Connors–Lendl rivalry

This was a tennis rivalry played between American Jimmy Connors and Czech-American Ivan Lendl, which in their respective careers met 35 times.[1]

Lendl and Connors were both world number ones and both Grand Slam winners with each of them winning eight slam titles. At the Grand Slams they met seven times with Lendl winning the final four meetings with Connors winning the first three, of which the first two were finals. The rivalry between the two and McEnore has been described as spikey.[2]

The rivalry was first noted in the 1982 US Open final when Connors dared Lendl to drive the ball past him. Connors subsequently won the final in four sets. In the rematch in 1983, Connors was rushed to the locker room late in the second set before coming back out to defeat Lendl once again in four sets. The final match up between the two was at the US Open, Connors for a set and a half pushed Lendl before falling to his 17th defeat in 8 years to Lendl.[3]

Head to head

Official Matches (Lendl 22–13 Connors)

Legend (Lendl-Connors)
Grand Slams (4-3)
Masters (4-1)
WCT Finals (1-1)
Davis Cup (0-1)
ATP International Series (13-7)
Year Tournament Surface Round Winner Score
1979IndianapolisClayQFJimmy Connors6–2, 7–6
1980MemphisCarpetR16Jimmy Connors6–2, 6–3
1980WCT Finals, DallasCarpetSFJimmy Connors6–4, 7–5, 6–3
1980North ConwayClaySFJimmy Connors6–4, 6–2
1980Cincinnati, CincinnatiHardQFJimmy Connors6–2, 6–0
1980Masters, New York CityCarpetRRJimmy Connors7–6, 6–1
1981La QuintaHardFJimmy Connors6–3, 7–6
1981Davis Cup Quarter-Final, New York City HardQFJimmy Connors7–5, 6–4
1982CincinnatiHardSFIvan Lendl6–1, 6–1
1982US OpenHardFJimmy Connors6–3, 6–2, 4–6, 6–4
1982Masters, New York CityCarpetSFIvan Lendl6–3, 6–1
1983Queen's ClubGrassSFJimmy Connors6–0, 6–3
1983MontrealHardSFIvan Lendl6–1, 6–3
1983US OpenHardFJimmy Connors6–3, 6–7, 7–5, 6–0
1983Masters, New York CityCarpetSFIvan Lendl6–3, 6–4
1984RotterdamCarpetFIvan Lendl6-0, 1-0 ABD
1984Forest HillsClaySFIvan Lendl6–0, 6–0
1984WimbledonGrassSFJimmy Connors6–7, 6–3, 7–5, 6–1
1984Tokyo IndoorCarpetFJimmy Connors6–4, 3–6, 6–0
1984WembleyCarpetSFIvan Lendl6–4, 6–2
1984Masters, New York CityCarpetSFIvan Lendl7–5, 6–7, 7–5
1985Fort MyersHardFIvan Lendl6–3, 6–2
1985WCT Finals, DallasCarpetSFIvan Lendl6–3, 2–1 RET
1985Roland GarrosClaySFIvan Lendl6–2, 6–3, 6–1
1985Stratton MountainHardSFIvan Lendl6–0, 4–6, 6–4
1985US OpenHardSFIvan Lendl6–2, 6–3, 7–5
1986Boca WestHardSFIvan Lendl1–6, 6–1, 6–2, 2–6, 5–2 DEF
1986Fort MyersHardFIvan Lendl6–2, 6–0
1986Stratton MountainHardSFIvan Lendl6–4, 3–6, 6–2
1987Key BiscayneHardSFIvan Lendl3–6, 7–6, 7–6, 6–3
1987WashingtonHardSFIvan Lendl6–4, 7–6
1987MontrealHardSFIvan Lendl7–5, 6–4
1987US OpenHardSFIvan Lendl6–4, 6–2, 6–2
1987Masters, New York CityCarpetRRIvan Lendl4–3 RET
1988TorontoHardSFIvan Lendl6–4, 6–4
1992US OpenHardR64Ivan Lendl3–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–0

Head-to-head breakdown

Invitational Matches (Lendl 8-3 Connors)

Year Tournament Surface Round Winner Score
1981Challenge of Champions, ChicagoCarpetRRJimmy Connors6–2, 3-6, 6-3
1982Molson Light Challenge, TorontoCarpetRRIvan Lendl 6–4, 6-3
1982Challenge of Champions, ChicagoCarpetFIvan Lendl4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4
1983Sun CityHardFJimmy Connors7-5, 7-6
1983Nastase-Hamptons Invitational, North Miami BeachHardFJimmy Connors6-3, 7-6, 6-1
1985Hamlet Challenge Cup, JerichoHardFIvan Lendl6-1, 6-3
1985Meadowlands Tennis Challenge, East RutherfordCarpetSFIvan Lendl6-1, 6-3
1985Challenge of Champions, AtlantaCarpetRRIvan Lendl6-3, 5-7, 6-1
1985Challenge of Champions, AtlantaCarpetFIvan Lendl6-2, 6-3
1990WCT Tournament of Champions, Forest HillsHardQFIvan Lendl3-6, 7-5, 1-0 Ret
1991Transcontinental Tennis Cup, São PauloHardFIvan LendlConnors retired in 3rd set

ATP Rankings

Year-end ranking timeline

Player197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996
Jimmy Connors 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 2 3 2 4 8 4 7 14 936 49 84 370 672 419 1300
Ivan Lendl 74 20 6 6 3 2 3 1 1 1 2 1 3 5 8 19 54

See also

References

  1. "Ivan Lendl and Jimmy Connors". Boston Globe. 2006-08-25. Retrieved 2010-12-08. An eight-year age gap made the ledger lopsided at either end — Connors won 13 of their first 18 meetings, Lendl the final 17. Their two biggest showdowns, in the 1982 and 1983 US Open finals, were both won by Connors.
  2. Newman, Paul (2010-12-01). "Golden era: Federer and Nadal show shines on". The Independent. London.
  3. Araton, Harvey (1992-09-05). "U.S. OPEN '92; As Night Wears On, Lendl Wears Connors Out". The New York Times.

External links

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