masters... , Japan (2) |
Carpet | Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player. Originally from Czechoslovakia, Lendl became a United States citizen. He was one of the game's most dominant players in the 1980s and remained a top competitor into the early 1990s. He is considered to be one of the greatest tennis... |
6–4, 3–6, 6–0 |
| 106. | 1988 | Washington, D.C. Legg Mason Tennis Classic The Legg Mason Tennis Classic is an annual late-summer men's tennis tournament played in Washington, D.C. as part of the ATP Tour. It was first held in 1969. It was later known as the Sovran Bank Classic. . Originally an event of the Grand Prix Tennis Tour and part of the Grand Prix Championship... , U.S. (3) |
Hard |  Andrés GómezAndrés Gómez Andrés Gómez Santos is a former professional tennis player from Ecuador. He is best remembered for winning the men's singles title at the French Open in 1990.-Career:... |
6–1, 6–4 |
| 107. | 1988 | Toulouse, France (1) | Carpet |  Andrei ChesnokovAndrei Chesnokov Andrei Eduardovich Chesnokov is a former professional tennis player from Russia.Chesnokov's highest singles ranking was World No. 9 in 1991. The biggest tournament victories of his career came at the Monte Carlo Open in 1990, and at the Canadian Open in 1991 .Chesnokov's best performance at a... |
6–2, 6–0 |
| 108. | 1989 | Toulouse, France (2) | Carpet | John McEnroe John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title... |
6–3, 6–3 |
| 109. | 1989 | Tel Aviv ATP Tel Aviv The Tel Aviv Open is a defunct, ATP Tour affiliated tennis tournament. It was played from 1979-1996. It was held at the Israel Tennis Center at Ramat HaSharon, near Tel Aviv, Israel and was played on outdoor hard courts. The tournament was played as a ATP Challenger Series event in 1998 and 1999... , Israel |
Hard |  Gilad BloomGilad Bloom Gilad Bloom is a former professional tennis player from Israel. Bloom trained at the Israel Tennis Centers. His career-high rankings were World No. 61 in singles and World No. 62 in doubles .-Tennis career:... |
2–6, 6–2, 6–1 |
Grand Slam, WCT, and Grand Prix singles runner-ups
Listing 54, only 51 are listed by the Association of Tennis Professionals.- * – ATP non-listed tournaments
- ** – Four-men invitational tournament not bringing ATP-ranking points, usually considered exhibition, and not counted as official by the ATP but so-called "Pepsi Grand Slam" is in ATP statistic included in the titles and runner-up listings (it was an ITF tournament)
No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score 1. 1971 Columbus Columbus OpenThe Columbus Open is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1971 to 1984. It was held in Columbus, Ohio in the United States and played on outdoor hard courts from 1971 to 1976, then played on outdoor clay courts from 1977 to 1979, and then played again on outdoor hard courts...
, U.S.Hard Tom GormanTom Gorman (tennis)Tom Gorman is an American tennis player. He attended Seattle Preparatory School and was the Washington State high school tennis champion three years in a row. Gorman attended and graduated from Seattle University and was a two time All-American. He played in professional tour events in the 1960s,...6–7, 7–6, 4–6, 7–6, 6–3 2. 1971 Los Angeles, U.S. Hard Richard Pancho Gonzales3–6, 6–3, 6–3 3. 1972 Baltimore Baltimore WCTThe Baltimore WCT was a men's tennis tournament played in Baltimore, Maryland from 1972-1982. The event was part of the WCT Tour and was held on indoor carpet courts.-Men's singles:-Doubles:-References:*...
, U.S.Hard Ilie NăstaseIlie NastaseIlie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the...1–6, 6–4, 7–6 4. 1972 Washington, D.C. ATP Washington IndoorThe Washington Indoor was a men's tennis tournament played in Washington D.C.. The event was played as part of the WCT Tour from 1972–1976 and the Grand Prix circuit from 1977-1980. It was played on indoor carpet.-Singles:-Doubles:-References:...
, U.S.Carpet Stan SmithStan SmithStanley Roger "Stan" Smith is a former American tennis player and two time Grand Slam singles champion who also, with his partner Bob Lutz, formed one of the most successful doubles teams of all time. Together, they won many major titles all over the world...4–6, 6–1, 6–3, 4–6, 6–1 5. 1972 Indianapolis, U.S. Clay Bob HewittBob HewittRobert "Bob" Anthony John Hewitt is a former professional male tennis player from Australia...7–6, 6–1, 6–2 6. 1973 Omaha Omaha OpenThe Omaha Open was a men's tennis tournament played in Omaha, Nebraska from 1972-1974. The event was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit and was held on indoor hard courts.-Men's singles:-Doubles:...
, U.S.Hard (i) Ilie NăstaseIlie NastaseIlie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the...5–0, ret. 7. 1973 Bretton Woods, U.S. Clay Vijay AmritrajVijay AmritrajVijay Amritraj is a former Indian tennis player, sports commentator and actor.Amritraj was born in Chennai, India to Maggie Dhairyam and Robert Amritraj. He and his brothers, Anand Amritraj and Ashok Amritraj, were among the first Indians to play in top-flight international tour tennis...7–5, 2–6, 7–5 8. 1974 Omaha Omaha OpenThe Omaha Open was a men's tennis tournament played in Omaha, Nebraska from 1972-1974. The event was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit and was held on indoor hard courts.-Men's singles:-Doubles:...
, U.S.Other Karl MeilerKarl MeilerKarl Meiler is a former tennis player from West Germany.Meiler won four singles and seventeen doubles titles during his professional career...6–3, 1–6, 6–3 9. 1974 South Orange South Orange OpenThe South Orange Open is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1970 to 1983. It was held in South Orange, New Jersey in the United States and played on outdoor hard courts from 1970 to 1972 and again in 1974, then played on outdoor grass courts in 1973, and then played on...
, U.S.Hard 
Alex MetreveliAlex MetreveliAlexander Metreveli is a retired Soviet amateur tennis player.Metreveli is probably best known for making the final at Wimbledon in 1973, where he lost to Jan Kodeš of Czechoslovakia...DEF 10. 1975 Australian Open, Melbourne Grass John NewcombeJohn NewcombeJohn David Newcombe, AO, OBE is a former World No. 1 tennis player.-Biography:He won seven Grand Slam singles titles, A natural athlete, Newcombe played several sports as a boy until devoting himself to tennis. He was the Australian junior champion in 1961, 1962, and 1963 and was a member of...7–5, 3–6, 6–4, 7–6 11. 1975 New York City, U.S. Indoor Vitas GerulaitisVitas GerulaitisVytautas Kevin Gerulaitis was a Lithuanian–American professional tennis player. He is known for winning the men's singles title at one of the two Australian Open tournaments held in 1977. Gerulaitis won the tournament held in December, while Roscoe Tanner won the earlier January tournament...DEF 12. 1975 Wimbledon, London Grass Arthur AsheArthur AsheArthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was a professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. During his career, he won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best ever from the United States...6–1, 6–1, 5–7, 6–4 13. 1975 US Open, New York City Clay Manuel OrantesManuel OrantesManuel Orantes Corral was a tennis champion in the 1970s and 1980s. He won the US Open in 1975, beating defending champion Jimmy Connors in the final.-Career:...6–4, 6–3, 6–3 14. 1975 Stockholm Stockholm OpenThe If Stockholm Open is a tennis event on the ATP Tour held in Stockholm, Sweden in the end of October or beginning of November each year. The organizer of the tournament is The Royal Lawn Tennis Club of Stockholm....
, SwedenHard (i) Adriano PanattaAdriano PanattaAdriano Panatta is a former professional tennis player from Italy. He is best remembered for winning the French Open in 1976, and for being the only player to ever defeat Björn Borg at Roland Garros, which he did on two occasions.-Career:...6–4, 6–3 15. 1975 London, United Kingdom Carpet Eddie DibbsEddie DibbsEddie Dibbs is a retired American tennis player. He attained a career high ranking of World No. 5 in July 1978.-Wins :-Runner-ups :-Grand Slam singles tournament timeline:...1–6, 6–1, 7–5 16. 1976 Salisbury Salisbury, Maryland-Demographics:Salisbury is the principal city of the Salisbury-Ocean Pines CSA, a Combined Statistical Area that includes the Salisbury metropolitan area and the Ocean Pines micropolitan area , which had a combined population of 176,657 at the 2010 census.As of the census of 2000, there were...
, U.S.Carpet Ilie NăstaseIlie NastaseIlie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the...6–2, 6–3, 7–6 17. 1976 La Costa WCT La Costa WCTThe La Costa WCT was a men's tennis tournament played in La Costa, California from 1973-1977. The event was part of the WCT Tour and was played on outdoor hard courts.-Men's singles:-Doubles:-References:*...
, U.S.Hard Ilie NăstaseIlie NastaseIlie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the...4–6, 6–0, 6–1 18. 1976 *Nottingham NottinghamNottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, United KingdomGrass Ilie NăstaseIlie NastaseIlie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the...div'd (weather) 19. 1976 Las Vegas Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, U.S. – WCT Challenge CupWCT Challenge CupThe WCT Challenge Cup was a men's tennis tournament played from 1976-1980. The tournament was played in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1976, Las Vegas, Nevada in 1977, Montego Bay, Jamaica in 1978, and Montreal, Canada from 1979-1980. The tournament featured a field of four players.-Singles...Carpet Ilie NăstaseIlie NastaseIlie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the...3–6, 7–6, 6–4, 7–5 20. 1977 Philadelphia WCT U.S. Pro IndoorThe U.S. Pro Indoor is a defunct professional tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts, and indoor hard courts...
, U.S.Carpet Dick StocktonDick Stockton (tennis)Dick Stockton , was a professional tennis player from the United States. He is currently the head coach of the men's tennis team at the University of Virginia....3–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2 21. 1977 Toronto Indoor WCT TorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, CanadaCarpet Dick StocktonDick Stockton (tennis)Dick Stockton , was a professional tennis player from the United States. He is currently the head coach of the men's tennis team at the University of Virginia....5–6, ret. 22. 1977 Wimbledon, London Grass Björn BorgBjörn BorgBjörn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles...3–6, 6–2, 6–1, 5–7, 6–4 23. 1977 **Boca Raton, U.S. – Pepsi Grand Slam Pepsi Grand SlamThe Pepsi Grand Slam was a men's tennis tournament played as part of the Grand Prix circuit from 1976-1981. The tournament was played in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 1976 and Boca Raton, Florida from 1977-1981. It was held on outdoor clay courts and featured a field of four players.-Singles...Clay Björn BorgBjörn BorgBjörn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles...6–4, 5–7, 6–3 24. 1977 Indianapolis, U.S. Clay Manuel OrantesManuel OrantesManuel Orantes Corral was a tennis champion in the 1970s and 1980s. He won the US Open in 1975, beating defending champion Jimmy Connors in the final.-Career:...6–1, 6–3 25. 1977 US Open, New York City Clay Guillermo VilasGuillermo VilasGuillermo Apolinario Vilas is a retired and former World No. 2 professional tennis player from Argentina. He was the second Latin-American to win a Grand Slam tournament.-Career:...2–6, 6–3, 7–6, 6–0 26. 1978 **Boca Raton, U.S. – Pepsi Grand Slam Pepsi Grand SlamThe Pepsi Grand Slam was a men's tennis tournament played as part of the Grand Prix circuit from 1976-1981. The tournament was played in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 1976 and Boca Raton, Florida from 1977-1981. It was held on outdoor clay courts and featured a field of four players.-Singles...Clay Björn BorgBjörn BorgBjörn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles...7–6, 3–6, 6–1 27. 1978 Wimbledon, London Grass Björn BorgBjörn BorgBjörn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles...6–2, 6–2, 6–3 28. 1979 **Boca Raton, U.S. – Pepsi Grand Slam Pepsi Grand SlamThe Pepsi Grand Slam was a men's tennis tournament played as part of the Grand Prix circuit from 1976-1981. The tournament was played in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 1976 and Boca Raton, Florida from 1977-1981. It was held on outdoor clay courts and featured a field of four players.-Singles...Hard Björn BorgBjörn BorgBjörn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles...6–2, 6–3 29. 1979 Las Vegas Alan King Tennis ClassicThe Alan King Tennis Classic was a men's tennis tournament held in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1972-1985 and was part of the WCT Tour from 1972 until 1977 then it became part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit from 1978 until 1985, and one of the major ranking tournaments of both tour's it was part of...
, U.S.Hard Björn BorgBjörn BorgBjörn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles...6–3, 6–2 30. 1979 Tokyo Indoor ATP Tokyo IndoorThe Tokyo Indoor was a men's tennis tournament played in Tokyo, Japan. It was one of the most prestigious in terms of prize money available. The event was played as part of the Grand Prix Tennis Tour from 1978 to 1989 and part of the Grand Prix Championship Series, the precursors to the Masters...
, JapanCarpet Björn BorgBjörn BorgBjörn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles...6–2, 6–2 31. 1979 Montreal MontrealMontreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada – WCT Challenge CupWCT Challenge CupThe WCT Challenge Cup was a men's tennis tournament played from 1976-1980. The tournament was played in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1976, Las Vegas, Nevada in 1977, Montego Bay, Jamaica in 1978, and Montreal, Canada from 1979-1980. The tournament featured a field of four players.-Singles...Carpet Björn BorgBjörn BorgBjörn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles...6–4, 6–2, 2–6, 6–4 32. 1980 Memphis, U.S. Carpet John McEnroeJohn McEnroeJohn Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...7–6, 7–6 33. 1980 San José, Costa Rica Friendship Cup (tennis)The Friendship Cup is a defunct tennis tournament that was played on the Grand Prix Tennis Circuit from 1979-1980. The event was held in San José, Costa Rica and was played on hardcourts.-Singles:-Doubles:...Hard José Luis ClercJosé Luis ClercJosé Luis Clerc is a former Argentine professional tennis player, and one of the most important Argentine players in history....4–6, 2–6, ret. 34. 1981 *Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay Guillermo VilasGuillermo VilasGuillermo Apolinario Vilas is a retired and former World No. 2 professional tennis player from Argentina. He was the second Latin-American to win a Grand Slam tournament.-Career:...div'd (weather) 35. 1981 Hamburg Hamburg MastersThe German Open Hamburg, established in 1892, is an annual tennis tournament for male professional players held in Hamburg, Germany and part of the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour. Originally a Grand Prix Tennis Tour event between 1978 and 1989 it was part of the Grand Prix Championship...
, GermanyClay Peter McNamaraPeter McNamaraPeter McNamara is a retired Australian tennis player.He won five singles and nineteen doubles titles during his professional career. A right-hander, McNamara reached his highest singles ATP-ranking on 14 March 1983 when he became World number 7...7–6, 6–1, 4–6, 6–4 36. 1982 Philadelphia U.S. Pro IndoorThe U.S. Pro Indoor is a defunct professional tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts, and indoor hard courts...
, U.S.Carpet John McEnroeJohn McEnroeJohn Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...6–3, 6–3, 6–1 37. 1982 Rotterdam, Netherlands Carpet Guillermo VilasGuillermo VilasGuillermo Apolinario Vilas is a retired and former World No. 2 professional tennis player from Argentina. He was the second Latin-American to win a Grand Slam tournament.-Career:...0–6, 6–2, 6–4 38. 1982 Milan Internazionali di LombardiaThe Milan Indoor is a defunct professional tennis...
, ItalyCarpet Guillermo VilasGuillermo VilasGuillermo Apolinario Vilas is a retired and former World No. 2 professional tennis player from Argentina. He was the second Latin-American to win a Grand Slam tournament.-Career:...6–3, 6–3 39. 1982 San Francisco SAP OpenThe SAP Open is a men's tennis tournament held annually in San Jose, California. It is the second-oldest tennis tournament in the United States, which is still played. It is an ATP World Tour 250 series event on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour...
, U.S.Carpet John McEnroeJohn McEnroeJohn Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...6–1, 6–3 40. 1983 Wembley Wembley ChampionshipThe Wembley Championship was a tennis event held from 1934–1990 with some periods of inactivity in between and is considered as a part of the professional grand slam from 1927 - 1967 until the advent of the open era...
, United KingdomCarpet John McEnroeJohn McEnroeJohn Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...7–5, 6–1, 6–4 41. 1984 *Rotterdam, Netherlands Carpet Ivan LendlIvan LendlIvan Lendl is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player. Originally from Czechoslovakia, Lendl became a United States citizen. He was one of the game's most dominant players in the 1980s and remained a top competitor into the early 1990s. He is considered to be one of the greatest tennis...6–0, 1–0 div'd – match cancelled (bomb threat) 42. 1984 Dallas WCT WCT FinalsThe WCT Finals was a tennis tournament that served as the season-ending championship for the World Championship Tennis circuit. The event was held annually in Dallas, Texas, and played on indoor carpet courts. The 1971 quarterfinals and semifinals were played in Houston, and final played at Moody...
, U.S.Carpet John McEnroeJohn McEnroeJohn Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...6–1, 6–2, 6–3 43. 1984 Wimbledon, London Grass John McEnroeJohn McEnroeJohn Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...6–1, 6–1, 6–2 44. 1985 Ft. Myers ATP Fort MyersThe Paine Webber Classic is a defunct men's professional tennis tournament played in Fort Myers, Florida. It was played from 1985–1986 and was held on outdoor hard courts. Ivan Lendl defeated Jimmy Connors in the singles final in both years.-Singles:...
, U.S.Hard Ivan LendlIvan LendlIvan Lendl is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player. Originally from Czechoslovakia, Lendl became a United States citizen. He was one of the game's most dominant players in the 1980s and remained a top competitor into the early 1990s. He is considered to be one of the greatest tennis...6–3, 6–2 45. 1985 Chicago Chicago Grand Prix (tennis)The Chicago Grand Prix is a defunct professional tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts. It was part of the Grand Prix circuit. It was held annually in Chicago, Illinois, USA from 1985 to 1987...
, U.S.Carpet John McEnroeJohn McEnroeJohn Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...walkover 46. 1986 Ft. Myers ATP Fort MyersThe Paine Webber Classic is a defunct men's professional tennis tournament played in Fort Myers, Florida. It was played from 1985–1986 and was held on outdoor hard courts. Ivan Lendl defeated Jimmy Connors in the singles final in both years.-Singles:...
, U.S.Hard Ivan LendlIvan LendlIvan Lendl is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player. Originally from Czechoslovakia, Lendl became a United States citizen. He was one of the game's most dominant players in the 1980s and remained a top competitor into the early 1990s. He is considered to be one of the greatest tennis...6–2, 6–0 47. 1986 London/Queen's Club Queen's Club ChampionshipsThe Queen's Club Championships is an annual tournament for male tennis players, held on grass courts at the Queen's Club in West Kensington, London. Between 1970 and 1989 it was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit. The event is now an ATP World Tour 250 series tournament on the Association of...
, United KingdomGrass Tim MayotteTim MayotteTimothy "Tim" Mayotte is a former professional tennis player from the United States.- Career :...6–4, 2–1, ret. 48. 1986 Cincinnati Cincinnati MastersThe Cincinnati Open is an annual outdoor hardcourts tennis event held in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason, Ohio, USA. The event started on September 18, 1899 and is the oldest tennis tournament in the United States played in its original city., Between...
, U.S.Hard Mats WilanderMats WilanderMats Wilander is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Sweden. From 1982 through 1988, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , and one Grand Slam men's doubles title...6–4, 6–1 49. 1986 San Francisco SAP OpenThe SAP Open is a men's tennis tournament held annually in San Jose, California. It is the second-oldest tennis tournament in the United States, which is still played. It is an ATP World Tour 250 series event on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour...
, U.S.Carpet John McEnroeJohn McEnroeJohn Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...7–6, 6–3 50. 1987 Memphis, U.S. Hard (i) Stefan EdbergStefan EdbergStefan Bengt Edberg is a former World No. 1 professional tennis player from Sweden. A major proponent of the serve-and-volley style of tennis, he won six Grand Slam singles titles and three Grand Slam men's doubles titles. He also won one season ending championship title the Masters Grand Prix...6–3, 2–1, ret. 51. 1987 Orlando Verizon Tennis ChallengeThe Verizon Tennis Challenge is a defunct Grand Prix circuit and ATP Tour affiliated tennis tournament played from 1987 to 2001. It was held in Orlando, Florida in the United States from 1987 to 1991 and at the Atlanta Athletic Club in what is now Johns Creek, Georgia in the United States from 1992...
, U.S.Hard Christo van RensburgChristo Van RensburgChristo van Rensburg is a former professional tennis player from South Africa.Van Rensburg turned professional in 1983...6–3, 3–6, 6–1 52. 1987 London/Queen's Club Queen's Club ChampionshipsThe Queen's Club Championships is an annual tournament for male tennis players, held on grass courts at the Queen's Club in West Kensington, London. Between 1970 and 1989 it was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit. The event is now an ATP World Tour 250 series tournament on the Association of...
, United KingdomGrass Boris BeckerBoris BeckerBoris Franz Becker is a former World No. 1 professional tennis player from Germany. He is a six-time Grand Slam singles champion, an Olympic gold medalist, and the youngest-ever winner of the men's singles title at Wimbledon at the age of 17...6–7, 6–3, 6–4 53. 1988 Milan Internazionali di LombardiaThe Milan Indoor is a defunct professional tennis...
, ItalyCarpet Yannick NoahYannick NoahYannick Noah is a former professional tennis player from France. He is best remembered for being the last French man to win the French Open in 1983, and as a highly-successful captain of France's Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams...4–4, ret. 54. 1988 Miami Miami MastersThe Miami Masters is an annual tennis tournament for men and women held in Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida. It is an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on the men's tour and a Premier Mandatory event on the women's tour and is played on hard courts at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park...
, U.S.Hard Mats WilanderMats WilanderMats Wilander is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Sweden. From 1982 through 1988, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , and one Grand Slam men's doubles title...6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4
Other Singles titles
Here are Connors's tournament titles that are not included in the statistics on the Association of Tennis ProfessionalsAssociation of Tennis Professionals
The Association of Tennis Professionals or ATP was formed in 1972 by Donald Dell, Jack Kramer, and Cliff Drysdale to protect the interests of male professional tennis players. Since 1990, the association has organized the worldwide tennis tour for men and linked the title of the tour with the...
Web site. These mainly are special events like invitational tournaments and exhibitions – draw at least eight players (24).
| Year | Date | Tournament | Surface | Prize Money | Final Opponent | Final Result | Winners Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | August 14–20 | Ocean City Ocean City Ocean City is the name of some places in the United States:*Ocean City, Florida*Ocean City, Maryland**West Ocean City, Maryland*Ocean City, New Jersey*Ocean City, Washington... |
Hard ? | Herb Fitzgibbon Herb Fitzgibbon Herb Fitzgibbon is a former tennis player who was nationally ranked in the 1960s and 1970s.Fitzgibbon played four years of high school tennis for Garden City High School and never lost a match... |
6–3 6–2 | ||
| 1978 | June 5–10 | Beckenham Beckenham Beckenham is a town in the London Borough of Bromley, England. It is located 8.4 miles south east of Charing Cross and 1.75 miles west of Bromley town... – Kentish Times Tennis Week |
Grass | Stan Smith Stan Smith Stanley Roger "Stan" Smith is a former American tennis player and two time Grand Slam singles champion who also, with his partner Bob Lutz, formed one of the most successful doubles teams of all time. Together, they won many major titles all over the world... |
9–8 6–3 | ||
| 1978 | November 23–26 | Kobe Kobe , pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka... & Tokyo – Gunze Invitational |
Carpet | Ilie Năstase Ilie Nastase Ilie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the... |
6–2 6–4 | ||
| 1978 | December 5–8 | Lucerne Lucerne Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and... Lucerne Invitational |
Carpet | Tom Okker Tom Okker Thomas S. Okker is a former Dutch tennis player. He was ranked among the world's top 10 singles players for seven consecutive years, 1968–74, reaching a career high of world # 3 in 1969. He also was ranked World # 1 in doubles in 1969.-Tennis career:Okker was the Dutch champion from 1964 through... |
6–1 6–1 | ||
| 1979 | September 28–30 | Asunción Asunción Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San... – Boqueron International |
Clay | Guillermo Vilas Guillermo Vilas Guillermo Apolinario Vilas is a retired and former World No. 2 professional tennis player from Argentina. He was the second Latin-American to win a Grand Slam tournament.-Career:... |
7–5 6–3 | ||
| 1980 | May 15–18 | Louisville Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096... International Classic |
? | Eddie Dibbs Eddie Dibbs Eddie Dibbs is a retired American tennis player. He attained a career high ranking of World No. 5 in July 1978.-Wins :-Runner-ups :-Grand Slam singles tournament timeline:... |
6–2 6–3 | ||
| 1980 | August 4–10 | Frejus Fréjus Fréjus is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.It neighbours Saint-Raphaël, effectively forming one town... – 8-men Round Robin |
Hard | Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner is an American former professional tennis player, who turned pro in 1972 and reached a career high world singles ranking of World No... |
6–0 6–7 6–4 | ||
| 1980 | October 8–12 | Melbourne – Mazda Challenge | Carpet | Gene Mayer Gene Mayer Gene Mayer is a former tennis player from the United States who won fourteen singles titles during his career.Mayer was born in Flushing, Queens, New York. He grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, and played tennis at Wayne Valley High School, where he went unbeaten in his two years on the tennis team... |
1–6 6–2 6–0 7–5 | ||
| 1982 | January 6–11 | Rosemont Rosemont, Illinois Rosemont is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States located immediately northwest of Chicago. The village was incorporated in 1956, though it had been settled long before that... – Michelob Light Challenge of Champions Challenge of Champions This used to be one of the richest prize money tennis events in the world. It was usually held before the Masters and featured the top mens players in the world according to their ranking on the ATP pole... |
Carpet | $310,000 | John McEnroe John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title... |
6–7 7–5 6–7 7–5 6–4 | |
| 1982 | September 29 – October 3 | Montreal Montreal Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America... – Molson Light Challenge Cup |
Hard | $250,000 | Björn Borg Björn Borg Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles... |
6–4 6–3 | $80,000 |
| 1982 | December 17–19 | North Miami Beach – Nastase-Hamptons Invitational | Hard | $305,000 | Brian Teacher Brian Teacher Brian David Teacher is a 6' 3" right handed American former professional male tennis player. He reached a career-high ranking World No. 7 in 1981.... |
6–2 6–2 | $80,000 |
| 1983 | February 8–13 | Toronto Toronto Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from... – Molson Challenge |
Carpet | José Higueras José Higueras José Higueras is a tennis coach and former professional tennis player from Spain.Between 1976 and 1984, Higueras won 16 top-level singles titles. A semi-finalist at the French Open in 1982 and 1983, he reached the World No. 6 singles ranking in 1983... |
6–2 6–0 5–7 6–0 | ||
| 1983 | May 12–15 | Tulsa Bank of Oklahoma Tennis Classic | Hard | Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner is an American former professional tennis player, who turned pro in 1972 and reached a career high world singles ranking of World No... |
6–4 6–3 | ||
| 1983 | July 28–31 | Beaver Creek Beaver Creek Resort Beaver Creek Resort is a major United States ski resort near Avon, Colorado, run by Vail Resorts. The resort comprises three villages, the main Beaver Creek Village, Bachelor Gulch, and Arrowhead to the west... – Vail Beaver Creek Classic |
Hard | Mats Wilander Mats Wilander Mats Wilander is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Sweden. From 1982 through 1988, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , and one Grand Slam men's doubles title... |
7–6 6–2 | ||
| 1983 | August 3–7 | Newport Beach – High Stakes | Hard | $300,000 | Tim Mayotte Tim Mayotte Timothy "Tim" Mayotte is a former professional tennis player from the United States.- Career :... |
6–3 6–4 6–2 | |
| 1983 | October 5–9 | Vancouver Vancouver Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,... Labbat's Invitational |
Carpet | Bill Scanlon Bill Scanlon Bill Scanlon is a former tennis player from the United States, who won nine singles and two doubles titles during his professional career. The right-hander reached his highest singles ATP ranking on January 9, 1984, when he reached number 9... |
6–1 6–2 6–2 | ||
| 1983 | December 14–20 | North Miami Beach – Nastase-Hamptons Invitational | Hard | $305,000 | Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player. Originally from Czechoslovakia, Lendl became a United States citizen. He was one of the game's most dominant players in the 1980s and remained a top competitor into the early 1990s. He is considered to be one of the greatest tennis... |
6–3 7–6 6–1 | $90,000 |
| 1984 | January 3–8 | Rosemont Rosemont, Illinois Rosemont is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States located immediately northwest of Chicago. The village was incorporated in 1956, though it had been settled long before that... – Lite Challenge of Champions Challenge of Champions This used to be one of the richest prize money tennis events in the world. It was usually held before the Masters and featured the top mens players in the world according to their ranking on the ATP pole... |
Carpet | $250,000 | Andrés Gómez Andrés Gómez Andrés Gómez Santos is a former professional tennis player from Ecuador. He is best remembered for winning the men's singles title at the French Open in 1990.-Career:... |
6–3 6–2 6–1 | |
| 6–4 6–4 | |||||||
| 1985 | July 26–29 | Beaver Creek Beaver Creek Resort Beaver Creek Resort is a major United States ski resort near Avon, Colorado, run by Vail Resorts. The resort comprises three villages, the main Beaver Creek Village, Bachelor Gulch, and Arrowhead to the west... Kiva Tennis Classic |
Hard | Mats Wilander Mats Wilander Mats Wilander is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Sweden. From 1982 through 1988, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , and one Grand Slam men's doubles title... |
6–4 6–4 | ||
| 1985 | July 30 – August 4 | Stowe Stowe, Vermont Stowe is a town in Lamoille County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,339 at the 2000 census. Tourism is a significant industry.-Geography:... Head Cup |
Hard | Gene Mayer Gene Mayer Gene Mayer is a former tennis player from the United States who won fourteen singles titles during his career.Mayer was born in Flushing, Queens, New York. He grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, and played tennis at Wayne Valley High School, where he went unbeaten in his two years on the tennis team... |
2–6 6–3 6–4 | ||
| 1986 | April 24–27 | Tulsa Bank of Oklahoma Tennis Classic | Hard | Kevin Curren Kevin Curren ----Kevin Melvyn Curren is a former professional tennis player. He played in two Grand Slam singles finals and won four Grand Slam doubles titles.-Career:... |
6–3 6–2 | ||
| 1986 | September 11–14 | Amelia Island Amelia Island Amelia Island is one of the southernmost of the Sea Islands, a chain of barrier islands that stretches along the east coast of the United States from South Carolina to Florida. It is long and approximately 4 miles wide at its widest point. Amelia Island is situated off the coast in Nassau County,... Dupont All American |
Hard | Aaron Krickstein Aaron Krickstein Aaron Krickstein , nicknamed "Marathon Man", is a former American professional tennis player, who competed on the ATP Tour from 1983 to 1996. Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he currently competes on the Outback Champions Series Over-30 tour.Krickstein reached his career high ATP ranking of World No.... |
4–6 6–2 6–0 | ||
| 1987 | July 16–19 | Beaver Creek Beaver Creek Resort Beaver Creek Resort is a major United States ski resort near Avon, Colorado, run by Vail Resorts. The resort comprises three villages, the main Beaver Creek Village, Bachelor Gulch, and Arrowhead to the west... Vail Tennis Classic |
Hard | Tim Mayotte Tim Mayotte Timothy "Tim" Mayotte is a former professional tennis player from the United States.- Career :... |
1–6 6–3 7–6 |
Other singles titles (under 8 players)
These are non-ATP, exhibition/invitational and special events – draw less than eight players (15)| Year | Date | Tournament | Surface | Final Opponent | Final Result | Winners Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | June 8–11 | Nottingham Nottingham Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group... – 4-men invitational Round Robin |
Grass | Colin Dibley Colin Dibley Colin Dibley is a former tennis player from Australia.Dibley once held the title for the fastest serve in the world at 148 m.p.h. During his professional career, he also won four singles and seventeen doubles titles... |
4–6 7–6 7–5 | |
| 1978 | September 22–24 | Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent... – 4-men invitational |
Clay | Björn Borg Björn Borg Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles... |
5–7 6–3 6–3 | |
| 1979 | July 27–28 | Montpellier Montpellier -Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council.... Invitational Tennis Tournament – 4-men invitational |
Hard | John McEnroe John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title... |
7–6 2–6 7–5 | |
| 1979 | September 15–16 | Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th... – 4-men invitational |
Clay | Guillermo Vilas Guillermo Vilas Guillermo Apolinario Vilas is a retired and former World No. 2 professional tennis player from Argentina. He was the second Latin-American to win a Grand Slam tournament.-Career:... |
6–3 6–4 6–3 | |
| 1979 | October 3–5 | Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent... Indoor Round Robin |
Carpet | Victor Pecci Víctor Pecci Víctor Pecci is a former professional Paraguayan tennis player. Pecci was born in Asunción.Pecci was ranked as high as World No. 9 in singles in 1980 and World No. 31 in doubles in 1984. Pecci is famous for reaching the 1979 French Open final... |
6–2 1–6 6–2 | |
| 1980 | March 6–7 | Munich Munich Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat... – 4-men invitational |
Carpet | Vitas Gerulaitis Vitas Gerulaitis Vytautas Kevin Gerulaitis was a Lithuanian–American professional tennis player. He is known for winning the men's singles title at one of the two Australian Open tournaments held in 1977. Gerulaitis won the tournament held in December, while Roscoe Tanner won the earlier January tournament... |
6–1 6–7 6–4 | |
| 1980 | April 7–8 | Tokyo – Suntory Cup | Carpet | John McEnroe John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title... |
7–5 6–3 | |
| 1980 | September 19–20 | Napa Valley Harvest Cup | Hard | Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner is an American former professional tennis player, who turned pro in 1972 and reached a career high world singles ranking of World No... |
6–4 6–2 | |
| 1981 | April 11–12 | Tokyo – Suntory Cup | Carpet | John McEnroe John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title... |
6–4 7–6 | |
| 1981 | November 17–18 | Tel Aviv Tel Aviv Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with... – Golden Racquet Sabirna Gali |
? | Ilie Năstase Ilie Nastase Ilie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the... |
6–4 6–2 | |
| 1982 | July 22–24 | Industry Hills Industry, California Industry is an industrial suburb of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County. Home to over 2,500 businesses and 80,000 jobs, but only 219 residents at the 2010 census - down from 777 residents as of the 2000 United States census - the city is almost entirely industrial... – $100,000 4-men invitational |
Hard | Björn Borg Björn Borg Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles... |
5–7 6–2 6–2 6–7 6–2 | $50,000 |
| 1983 | April 10–11 | Tokyo – Suntory Cup | Carpet | Björn Borg Björn Borg Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles... |
6–3 6–4 | |
| 1983 | July 8–10 | Sun City Sun City, North West Sun City is a luxury casino and resort, situated in the North West Province of South Africa. It is located about two hours' drive from Johannesburg, near the city of Rustenburg. The complex borders the Pilanesberg Game Reserve.- History :... – Round Robin Bophuthatswana Bophuthatswana Bophuthatswana , officially the Republic of Bophuthatswana was a Bantustan – an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity – and nominal parliamentary democracy in the northwestern region of South Africa... |
Hard | Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player. Originally from Czechoslovakia, Lendl became a United States citizen. He was one of the game's most dominant players in the 1980s and remained a top competitor into the early 1990s. He is considered to be one of the greatest tennis... |
7–5 7–6 | $400,000 |
| 1983 | October 15–16 | Atlantic City Jimmy Connors Invitational | ? | Gene Mayer Gene Mayer Gene Mayer is a former tennis player from the United States who won fourteen singles titles during his career.Mayer was born in Flushing, Queens, New York. He grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, and played tennis at Wayne Valley High School, where he went unbeaten in his two years on the tennis team... |
7–6 6–4 | |
| 1986 | April 19–20 | Tokyo – Suntory Cup | Carpet | Mats Wilander Mats Wilander Mats Wilander is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Sweden. From 1982 through 1988, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , and one Grand Slam men's doubles title... |
6–4 6–0 | |
| 1989 | May 5–7 | Nîmes Nîmes Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:... |
Clay | Anders Järryd Anders Järryd Anders Per Järryd is a former professional tennis player from Sweden. During his career he won eight Grand Slam doubles titles , reached the World No. 1 doubles ranking, and achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 5.Järryd was born in Lidköping, Västra Götaland... |
6–2 6–3 |
Sources
The following are the sources for the information that is not on the Association of Tennis ProfessionalsAssociation of Tennis Professionals
The Association of Tennis Professionals or ATP was formed in 1972 by Donald Dell, Jack Kramer, and Cliff Drysdale to protect the interests of male professional tennis players. Since 1990, the association has organized the worldwide tennis tour for men and linked the title of the tour with the...
Web site:
- Michel Sutter, Vainqueurs Winners 1946–2003, Paris 2003. Sutter has attempted to list all tournaments meeting his criteria for selection beginning with 1946 and ending in the fall of 1991. For each tournament, he has indicated the city, the date of the final, the winner, the runner-up, and the score of the final. A tournament is included in his list if: (1), the draw for the tournament included at least eight players (with a few exceptions, such as the Pepsi Grand Slam tournaments in the second half of the 1970s); and (2), the level of the tournaments was at least equal to the present-day challenger tournaments. Sutter's book probably is the most exhaustive source of tennis tournament information since World War II, even though some professional tournaments held before the start of the open era are missing. Later, Sutter issued a second edition of his book, with only the players, their wins, and years for the period of 1946 through April 27, 2003.
- John Barrett, editor, World of Tennis Yearbooks, London from 1976 through 1983.
Grand Slam, WCT, and Grand Prix doubles titles (15)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partnering | Opponent in the final | Score |
| 1. | 1972 | Columbus Columbus Open The Columbus Open is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1971 to 1984. It was held in Columbus, Ohio in the United States and played on outdoor hard courts from 1971 to 1976, then played on outdoor clay courts from 1977 to 1979, and then played again on outdoor hard courts... , U.S. |
Hard | Pancho Gonzales Pancho Gonzales Ricardo Alonso González , generally known as Richard "Pancho" Gonzales was an American tennis player. He was the world no. 1 professional tennis player for an unequalled eight years in the 1950s and early 1960s... |
Robert McKinley Robert McKinley (tennis) Robert McKinley is a former professional tennis player for the ATP Tour. He is currently the assistant men's Tennis coach at Texas A&M University.... Dick StocktonDick Stockton (tennis) Dick Stockton , was a professional tennis player from the United States. He is currently the head coach of the men's tennis team at the University of Virginia.... |
6–3, 7–5 |
| 2. | 1972 | Los Angeles WCT, U.S. | Hard | Pancho Gonzales |
 Ismail El ShafeiIsmail El Shafei Ismail El-Shafei was the Head of Egyptian Tennis Federation and Member of International Tennis Federation. El Shafei is the only Egyptian player to enter Top 40 in Grand Prix/ATP ranking history...  Brian FairlieBrian Fairlie Brian Fairlie, born 13 June 1948 in Christchurch, is a retired tennis player from New Zealand. During his career from 1968 to 1979 he won four titles in doubles, all with the Egyptian player Ismail El Shafei, and two singles titles... |
6–3, 4–6, 7–6 |
| 3. | 1973 | Baltimore WCT Baltimore WCT The Baltimore WCT was a men's tennis tournament played in Baltimore, Maryland from 1972-1982. The event was part of the WCT Tour and was held on indoor carpet courts.-Men's singles:-Doubles:-References:*... , U.S. |
Hard (i) | Clark Graebner Clark Graebner Clark Graebner , is a retired American professional tennis player, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, who won a number of championships. He graduated from Northwestern University, where he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity. Graebner's deceased wife, Carole, was also a successful touring tennis... |
Paul Gerken Sandy Mayer Sandy Mayer Alexander "Sandy" Mayer is a former tennis player from the United States, who won ten titles in singles and twenty-four titles in doubles during his professional career. He was part of the winning tennis squad at Stanford University in 1973.... |
3–6, 6–2, 6–3 |
| 4. | 1973 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | Ilie Năstase Ilie Nastase Ilie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the... |
John Cooper John Cooper (tennis) John Cooper is a former Australian male tennis player who played on the ATP tour in the 1970s. He achieved a career-high ranking of #66 in September 1973... Neale FraserNeale Fraser Neale Andrew Fraser AO MBE is a former tennis player from Australia, born in Melbourne, Victoria, the son of a Victorian judge. He began playing tennis at age 11 and attended St Kevin's College, Melbourne where he became Captain of Tennis at the school.Fraser won Wimbledon in 1960 and the US... |
3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 8–9, 6–1 |
| 5. | 1973 | South Orange South Orange Open The South Orange Open is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1970 to 1983. It was held in South Orange, New Jersey in the United States and played on outdoor hard courts from 1970 to 1972 and again in 1974, then played on outdoor grass courts in 1973, and then played on... , U.S. |
Hard | Ilie Năstase |
Richard Pancho Gonzales Tom Gorman Tom Gorman (tennis) Tom Gorman is an American tennis player. He attended Seattle Preparatory School and was the Washington State high school tennis champion three years in a row. Gorman attended and graduated from Seattle University and was a two time All-American. He played in professional tour events in the 1960s,... |
6–7, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 6. | 1973 | Stockholm Stockholm Open The If Stockholm Open is a tennis event on the ATP Tour held in Stockholm, Sweden in the end of October or beginning of November each year. The organizer of the tournament is The Royal Lawn Tennis Club of Stockholm.... , Sweden |
Hard (i) | Ilie Năstase |
Bob Carmichael Bob Carmichael Bob "Nails" Carmichael was an Australian tennis player and coach.As a player, Carmichael won 1 singles title and 12 doubles titles, and achieved a top 10 ranking in 1970. Partnering Allan Stone, he reached the doubles final of the 1974 Australian Open... Frew McMillanFrew McMillan Frew Donald McMillan is a former professional male tennis player from South Africa.He won five major doubles championships including three Wimbledons with Bob Hewitt. The most notable aspect of his game was that he had both a two-handed backhand and forehand, which simultaneously increased his... |
6–3, 6–7, 6–2 |
| 7. | 1974 | Salisbury, U.S. | Carpet | Frew McMillan Frew McMillan Frew Donald McMillan is a former professional male tennis player from South Africa.He won five major doubles championships including three Wimbledons with Bob Hewitt. The most notable aspect of his game was that he had both a two-handed backhand and forehand, which simultaneously increased his... |
Byron Bertram Byron Bertram Byron Bertram , is a former professional tennis player from South AfricaBertram attended Parktown Boys' High School. During his career he won 1 tour doubles title. His career high singles ranking was World No... Andrew PattisonAndrew Pattison ----Andrew Pattison is a former South African-born Rhodesian and later Zimbabwean right-handed tennis player. His highest ever ranking was World No. 24, which he reached on 24 September 1974. Pattison won four singles tournaments, and seven doubles tournaments.Pattison became a naturalized... |
3–6, 6–2, 6–1 |
| 8. | 1974 | Salt Lake City, U.S. | Hard (i) | Vitas Gerulaitis Vitas Gerulaitis Vytautas Kevin Gerulaitis was a Lithuanian–American professional tennis player. He is known for winning the men's singles title at one of the two Australian Open tournaments held in 1977. Gerulaitis won the tournament held in December, while Roscoe Tanner won the earlier January tournament... |
 Iván MolinaIván Molina Iván Molina is a former professional Colombian tennis player.Molina and Martina Navratilova teamed to win the 1974 French Open mixed doubles title, beating Rosie Reyes Darmon and Marcelo Lara 6–3, 6–3 in the final. Together with Florenţa Mihai, he reached the French Open mixed doubles final in... Jairo Velasco |
2–6, 7–6, 7–5 |
| 9. | 1974 | Indianapolis, U.S. | Clay | Ilie Năstase |
Jürgen Fassbender Jürgen Fassbender Jürgen Fassbender is a retired professional tennis player for West Germany.Fassbender won one singles and sixteen doubles titles on the ATP Tour. His best Grand Slam result was reaching the quarterfinals at the 1973 Wimbledon Championships.-Singles :... Hans-Jürgen PohmannHans-Jürgen Pohmann Hans-Jürgen Pohmann is a former professional tennis player from Germany.During his career, Pohmann won 2 singles and 5 doubles titles on the ATP Tour. he was a commentator for the German television network RBB.-Singles :... |
6–7, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 10. | 1974 | London, United Kingdom | Carpet | Ilie Năstase |
Brian Gottfried Brian Gottfried Brian Edward Gottfried is a retired tennis player from the United States who won 25 singles titles and 54 doubles titles during his professional career. The right-hander reached his highest ranking on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour on June 19, 1977, when he became World No.... Raúl RamírezRaúl Ramírez Raúl Ramírez is a retired Mexican professional tennis player. He was active during the 1970s and 1980s, and is regarded as one of the great all-around players of the modern era. Ramírez was also the first player to finish first in both singles and doubles Grand Prix point standings, accomplishing... |
3–6, 7–6, 6–3 |
| 11. | 1975 | Salisbury, U.S. | Carpet | Ilie Năstase |
Jan Kodeš Jan Kodeš Jan Kodeš is a right-handed Czech former tennis player who won three Grand Slam events in the early-1970s.Kodeš's greatest success was on the clay courts of the French Open. He won the title there in 1970, beating Željko Franulović in the final, and in 1971, defeating Ilie Năstase in the final... Roger Taylor |
7–6, 6–2 |
| 12. | 1975 | South Orange South Orange Open The South Orange Open is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1970 to 1983. It was held in South Orange, New Jersey in the United States and played on outdoor hard courts from 1970 to 1972 and again in 1974, then played on outdoor grass courts in 1973, and then played on... , U.S. |
Clay | Ilie Năstase |
Dick Crealy Dick Crealy Richard Crealy is a former Australian tennis player most notable for reaching the finals of the Australian Open in 1970, being a member of the 1970 Australian Davis Cup Team and winning four Grand Slam titles in doubles.... John Lloyd |
6–2, 6–3 |
| 13. | 1975 | US Open, New York City | Clay | Ilie Năstase |
Tom Okker Tom Okker Thomas S. Okker is a former Dutch tennis player. He was ranked among the world's top 10 singles players for seven consecutive years, 1968–74, reaching a career high of world # 3 in 1969. He also was ranked World # 1 in doubles in 1969.-Tennis career:Okker was the Dutch champion from 1964 through... Marty RiessenMarty Riessen Marty Riessen played amateur and professional tennis in the 1960s and 1970s. He was ranked as high as No. 11 in the world in singles on the ATP Rankings... |
6–4, 7–6 |
| 14. | 1976 | Birmingham ATP Birmingham The ATP Birmingham was a men's tennis tournament played in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, from 1973 until 1980. The inaugural event was held on outdoor hard courts, and all the other editions were played on indoor carpet. The tournament was a part of the World Championship Tennis series in 1977 & 1978... , U.S. |
Carpet | Erik Van Dillen Erik Van Dillen Erik Van Dillen was an American male professional tennis player.Van Dillen won a single career title, the 1973 Nottingham Open Singles title, defeating Frew McMillan .-External links:*... |
Hank Pfister Hank Pfister Hank Pfister is a former tennis player from the United States, who won two singles titles during his professional career... Dennis RalstonDennis Ralston Richard Dennis Ralston is an American former professional tennis player. He attended the University of Southern California and won NCAA championships under their legendary coach, George Toley. He was coached in his earlier years by the legendary tennis player, Pancho Gonzales... |
7–6, 6–4 |
| 15. | 1980 | North Conway, U.S. | Clay | Brian Gottfried Brian Gottfried Brian Edward Gottfried is a retired tennis player from the United States who won 25 singles titles and 54 doubles titles during his professional career. The right-hander reached his highest ranking on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour on June 19, 1977, when he became World No.... |
Kevin Curren Kevin Curren ----Kevin Melvyn Curren is a former professional tennis player. He played in two Grand Slam singles finals and won four Grand Slam doubles titles.-Career:... Steve DentonSteve Denton Steve Denton is a former professional tennis player for the ATP Tour. He is currently the head men's tennis coach at Texas A&M University.... |
7–6, 6–2 |
Grand Slam, WCT, and Grand Prix runner-ups (11)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partnering | Opponent in the final | Score |
| 1. | 1971 | New York City, U.S. | Indoor |  Haroon RahimHaroon Rahim Haroon Rahim, is a Pakistani former tennis player. The former Pakistan and Asian number one, Rahim was the youngest tennis player ever to play for Pakistan in the Davis Cup at 15 years of age. He was also the highest ranking Pakistani tennis player ever... |
Juan Gisbert Juan Gisbert Juan Gisbert, Sr. played amateur and professional tennis in the 1960s and 1970s. He was ranked as high as No... Manuel OrantesManuel Orantes Manuel Orantes Corral was a tennis champion in the 1970s and 1980s. He won the US Open in 1975, beating defending champion Jimmy Connors in the final.-Career:... |
7–6, 6–2 |
| 2. | 1971 | Columbus Columbus Open The Columbus Open is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1971 to 1984. It was held in Columbus, Ohio in the United States and played on outdoor hard courts from 1971 to 1976, then played on outdoor clay courts from 1977 to 1979, and then played again on outdoor hard courts... , U.S. |
Hard | Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner is an American former professional tennis player, who turned pro in 1972 and reached a career high world singles ranking of World No... |
Jim McManus Jim Osborne Jim Osborne (tennis) Jim Osborne , is a former professional tennis player from the United States. He enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career he won 5 Open Era doubles titles.-Doubles titles :... |
6–7, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 3. | 1973 | Omaha Omaha Open The Omaha Open was a men's tennis tournament played in Omaha, Nebraska from 1972-1974. The event was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit and was held on indoor hard courts.-Men's singles:-Doubles:... , U.S. |
Hard (i) | Juan Gisbert Juan Gisbert Juan Gisbert, Sr. played amateur and professional tennis in the 1960s and 1970s. He was ranked as high as No... |
William Brown Mike Estep Mike Estep Mike Estep is a former professional tennis player from the United States.During his career Estep won 2 singles titles and 7 doubles titles. He achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 59 in 1973 and a career-high doubles ranking of World No... |
DEF |
| 4. | 1973 | Hampton Hampton Grand Prix The Hampton Grand Prix is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1971 to 1977. It was held in Hampton, Virginia in the United States and played on indoor hard courts.... , U.S. |
Hard (i) | Ion Ţiriac Ion Tiriac Ion Țiriac is a Romanian former tennis player and businessman. He is also the current owner of the Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open.-Sports career:... |
Clark Graebner Clark Graebner Clark Graebner , is a retired American professional tennis player, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, who won a number of championships. He graduated from Northwestern University, where he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity. Graebner's deceased wife, Carole, was also a successful touring tennis... Ilie NăstaseIlie Nastase Ilie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the... |
6–2, 6–1 |
| 5. | 1973 | French Open, Paris | Clay | Ilie Năstase Ilie Nastase Ilie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the... |
John Newcombe John Newcombe John David Newcombe, AO, OBE is a former World No. 1 tennis player.-Biography:He won seven Grand Slam singles titles, A natural athlete, Newcombe played several sports as a boy until devoting himself to tennis. He was the Australian junior champion in 1961, 1962, and 1963 and was a member of... Tom OkkerTom Okker Thomas S. Okker is a former Dutch tennis player. He was ranked among the world's top 10 singles players for seven consecutive years, 1968–74, reaching a career high of world # 3 in 1969. He also was ranked World # 1 in doubles in 1969.-Tennis career:Okker was the Dutch champion from 1964 through... |
6–1, 3–6, 6–3, 5–7, 6–4 |
| 6. | 1973 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Hard | Ilie Năstase |
Jan Kodeš Jan Kodeš Jan Kodeš is a right-handed Czech former tennis player who won three Grand Slam events in the early-1970s.Kodeš's greatest success was on the clay courts of the French Open. He won the title there in 1970, beating Željko Franulović in the final, and in 1971, defeating Ilie Năstase in the final... Vladimir Zednik |
6–2, 6–4 |
| 7. | 1973 | Quebec Quebec WCT The Quebec WCT was a men's tennis tournament played in Quebec, Canada from 1971-1973 as part of the WCT Tour.-Men's singles:-Doubles:-References:*... , Canada |
Other | Marty Riessen Marty Riessen Marty Riessen played amateur and professional tennis in the 1960s and 1970s. He was ranked as high as No. 11 in the world in singles on the ATP Rankings... |
Bob Carmichael Bob Carmichael Bob "Nails" Carmichael was an Australian tennis player and coach.As a player, Carmichael won 1 singles title and 12 doubles titles, and achieved a top 10 ranking in 1970. Partnering Allan Stone, he reached the doubles final of the 1974 Australian Open... Frew McMillanFrew McMillan Frew Donald McMillan is a former professional male tennis player from South Africa.He won five major doubles championships including three Wimbledons with Bob Hewitt. The most notable aspect of his game was that he had both a two-handed backhand and forehand, which simultaneously increased his... |
6–2, 7–6 |
| 8. | 1975 | Rome Rome Masters The Italian Open is an annual tennis tournament held in Rome, Italy. It is the most prestigious red clay tennis tournament in the world after the French Open, with the men's competition being an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour, and the women's... , Italy |
Clay | Ilie Năstase |
Brian Gottfried Brian Gottfried Brian Edward Gottfried is a retired tennis player from the United States who won 25 singles titles and 54 doubles titles during his professional career. The right-hander reached his highest ranking on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour on June 19, 1977, when he became World No.... Raúl RamírezRaúl Ramírez Raúl Ramírez is a retired Mexican professional tennis player. He was active during the 1970s and 1980s, and is regarded as one of the great all-around players of the modern era. Ramírez was also the first player to finish first in both singles and doubles Grand Prix point standings, accomplishing... |
6–4, 7–6, 2–6, 6–1 |
| 9. | 1975 | London, United Kingdom | Carpet | Ilie Năstase |
Wojtek Fibak Karl Meiler Karl Meiler Karl Meiler is a former tennis player from West Germany.Meiler won four singles and seventeen doubles titles during his professional career... |
6–1, 7–5 |
| 10. | 1976 | Denver WCT ATP Denver The Denver Open is a defunct WCT and Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1972 to 1982. It was held in Denver, Colorado in the United States and played on indoor carpet courts.... , U.S. |
Carpet | Billy Martin Billy Martin (tennis) Billy Martin , is a former professional tennis player from the United States. During his career he won 1 singles titles and 3 doubles titles. He achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 32 in 1975.-Singles titles :-Runner-ups :-Doubles titles :-Runner-ups :-External links:... |
John Alexander Phil Dent Phil Dent Phillip "Phil" Dent, born on 14 February 1950, in Sydney, Australia, is a former professional tennis player. Dent's high water mark as a pro singles player was reaching the Australian Open final in 1974, which he lost to Jimmy Connors 7–6, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3... |
6–7, 6–2, 7–5 |
| 11. | 1976 | Washington, D.C. Legg Mason Tennis Classic The Legg Mason Tennis Classic is an annual late-summer men's tennis tournament played in Washington, D.C. as part of the ATP Tour. It was first held in 1969. It was later known as the Sovran Bank Classic. . Originally an event of the Grand Prix Tennis Tour and part of the Grand Prix Championship... , U.S. |
Clay | Arthur Ashe Arthur Ashe Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was a professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. During his career, he won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best ever from the United States... |
Brian Gottfried Brian Gottfried Brian Edward Gottfried is a retired tennis player from the United States who won 25 singles titles and 54 doubles titles during his professional career. The right-hander reached his highest ranking on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour on June 19, 1977, when he became World No.... Raúl RamírezRaúl Ramírez Raúl Ramírez is a retired Mexican professional tennis player. He was active during the 1970s and 1980s, and is regarded as one of the great all-around players of the modern era. Ramírez was also the first player to finish first in both singles and doubles Grand Prix point standings, accomplishing... |
6–3, 6–3 |
Records Grand Slam/Other
- These records were attained in Open EraOpen eraOpen era or Open Era may refer to:* Open Era , the period since 1968 where professionals can compete in Grand Slams* Glasnost era, the increased openness in the Soviet Union from the mid-1980s...
of tennis. - Combined tours included Association of Tennis ProfessionalsAssociation of Tennis ProfessionalsThe Association of Tennis Professionals or ATP was formed in 1972 by Donald Dell, Jack Kramer, and Cliff Drysdale to protect the interests of male professional tennis players. Since 1990, the association has organized the worldwide tennis tour for men and linked the title of the tour with the...
, Grand Prix Circuit, World Championship TennisWorld Championship TennisWorld Championship Tennis was a tour for professional male tennis players established in 1968 and lasted until the emergence of the ATP Tour in 1990...
.Championship Years Record accomplished Player tied US Open 1974–1983 5 titles overall Pete Sampras Pete SamprasPete Sampras is a retired American tennis player and former world no. 1. During his 15-year tour career, he won 14 Grand Slam singles titles and became recognized as one of the greatest tennis players of all time....
Roger FedererRoger FedererRoger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player who held the ATP no. 1 position for a record 237 consecutive weeks, and 285 weeks overall. As of 28 November 2011, he is ranked World No. 3 by the Association of Tennis Professionals . Federer has won a men's record 16 Grand Slam singles titles...
1US Open 1974–1983 3 titles as a Father Stands alone US Open 1974–1985 12 consecutive semi-finals Stands alone US Open 1971–1992 98 match wins Stands alone Wimbledon 1972–1991 84 match wins Stands alone Wimbledon 1972–1982 11 consecutive quarterfinals Stands alone Australian Open Australian OpenThe Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...1974–1975 90.9% (10–1) match winning percentage Stands alone Australian Open 1974 Shortest match (20 games) vs. Ken Rosewall Ken RosewallKenneth Robert Rosewall AM MBE is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia. He won 23 Majors including eight Grand Slam singles titles and before the Open Era a record fifteen Pro Slam titles . Rosewall won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam...Arnaud Boetsch Arnaud BoetschArnaud Boetsch is a former French tennis player who turned professional in 1987.Boetsch represented France at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, where he was defeated in the second round by Spain's eventual silver medal winner Sergi Bruguera...Grand Slam Tournaments Grand Slam (tennis)The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...1974–1983 1 title on 3 different surfaces Roger Federer Roger FedererRoger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player who held the ATP no. 1 position for a record 237 consecutive weeks, and 285 weeks overall. As of 28 November 2011, he is ranked World No. 3 by the Association of Tennis Professionals . Federer has won a men's record 16 Grand Slam singles titles...
Mats WilanderMats WilanderMats Wilander is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Sweden. From 1982 through 1988, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , and one Grand Slam men's doubles title...
Andre AgassiAndre AgassiAndre Kirk Agassi is a retired American professional tennis player and former world no. 1. Generally considered by critics and fellow players to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Agassi has been called the best service returner in the history of the game...
Rafael NadalRafael NadalRafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera is a Spanish professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. , he is ranked No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals...Grand Slam Tournaments 1974–1991 31 semi-finals Stands alone Grand Slam Tournaments 1972–1991 41 quarter-finals Stands alone Grand Slam Tournaments 1971–92 232 career match wins Stands alone Grand Slam Tournaments 1974 Win–loss record 100% single year in Majors (20–0) Rod Laver Rod LaverRodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...Grand Slam Tournaments 1976 Win–loss record 91.7% single year in Majors (11–1) Stands alone Grand Slam Tournaments 1982 Win–loss record 94.7% single year in Majors (18–1) Stands alone Grand Slam Tournaments 1972–1989 Career match wins (grass courts) (107) Stands alone Grand Prix Tour 1972–1989 109 titles Stands alone Grand Prix Tour 1974 4 titles (grass courts) in a single year Stands alone Grand Prix Tour 1973-84 12 consecutive years winning 80% of matches Stands alone Grand Prix Tour 1972-76 5 times consecutive titles won on 3 different surfaces Stands alone Grand Prix Tour 1974-80 6 won at an individual tournament Birmingham ATP BirminghamThe ATP Birmingham was a men's tennis tournament played in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, from 1973 until 1980. The inaugural event was held on outdoor hard courts, and all the other editions were played on indoor carpet. The tournament was a part of the World Championship Tennis series in 1977 & 1978...
Stands alone WCT Tour World Championship TennisWorld Championship Tennis was a tour for professional male tennis players established in 1968 and lasted until the emergence of the ATP Tour in 1990...
1972–1989 48 titles Stands alone Combined Tours 1972–1989 158 career finals Stands alone Combined Tours 1970–1995 1242 matches won Stands alone Combined Tours 1970–1996 1519 matches played Stands alone Combined Tours 1973 9 titles (hard courts) single year Stands alone Combined Tours 1972–1989 54 indoor titles Stands alone Combined Tours 1972–1989 44 carpet court titles Stands alone Combined Tours 1972–1989 12 consecutive years match win percentage over 80% Stands alone No 1 Ranking 1974–1978 3 calendar years as wire-to-wire world number one Roger Federer Top 2 Ranking 1974–1984 8 years ended inside Roger Federer Roger FedererRoger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player who held the ATP no. 1 position for a record 237 consecutive weeks, and 285 weeks overall. As of 28 November 2011, he is ranked World No. 3 by the Association of Tennis Professionals . Federer has won a men's record 16 Grand Slam singles titles...Top 3 Ranking 1973–1984 12 years ended inside Stands alone Top 4 Ranking 1973–1987 14 years ended inside Stands alone Top 5 Ranking 1973–1987 14 years ended inside Stands alone Top 10 Ranking 1973–1988 16 years ended inside Andre Agassi Andre AgassiAndre Kirk Agassi is a retired American professional tennis player and former world no. 1. Generally considered by critics and fellow players to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Agassi has been called the best service returner in the history of the game...
1(Federer's titles came consecutively.)
Awards
- ITF World ChampionTennis world champions named by the International Tennis FederationSince 1978, the International Tennis Federation has designated a "World Champion" each year based on performances throughout the year, including Grand Slam tournaments, the ATP World Tour Finals, the Davis Cup, and weekly tour events.-Men's singles:...
: 1982 - ATP player of the yearATP AwardsThis is a list of all the awards given by the ATP World Tour to players of particular distinction during a given season. The 2011 awards were announced on November 19.-Player of the Year:-Doubles Team of the Year:-Most Improved Player:...
: 1982 - ATP comeback player of the yearATP AwardsThis is a list of all the awards given by the ATP World Tour to players of particular distinction during a given season. The 2011 awards were announced on November 19.-Player of the Year:-Doubles Team of the Year:-Most Improved Player:...
: 1991
See also
- List of open era tennis records
- List of Grand Slam related tennis records
- ATP World Tour records
- Tennis male players statisticsTennis male players statistics-Professional tennis before the start of the open era:Before the start of the open era in 1968, the professional circuit was much less popular than the traditional amateur circuit. For example, Wimbledon in 1957 was a success despite its being an amateur-only tournament and exclusion of Pancho...
- World number one male tennis player rankings
- Borg-Connors rivalry
- Connors–McEnroe rivalryConnors–McEnroe rivalryThe Connors–McEnroe rivalry was a series of competitive matches between American tennis players Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe, who played 34-times between 1977 and 1991.Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe played again in the late 1990s and the early 2000s...
Video
- Charlie Rose with Jimmy Connors (August 7, 1995) Studio: Charlie Rose, DVD Release Date: October 5, 2006, ASIN: B000JCF3S8
- BIOGRAPHY: Jimmy Connors DVD A&E 2002.
- JIMMY CONNORS PRESENTS TENNIS FUNDAMENTALS: Comprehensive, Starring: Jimmy Connors; Chris Evert, Foundation Sports, DVD Release Date: May 1, 2006, Run Time: 172 minutes, ASIN: B000FVQWCY.
- Wimbledon 1975 Final: Ashe vs. Connors Standing Room Only, DVD Release Date: October 30, 2007, Run Time: 120 minutes, ASIN: B000V02CTQ.