Mac's outbursts were obnoxious, no doubt. And there could be something to the gamesmanship talk. But Connors was profane and downright nasty. Far more than John. But, as a fellow southpaw and tennis devotee, I loved them both. And, together, they made tennis HUGE in the USA. Even Sampras-Agassi couldn't match it.
@@TennisTenacity-cq7dg With McEnroe it was like he was battling his own personal demons. So it became more than just a tennis match. It was high theater. His game was exquisite to watch. You can't teach the kind of touch he had. BJK said the hardest thing to do in tennis is to take speed off the ball.
As great as McEnroe was and he was more talented than Connors, as time went by McEnroe benefitted from their 6 year age difference. If they come up at the same time the head to head rivalry would probably favor Connors. The reason being is because every second Jimmy Connors was on a tennis court he was giving his all and desperately wanted to win. Whereas after 1984/85 McEnroe was up and down with his conditioning/dedication etc. If they were the same age over time Connors would have overtaken McEnroe if for no other reason than that his uninterrupted desire to win and sheer love of the game. If personality and all of the other peripheral stuff is taken into account Connors/McEnroe is the greatest rivalry. If you're talking only about tennis then arguments can be made about other rivalries.
Very well said! I agree with you but McEnroes serve and volley was revolutionary that he executed at the highest level to the point that he was unbeatable. Take 1984 when he went 82-3. I appreciate Mac but I couldn’t stand his attitude back in the day. That being said his talent and unusual skills were by far the best in the game. I love Connor’s game brash attitude and go for broke on every shot, but I still think Johnny Mac would have figured out how to beat Connors more often than not even if they were the same age. In fact if they came up together I don’t think McEnroe would’ve been afraid of Connor’s like he was when Mac was a teenager. Mac would’ve been #1 Connor’s would’ve have been #2.
@TennisTenacity-cq7dg Nice observation. Connors makes up for the difference in talent with his consistent grit and determination. As good as McEnroe was he still had to be at the top of his game physically also. At the top everyone is so close. A loss of a half a step due not to age but too much partying at 25 or 26 is fatal at that level. That's who McEnroe was and he basically dug his own hole. Connors got to the semis of the US Open at 39. McEnroe's hands are great even today but at about 26 he'd lost a half a step which should not have happened at that stage. That's the only reason Connors would have had the edge. If McEnroe was dedicated he dominates everyone until he's 35 at least.
What about their intense and electrifying matches on the senior tour ? They clashed many times in the senior tour also, at least till 1999 when Jimmy was almost 47.
Haha 🤣 that’s true but but I think it was more admiration than friendship. Deep down they have a distaste for each other. They are both crusty individuals.
He would’ve been upset at something else. He used to yell at fans. There’s a famous fan/lady that yelled back at him and called him an a-hole after he yelled at her first.
The Borg/McEnroe rivalry was legendary and both players respected each other. The Connors/McEnroe rivalry was intense and bitter and brought American tennis to its highest heights never to be equaled. Many say it is the most important rivalry in all of tennis!
The Connors/McEnroe matches were great too. And people don’t realize that Connors and Borg had a bitter rivalry for years before McEnroe even came on to the scene.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Connors/McEnroe: Different times, different players, different personalities: yet exciting tennis of incredible quality.
Both icons that made tennis worth watching
Mac's outbursts were obnoxious, no doubt. And there could be something to the gamesmanship talk. But Connors was profane and downright nasty. Far more than John. But, as a fellow southpaw and tennis devotee, I loved them both. And, together, they made tennis HUGE in the USA. Even Sampras-Agassi couldn't match it.
True! Mac and Connors would definitely be the stars if tennis had a reality show. Who needs drama when you have outbursts and profanities?
@@TennisTenacity-cq7dg With McEnroe it was like he was battling his own personal demons. So it became more than just a tennis match. It was high theater. His game was exquisite to watch. You can't teach the kind of touch he had. BJK said the hardest thing to do in tennis is to take speed off the ball.
As great as McEnroe was and he was more talented than Connors, as time went by McEnroe benefitted from their 6 year age difference. If they come up at the same time the head to head rivalry would probably favor Connors.
The reason being is because every second Jimmy Connors was on a tennis court he was giving his all and desperately wanted to win. Whereas after 1984/85 McEnroe was up and down with his conditioning/dedication etc. If they were the same age over time Connors would have overtaken McEnroe if for no other reason than that his uninterrupted desire to win and sheer love of the game.
If personality and all of the other peripheral stuff is taken into account Connors/McEnroe is the greatest rivalry. If you're talking only about tennis then arguments can be made about other rivalries.
Very well said! I agree with you but McEnroes serve and volley was revolutionary that he executed at the highest level to the point that he was unbeatable. Take 1984 when he went 82-3. I appreciate Mac but I couldn’t stand his attitude back in the day. That being said his talent and unusual skills were by far the best in the game. I love Connor’s game brash attitude and go for broke on every shot, but I still think Johnny Mac would have figured out how to beat Connors more often than not even if they were the same age. In fact if they came up together I don’t think McEnroe would’ve been afraid of Connor’s like he was when Mac was a teenager. Mac would’ve been #1 Connor’s would’ve have been #2.
@TennisTenacity-cq7dg Nice observation. Connors makes up for the difference in talent with his consistent grit and determination. As good as McEnroe was he still had to be at the top of his game physically also. At the top everyone is so close. A loss of a half a step due not to age but too much partying at 25 or 26 is fatal at that level. That's who McEnroe was and he basically dug his own hole. Connors got to the semis of the US Open at 39. McEnroe's hands are great even today but at about 26 he'd lost a half a step which should not have happened at that stage.
That's the only reason Connors would have had the edge. If McEnroe was dedicated he dominates everyone until he's 35 at least.
What about their intense and electrifying matches on the senior tour ? They clashed many times in the senior tour also, at least till 1999 when Jimmy was almost 47.
Good point! Very true
The height of American 🇺🇸 tennis! Good video 👍🏼
Yes! Thank you!
BS. The height (recently) was Sampras and Agassi - two non-twats.
They became friends in the early '80s because they both hated Lendl more than each other.
Haha 🤣 that’s true but but I think it was more admiration than friendship. Deep down they have a distaste for each other. They are both crusty individuals.
Johnny Mac and Jimbo’s rivalry was Really Cool 🦊 😎
It was awesome!
You could argue the Hawk Eye could have minimized McEnroe’s outbursts, although he would still have been fiery.
He would’ve been upset at something else. He used to yell at fans. There’s a famous fan/lady that yelled back at him and called him an a-hole after he yelled at her first.
The best rivalry in tennis will always be Borg/McEnroe
The Borg/McEnroe rivalry was legendary and both players respected each other. The Connors/McEnroe rivalry was intense and bitter and brought American tennis to its highest heights never to be equaled. Many say it is the most important rivalry in all of tennis!
The Connors/McEnroe matches were great too. And people don’t realize that Connors and Borg had a bitter rivalry for years before McEnroe even came on to the scene.
@@JasonVictorEverettConnors vs Borg was kind of the beginning of all of this. And McEnroe vs Lendl was bitter as well! Good stuff
Personally, I think Fed / Nadal is the best rivalry.
Federer vs Nadal was epic!
Offensive vs Vulgar 😂
Right 🤣