Wilander vs Connors?

Pebbles10 · 03-23-2012, 05:02 AM

Did Connors win over Mats Wilander in a competition match?

I have heard that Wilander had 8-0 over connors....

I wonder why Connors had such a hard time against Mats.

hoodjem · 03-23-2012, 05:08 AM

Simply put--age. Connors is 12 years older.

They first played when Wilander was in 1984, nearly in his prime. Wilander was 20 and had won three slams, Connors was 32. After that it just got worse.

Connors was on the way down by then.

Imagine two overlapping career curves: Connors's career is descending 1984-88. Wilander's is peaking in 1988 when he won three slams. By 1988 Wilander is 24; Connors is 36.

The odds were stacked against Connors.

Stuart S · 03-23-2012, 05:16 AM

I am almost certain Connors won one match in the mid-to-late 1980s. I will need to check it out. I will get back to you!

kiki · 03-23-2012, 06:47 AM

Wilander must have been a bad matchup for Jimbo.His looping ball, slowly changing pace, " sleeping" the match from the baseline...just the contrary to Lendl, who tried to overpower Connors and got overpowered himself...

Plus Matt´s serve was pretty soft, that deprived Connors´return to be a weapon ( as it was against Mc Enroe or Lendl)

Xavier G · 03-23-2012, 08:40 AM

Wilander was a bit like the second coming of Borg! Jimmy sees off Borg (in his own mind), and then has to contend with another young, patient, dogged counter-puncher with good groundstrokes and stamina to burn just as he's going over the hill himself.

timnz · 03-23-2012, 11:46 AM

Connors beat wilander 6-4 6-0.

Connors also beat wilander at Beaver creek In 1983 and 1985, both times in straight sets

Stuart S · 03-23-2012, 11:51 AM

Thank you Timnz,

That's the one I was thinking of!

Incidentally, although Wilander clearly won the H2H count, I don't think Connors respected Wilander all that much. I recall at least one occasion, maybe more, when Connors appeared to criticise him for not giving every match 100% all of the time. I think he said this around 1983, and possible later also.

Mustard · 03-23-2012, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart S

Thank you Timnz,

That's the one I was thinking of!

Incidentally, although Wilander clearly won the H2H count, I don't think Connors respected Wilander all that much. I recall at least one occasion, maybe more, when Connors appeared to criticise him for not giving every match 100% all of the time. I think he said this around 1983, and possible later also.

Connors did criticise Wilander for not always giving his all, but Mats is a different person from Jimmy with a different philosophy on tennis. McEnroe also criticised Wilander, saying he got the impression that Wilander wanted to inherit the number 1 ranking instead of going out there and taking it.

Connors was Wilander's idol when he was young, not Borg. Wilander said "You idolise people who have qualities you don't have", obviously referring Connors' fight whereas Borg had a similar demeanour on court to Wilander.

timnz · 03-23-2012, 01:45 PM

Apart from those 3 I listed - suntory cup and two at beaver creek, is there any others? It seems that connors only beat wilander at invitational tournaments, though i am sure they played hard. Perhaps in the semis of suntory or beaver creek in other years or the semis of some other invitational tournament? Historians?

Zimbo · 03-23-2012, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timnz

Connors beat wilander 6-4 6-0.

Connors also beat wilander at Beaver creek In 1983 and 1985, both times in straight sets

Those were exos. Wilander never won an exo vs Connors.

kiki · 03-23-2012, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart S

Thank you Timnz,

That's the one I was thinking of!

Incidentally, although Wilander clearly won the H2H count, I don't think Connors respected Wilander all that much. I recall at least one occasion, maybe more, when Connors appeared to criticise him for not giving every match 100% all of the time. I think he said this around 1983, and possible later also.

Connors, the Big Mouth.

big ted · 03-23-2012, 09:00 PM

i remember watching a connors tv espn special and they interviewed wilander and he remembered -

he first met connors when they had a practice session together at the french open when he first came on tour (maybe 82 or 83?) and mats said on the changeovers jimmy kept trash talking under his breath and mats couldnt believe he was doing this in a PRACTICE SET..haha. mats was laughing about it when he was remembering the story..

anyway i think mats was a bad match up for connors. both baseliners but mats had much more margin for error with his topspin.

timnz · 03-23-2012, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zimbo

Those were exos. Wilander never won an exo vs Connors.

They weren't exo's, they were invitational tournaments. Exo's are typically one night stands which arent often played seriously.

Zimbo · 03-25-2012, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timnz

They weren't exo's, they were invitational tournaments. Exo's are typically one night stands which arent often played seriously.

Yes but they weren't considered official ATP tournys.

jrepac · 03-25-2012, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zimbo

Yes but they weren't considered official ATP tournys.

True, but they usually had at least 3 rounds or so....Suntory was one of the better ones. I recall seeing that match w/Jimmy & Mats. Close first set, but Connors got the momentum and ran away w/it. Not sure how much Mats was trying once Jimmy took the upper hand; honestly, it was hard to tell when Connors was ripping winners all over the place. It was fast indoor carpet, which favored Jimmy's game. And for whatever, reason, he was awfully eager.

Pebbles10 · 03-29-2012, 04:44 AM

Wilander was never good in any matches that was not for "real".

He was as best in the slams and Davis Cup.

Moose Malloy · 03-29-2012, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Yes but they weren't considered official ATP tournys.

Neither was the Pepsi Grand Slam or any WCT tournaments. I seriously doubt anyone watching Connors-Wilander Suntory CUP on national TV thought it didn't count.

and the atp site is constantly updating older players records, who knows this head to head may officially change someday.

Zimbo · 03-29-2012, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moose Malloy

Neither was the Pepsi Grand Slam or any WCT tournaments. I seriously doubt anyone watching Connors-Wilander Suntory CUP on national TV thought it didn't count.

and the atp site is constantly updating older players records, who knows this head to head may officially change someday.

Yeah I agree. They were important matches but it did go to show that Wilander never lost an official ATP match but he lost every single non ATP match to Connors. Coincident? I think not. That's why Connors and Mac called Wilander out on not always trying.

Pebbles10 · 03-30-2012, 12:19 AM

Just look at the year 1988.....wilander won AO, Key Biscayne(over Connors in the final), FO and USO. He played great in the Davis cup wins over Leconte and Noah.

He was at his peak when it was big matches.

kiki · 03-31-2012, 06:27 AM

Wilander was a smart guy who knew how to become a nightmare for guys like Vilas, Lendl and Connors.In the case of Connors, he even owned him at Jimmy´s favourite hard courts like Cincinatti...

03-23-2012, 05:02 AM	#1
Pebbles10 New User Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 51	Wilander vs Connors? Did Connors win over Mats Wilander in a competition match? I have heard that Wilander had 8-0 over connors.... I wonder why Connors had such a hard time against Mats.

03-23-2012, 05:08 AM	#2
hoodjem G.O.A.T. Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bierlandt Posts: 10,020	Simply put--age. Connors is 12 years older. They first played when Wilander was in 1984, nearly in his prime. Wilander was 20 and had won three slams, Connors was 32. After that it just got worse. Connors was on the way down by then. Imagine two overlapping career curves: Connors's career is descending 1984-88. Wilander's is peaking in 1988 when he won three slams. By 1988 Wilander is 24; Connors is 36. The odds were stacked against Connors. __________________ The smart man thinks he knows a lot; the wise man is aware that he knows little. Last edited by hoodjem : 03-23-2012 at 05:15 AM.

03-23-2012, 06:47 AM	#4
kiki G.O.A.T. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 10,723	Wilander must have been a bad matchup for Jimbo.His looping ball, slowly changing pace, " sleeping" the match from the baseline...just the contrary to Lendl, who tried to overpower Connors and got overpowered himself... Plus Matt´s serve was pretty soft, that deprived Connors´return to be a weapon ( as it was against Mc Enroe or Lendl) __________________ " I have watched plenty of matches of the 70´s and 80´s" ABMK, the historian

03-23-2012, 11:46 AM	#6
timnz Hall Of Fame Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,727	Suntory cup 1986 Connors beat wilander 6-4 6-0. Connors also beat wilander at Beaver creek In 1983 and 1985, both times in straight sets Last edited by timnz : 03-23-2012 at 11:50 AM.

03-23-2012, 01:45 PM	#9
timnz Hall Of Fame Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,727	Any other wins of connors over wilander? Apart from those 3 I listed - suntory cup and two at beaver creek, is there any others? It seems that connors only beat wilander at invitational tournaments, though i am sure they played hard. Perhaps in the semis of suntory or beaver creek in other years or the semis of some other invitational tournament? Historians? Last edited by timnz : 03-23-2012 at 01:49 PM.