It is usually stated as a fact that the only clay courts Connors won on were Har-Tru courts found in the US.
However, I noticed in 1978 & 1979 that he won three smaller tournaments in South America, twice against the great clay courter Vilas & once against Clay supremo Borg:
1979:
September 15–16 Rio de Janeiro - 4-men invitational Clay win over Guillermo Vilas 6–3 6–4 6–3
September 28–30 Asuncion - Boqueron International Clay Guillermo Vilas 7–5 6–3
1978:
Also in September of 1978 he beat the other great clay courter of the 1970's Bjorn Borg:
Buenos Aires - 4-men invitational Clay win over Björn Borg 5–7 6–3 6–3
So my question is, were these three South American Clay Court tournaments on Red Clay like in Europe? I always have assumed that South America Clay was like European.
If I am right then Connors did in fact win tournaments over top quality players on Red Clay (Borg and Vilas - cannot get two more dominant players on clay in the mid to late 1970's), which blows the Myth that he couldn't play well on that surface. And it also adds to the speculation that he could have perhaps won Roland Garros in 1974 if he hadn't been banned.
Note: Yes, I know these are smaller non-ATP sactioned tournaments, however a tournament is a tournament - especially against such quality opposition!).
However, I noticed in 1978 & 1979 that he won three smaller tournaments in South America, twice against the great clay courter Vilas & once against Clay supremo Borg:
1979:
September 15–16 Rio de Janeiro - 4-men invitational Clay win over Guillermo Vilas 6–3 6–4 6–3
September 28–30 Asuncion - Boqueron International Clay Guillermo Vilas 7–5 6–3
1978:
Also in September of 1978 he beat the other great clay courter of the 1970's Bjorn Borg:
Buenos Aires - 4-men invitational Clay win over Björn Borg 5–7 6–3 6–3
So my question is, were these three South American Clay Court tournaments on Red Clay like in Europe? I always have assumed that South America Clay was like European.
If I am right then Connors did in fact win tournaments over top quality players on Red Clay (Borg and Vilas - cannot get two more dominant players on clay in the mid to late 1970's), which blows the Myth that he couldn't play well on that surface. And it also adds to the speculation that he could have perhaps won Roland Garros in 1974 if he hadn't been banned.
Note: Yes, I know these are smaller non-ATP sactioned tournaments, however a tournament is a tournament - especially against such quality opposition!).
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