Borg–Connors rivalry

The tennis players Björn Borg and Jimmy Connors met 23 times during their careers according to the ATP website,[1] and 42 times including invitational and exhibition tournaments.

In 1975 Connors met Borg in the semifinals of the U.S. Open and defeated him in straight sets, on clay. Connors defeated Borg again at the U.S. Open again in 1976, this time in a four-set final, capturing his second U.S. Open title. In 1977 they met in the Wimbledon final, and Borg won in five sets. Borg defeated Connors at Wimbledon again in the 1978 final, this time in straight sets, to claim his third straight Wimbledon title. Two months later, Connors defeated Borg at the U.S. Open in a straight-set final on a hard surface "DecoTurf II", ending Borg's 43-match winning streak. In 1979 they met at Wimbledon again, and Borg won a straight-set semifinal. In 1981 Borg defeated Connors in a five-set semifinal at Wimbledon and a straight-set semifinal at the U.S. Open, his tenth consecutive win against Connors. Soon afterwards Borg retired from the regular tour. They faced each other three times at the season-ending Masters Championship in New York City: in January 1978 (ending the 1977 season), January 1980 (ending the 1979 season) and January 1981 (ending the 1980 season). Connors won the first meeting, Borg the latter two.

Borg leads 15–8 in their official head to head, 8–5 in finals, 5–3 in Grand Slam meetings and they are 2–2 in Grand Slam finals. They also met many times in unofficial invitational and exhibition tournaments with Connors leading 7–3 and 8–1 respectively in those matches.

Head-to-head

Official matches (Borg leads 15–8)

Legend (Borg-Connors)
Grand Slams (5–3)
Masters (2–1)
ATP International Series (8–4)
No. Year Tournament Surface Round Winner Score
1 1973 Stockholm Indoor Hard SF Borg 6–4, 3–6, 7–6(7–2)
2 1974 Indianapolis Clay F Connors 5–7, 6–3, 6–4
3 1975 US Open Clay SF Connors 7–5, 7–5, 7–5
4 1975 Stockholm Indoor Hard SF Connors 6–2, 7–6(7–2)
5 1976 Philadelphia Carpet F Connors 7–6(7–5), 6–4, 6–0
6 1976 Palm Springs Hard SF Connors 6–4, 6–1
7 1976 US Open Clay F Connors 6–4, 3–6, 7–6(11–9), 6–4
8 1977 Pepsi Grand Slam, Boca Raton Clay F Borg 6–4, 5–7, 6–3
9 1977 Wimbledon Grass F Borg 3–6, 6–2, 6–1, 5–7, 6–4
10 1977 Masters, New York City Carpet F Connors 6–4, 1–6, 6–4
11 1978 Pepsi Grand Slam, Boca Raton Clay F Borg 7–6(7–1), 3–6, 6–1
12 1978 Wimbledon Grass F Borg 6–2, 6–2, 6–3
13 1978 US Open Hard F Connors 6–4, 6–2, 6–2
14 1979 Pepsi Grand Slam, Boca Raton Clay F Borg 6–2, 6–3
15 1979 Las Vegas Hard F Borg 6–3, 6–2
16 1979 Wimbledon Grass SF Borg 6–2, 6–3, 6–2
17 1979 Tokyo Indoor Carpet F Borg 6–2, 6–2
18 1979 WCT Challenge Cup, Montreal Carpet F Borg 6–4, 6–2, 2–6, 6–4
19 1979 Masters, New York City Carpet RR Borg 3–6, 6–3, 7–6(7–4)
20 1980 WCT Invitational, Salisbury Carpet RR Borg 6–3, 6–1
21 1980 Masters, New York City Carpet SF Borg 6–4, 6–7(4–7), 6–3
22 1981 Wimbledon Grass SF Borg 0–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–0, 6–4
23 1981 US Open Hard SF Borg 6–2, 7–5, 6–4

Breakdown of their rivalry

Other matches

Invitational matches (Connors leads 7–3)

No. Year Tournament Surface Round Winner Score
1 1976 Caracas Carpet RR Connors 6–4, 5–7, 6–3
2 1978 Suntory Cup, Tokyo Carpet F Borg 6–1, 6–2
3 1978 Buenos Aires Carpet F Connors 5–7, 6–3, 6–3
4 1979 Frankfurt Carpet F Borg 6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
5 1980 Europe vs. USA, Copenhagen Carpet RR Connors 6–4, 6–2
6 1980 Molson Light Challenge, Toronto Carpet RR Connors 7–5, 6–3
7 1982 Michelob Light Cup, Industry Hills Hard F Connors 5–7, 6–2, 6–2, 6–7(5–7), 6–2
8 1982 Molson Light Challenge, Montreal Carpet F Connors 6–4, 6–3
9 1982 Challenge of Champions, Chicago Carpet RR Borg 6–4, 1–6, 6–2
10 1983 Suntory Cup, Tokyo Carpet F Connors 6–3, 6–4

Exhibitions (Connors leads 8–1)

No. Year Tournament Surface Winner Score
1 1982 Richmond Hard Connors 6–4, 3–6, 7–5, 6–3
2 1982 Ottawa Carpet Borg 1–6, 6–3, 6–3, 1–6, 6–2
3 1982 Seattle Carpet Connors 6–4, 3–6, 7–5
4 1982 Los Angeles Carpet Connors 6–3, 2–6, 6–2
5 1982 Vancouver Carpet Connors 6–2, 5–7, 6–4
6 1982 San Francisco Carpet Connors 7–5, 7–6(8–6)
7 1983 Baton Rouge Carpet Connors 6–7(4–7), 6–4, 6–4
8 1983 Providence Carpet Connors 6–4, 6–4
9 1983 Seoul Carpet Connors 5–7, 6–1, 4–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–3)

See also

References

  1. ↑ ATP. "Borg-Connors Matches". Retrieved 2009-06-18.