Borg–Connors rivalry

The Borg–Connors rivalry was a tennis rivalry between Björn Borg and Jimmy Connors. They met 23 times during their careers,[1] and 42 times including invitational and exhibition tournaments. 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. Connors leads 7–3 and 8–1 in invitational and exhibition matches, respectively.

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.

Head-to-head

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Legend Borg Connors
Grand Slam 5 3
Masters Grand Prix 2 1
ATP International Series 8 4
Total 15 8

Official matches (23)

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Borg 15 – Connors 8

No. Year Tournament Surface Round Winner Score Borg Connors
1. 1973 Stockholm Open Hard (i) Semifinals Borg 6–4, 3–6, 7–6(7–2) 1 0
2. 1974 US Clay Court Championships Clay Final Connors 5–7, 6–3, 6–4 1 1
3. 1975 US Open Clay Semifinals Connors 7–5, 7–5, 7–5 1 2
4. 1975 Stockholm Open Hard (i) Semifinals Connors 6–2, 7–6(7–2) 1 3
5. 1976 US Pro Indoor Carpet Final Connors 7–6(7–5), 6–4, 6–0 1 4
6. 1976 Indian Wells Masters Hard Semifinals Connors 6–4, 6–1 1 5
7. 1976 US Open Clay Final Connors 6–4, 3–6, 7–6(11–9), 6–4 1 6
8. 1977 Pepsi Grand Slam Clay Final Borg 6–4, 5–7, 6–3 2 6
9. 1977 Wimbledon Grass Final Borg 3–6, 6–2, 6–1, 5–7, 6–4 3 6
10. 1977 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Final Connors 6–4, 1–6, 6–4 3 7
11. 1978 Pepsi Grand Slam Clay Final Borg 7–6(7–1), 3–6, 6–1 4 7
12. 1978 Wimbledon Grass Final Borg 6–2, 6–2, 6–3 5 7
13. 1978 US Open Hard Final Connors 6–4, 6–2, 6–2 5 8
14. 1979 Pepsi Grand Slam Clay Final Borg 6–2, 6–3 6 8
15. 1979 Alan King Tennis Classic Hard Final Borg 6–3, 6–2 7 8
16. 1979 Wimbledon Grass Semifinals Borg 6–2, 6–3, 6–2 8 8
17. 1979 Tokyo Indoor Carpet Final Borg 6–2, 6–2 9 8
18. 1979 WCT Challenge Cup Carpet Final Borg 6–4, 6–2, 2–6, 6–4 10 8
19. 1979 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Round Robin Borg 3–6, 6–3, 7–6(7–4) 11 8
20. 1980 WCT Invitational Carpet Round Robin Borg 6–3, 6–1 12 8
21. 1980 Masters Grand Prix Carpet Semifinals Borg 6–4, 6–7(4–7), 6–3 13 8
22. 1981 Wimbledon Grass Semifinals Borg 0–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–0, 6–4 14 8
23. 1981 US Open Hard Semifinals Borg 6–2, 7–5, 6–4 15 8

Breakdown of their rivalry

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  • All matches: (23) Borg, 15–8
  • All finals: Borg, 8–5
    • Clay court matches: Tied, 3–3
    • Grass court matches: Borg, 4–0
    • Indoor matches: Borg, 6–3
    • Outdoor hard court matches: Tied, 2–2
    • Grand Slam matches: Borg, 5–3
    • Grand Slam finals: Tied, 2–2
    • Masters matches: Borg, 2–1
    • Masters finals: Connors, 1–0

Other matches

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Invitational matches

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Borg–Connors (3–7)

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

Exhibitions

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Borg–Connors (1–8)

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

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References

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  1. ^ "Jimmy Connors versus Bjorn Borg". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
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