sandy mayer
Semi-Pro
People often talk about the years 1979-1981 as if Connors had stopped being a rival to McEnroe and Borg, and that the only real rivalry was between McEnroe and Borg.
I don't think this is true. In my view in 1979-1981 Connors was as tough for McEnroe as Borg was to McEnroe. Over this period the head to head was McEnroe led Borg 7-6 and McEnroe led Connors 6-5. This is effectively the same.
McEnroe was certainly much tougher for Borg than Connors over this time period, as Borg beat Connors 10 times in a row between 1979-1981, and Borg never lost in this time.
Clearly there was a match up issue in this time period.
Having said this, I also don't agree with the common perception that Connors was no threat to Borg after 1978. That would be true for 1979 but not 1980-1981 where Connors often pushed Borg very close. I doubt very much Borg knew throughout those close matches he was going to win. When Federer was dominant many of his highly ranked opponents like Roddick and Hewitt became whipping boys where throughout the match you knew Federer was going to win, and so did they.
The other thing that get's swept under the carpet is that Connors beat Borg so many times in their exhibitions between 1982 and 1983. People tend to say they were exhibitions and totally meaningless, but I think they were trying. I think Connors improved and Borg obviously lost something and I honestly think Connors had overtaken him.
Personally I think Connors Borg and Connors McEnroe were as great rivalries as Borg McEnroe was, and people tend to forget the Connors rivalries with the other two because of the famous tiebreak in 1980 Wimbledon.
I don't think this is true. In my view in 1979-1981 Connors was as tough for McEnroe as Borg was to McEnroe. Over this period the head to head was McEnroe led Borg 7-6 and McEnroe led Connors 6-5. This is effectively the same.
McEnroe was certainly much tougher for Borg than Connors over this time period, as Borg beat Connors 10 times in a row between 1979-1981, and Borg never lost in this time.
Clearly there was a match up issue in this time period.
Having said this, I also don't agree with the common perception that Connors was no threat to Borg after 1978. That would be true for 1979 but not 1980-1981 where Connors often pushed Borg very close. I doubt very much Borg knew throughout those close matches he was going to win. When Federer was dominant many of his highly ranked opponents like Roddick and Hewitt became whipping boys where throughout the match you knew Federer was going to win, and so did they.
The other thing that get's swept under the carpet is that Connors beat Borg so many times in their exhibitions between 1982 and 1983. People tend to say they were exhibitions and totally meaningless, but I think they were trying. I think Connors improved and Borg obviously lost something and I honestly think Connors had overtaken him.
Personally I think Connors Borg and Connors McEnroe were as great rivalries as Borg McEnroe was, and people tend to forget the Connors rivalries with the other two because of the famous tiebreak in 1980 Wimbledon.
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