Influence of Pancho Gonzales on Connors game

[timnz]

Look at this neat photo:

http://bigstory.ap.org/photo/pancho-...-jimmy-connors

We all know the influence that Segura had on Jimmy's game. I believe that in the late 60s and early 1970s Gonzales also had input. I know Connors and Gonzales played doubles together on occasion. Did Jimmy get his intensity from pancho gonzales?

[kiki]

Got it from mom andgran mom
Pancho just polished

[Anyone4tennis?]

In this recent interview with Gimelstob that posted on atpworldtour.com, Connors explained how Segura added everything else to his game that his mother didn't provide. He explained that through Segura he was able to meet Riggs and Gonzales, but Connors said that both his mother and Segura were the ones who were able to "get the maximum out of [him] without [his] even knowing it." Here is the video (Connors' discussion of Segura are made throughout the interview):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEuROaKZLsc

It appears that Segura is one of the most underrated coaches (and players) in the history of tennis. According to the International Hall of Fame website, "Pancho Segura has been fully appreciated only by those in the cognoscenti."

http://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/pancho-segura

[SoCal10s]

exactly the wrong Pancho .. Segura made Jimbo... not Gonzales....

[gavna]

Yes Segura, Riordan and Gonzalez all had a small hand in Jimmy's development the reality is it was his mom and "two mom" grandmother who really made him who and what he was.

His grandfather on his moms side was a middleweight boxer and lifeguard and like the rest of that side of the family tough as nails. There is a great article from a 1978 Sports Illustrated feature on Jimbo that's pretty deep - I have a copy still but can't remember exactly the week - late Aug 78 I believe - for sure worth a look if you are interested in Jimbo.

[Mustard]

Jimmy Connors always mentions his coach, Pancho Segura, and Pancho Gonzales as the best players, so Gonzales definitely had an effect on him.

Roscoe Tanner mentions in his autobiography about how he and Connors went to Las Vegas to train and hang out with Gonzales, how Gonzales would always keep them on their toes about what they would have to do if they wanted to become professional tennis players in the future, such as always knowing what time it is, even in a place scarce of clocks like Las Vegas.

[urban]

It could be that, without knowing him or even the fact, Don Budge had more influence on Connors than many think. Gloria Connors, herself a tennis teacher, was fascinated by Budge's style of clean, flat hitting, and she tried to emulate this style through her son.

[pc1]

Originally Posted by urban

It could be that, without knowing him or even the fact, Don Budge had more influence on Connors than many think. Gloria Connors, herself a tennis teacher, was fascinated by Budge's style of clean, flat hitting, and she tried to emulate this style through her son.

Kramer compares Connors to Budge in the way they hit the ball in his book.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by pc1

Kramer compares Connors to Budge in the way they hit the ball in his book.

true, they are somewhat very similar.

[Mustard]

Gloria Connors, her mother Bertha, and Pancho Segura had by far the greatest influence on Jimmy Connors, though.

[rufus_smith]

If Pancho helped, Cisco did too. They were caballeros .

[kiki]

Connors game was about counterpunching the best S&V and he couldn' t have a better teacher at this than Pancho
Segura influenced him at taking ball very early
Her mom and Gonzalez at being a tigger on court
Riordan was a bad one