Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Connors–Lendl rivalry

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit

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

Contents

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.

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.

Official Matches (Lendl 22–13 Connors)

  • Note: The ABD 1984 Rotterdam final does not officially count as a victory according to the ATP. Lendl was leading 6-0, 1-0, when the final was abandoned due to a bomb scare.
  • Head-to-head breakdown

  • All matches: Lendl 22–13
  • All finals: Connors 4–2
  • Grand Slam matches: Lendl 4–3
  • Grand Slam finals: Connors 2–0
  • Masters matches: Lendl 4–1
  • WCT Finals matches: tied 1-1
  • Clay court matches: tied 2-2
  • Grass court matches: Connors 2–0
  • Hard court matches: Lendl 14-5
  • Indoor carpet matches: Lendl 6-4
  • References

    Connors–Lendl rivalry Wikipedia