Best Ever Season Without Winning a Major

[Doug_Hartley_2012]

Connors in 1975 was clearly the biggest surprisesince Laver in 1970. Who would have bet against them? Somebody could have won a lot of money betting either would not win a Major in those two years. Especially Laver if you'd said immediately after the 1969 US Open final that a/he would not reach a Major final the following season and b/he'd never reach a Major final again - period.

After watching Connors destroy Rosewall twice in 1974, he seemed unbeatable.OK, Newk taking him down in the AO final was NOT a huge surprise, but Ashe at Wimbledon and Orantes at the US Open were.

[kiki]

Orantes beat him even easier in 1977 US CC at Indy ( 6-1,6-3).Clealry one of the worst matchups for Jimmy.

[DBH]

How about Andy Murray in 2011?

DBH

Originally Posted by Doug_Hartley_2012

OK, I got a bit carried away with Rochey in '69 and while quickly going through the annual results I cited his '68 Wimbledon final instead of his '69 semi. My apologies. But it was still a great year. Prompts an interesting trivia question.....how many times has a player reached the semis or better at ALL FOUR MAJORS in one season, and not won any of them?

Roche in 1969 is clearly one of them. But is he the only one? Emerson in '62 made 3 semis or better without winning anything and Neale Fraser did likewise in '58. And Connors in '75.

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by kiki

Orantes beat him even easier in 1977 US CC at Indy ( 6-1,6-3).Clealry one of the worst matchups for Jimmy.

I can't agree. Connors won 11 matches out of 14 against Orantes.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by Mustard

I can't agree. Connors won 11 matches out of 14 against Orantes.

But Orantes beat him on US clay courts.That must have been tough for Jimmy, anyhow.

Can you post up their h2h? I just don´t remember Orantes other win against Jimmy ( Forest Hills 75, Indy 77 and...)

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by kiki

But Orantes beat him on US clay courts.That must have been tough for Jimmy, anyhow.

Can you post up their h2h? I just don´t remember Orantes other win against Jimmy ( Forest Hills 75, Indy 77 and...)

Jimmy Connors 11-3 Manuel Orantes
1972 Omaha QF: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (6-3, 6-1)
1972 Los Angeles R16: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (6-3, 7-6)
1972 Washington SF: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-4)
1973 Cincinnati SF: Manuel Orantes def. Jimmy Connors (6-3, 6-1)
1973 Stockholm QF: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (6-2, 6-1)
1973 Masters RR: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (6-3, 6-2)
1974 Indianapolis SF: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (6-4, 6-3)
1975 US Open F: Manuel Orantes def. Jimmy Connors (6-4, 6-3, 6-3)
1977 Indianapolis F: Manuel Orantes def. Jimmy Connors (6-1, 6-3)
1977 US Open QF: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (6-2, 6-4, 6-3)
1978 Masters (Jan) RR: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (6-2, 6-3)
1978 Indianapolis SF: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (7-5, 6-1)
1979 Dorado Beach RR: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (6-3, 6-1)
1979 French Open R16: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (4-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-1)

Hardcourt: 4-0 to Connors
Clay: 4-3 to Connors
Grass: 0-0
Carpet: 3-0 to Connors
In Majors: 2-1 to Connors

[kiki]

Originally Posted by Mustard

Jimmy Connors 11-3 Manuel Orantes
1972 Omaha QF: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (6-3, 6-1)
1972 Los Angeles R16: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (6-3, 7-6)
1972 Washington SF: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-4)
1973 Cincinnati SF: Manuel Orantes def. Jimmy Connors (6-3, 6-1)
1973 Stockholm QF: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (6-2, 6-1)
1973 Masters RR: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (6-3, 6-2)
1974 Indianapolis SF: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (6-4, 6-3)
1975 US Open F: Manuel Orantes def. Jimmy Connors (6-4, 6-3, 6-3)
1977 Indianapolis F: Manuel Orantes def. Jimmy Connors (6-1, 6-3)
1977 US Open QF: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (6-2, 6-4, 6-3)
1978 Masters (Jan) RR: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (6-2, 6-3)
1978 Indianapolis SF: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (7-5, 6-1)
1979 Dorado Beach RR: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (6-3, 6-1)
1979 French Open R16: Jimmy Connors def. Manuel Orantes (4-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-1)

Hardcourt: 4-0 to Connors
Clay: 4-3 to Connors
Grass: 0-0
Carpet: 3-0 to Connors
In Majors: 2-1 to Connors

Good post.Thanks.I see, except their 1972 match at Washington, whenever they played each other, the winner would lanslide the loser...

[kiki]

Mustard. Dorado Beach was a WCT exo, right?

[urban]

Connors also beat Orantes in straight sets in a Las Vegas 'heavyweight' challenge match.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by urban

Connors also beat Orantes in straight sets in a Las Vegas 'heavyweight' challenge match.

an exo, it doesn´t count ( well, it counted a lot for the " winner takes all" bank account, surely)

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by kiki

Mustard. Dorado Beach was a WCT exo, right?

It was a WCT event. Was it an exo?

[kiki]

Originally Posted by Mustard

It was a WCT event. Was it an exo?

let´s call it a non official event.