Jimmy Connors' Unlikely Run to the Semifinals | 1991 US Open

[@Perebynis]

Connors' performance was even more unlikely back then because there were no active tennis pros in their very late 30´s. Many contemporary superstars suffered from chronic injuries that ultimately forced them into retirement. Players like Federer, Nadal and Djokovic having a successful career for 20+ years simply did not exist. 40 seems to be the new 30, nowadays. But back then, Connors seemed to be some kind of superhuman to us for reaching the semifinals of the US Open at the age of 39.

[@Vipa567]

Ken Rosewall won a slam at 38 and made a wimbledon final at 40.

[@jonrobles1468]

@@Vipa567he was a top-40 player as late as 1978, when he was 44. He was still beating dudes half his age! A true freak of nature.

[@Nocturnbandofficial]

@@jonrobles1468 - yeah, but after Rosewall, this did not happen again before Jimmy..

[@windcatcher331]

@@Nocturnbandofficial One cannot compare the runs of Connors and Rosewall. Both stand on their own as extraordinary achievements of older humans who turned back challenges of younger faster foes armed with better technology and science, and of course the temporarily eternal fountain of youth that allows them to ignore the cumulative agony and torture they are racking up in mileage on their bodies and stay loose.

[@rjamesyork]

@@Vipa567yeah … Rosewall’s longevity is also legendary. Doesn’t make Connors’ any less so.

[@allenboyer2207]

17 years after winning his first major, Conners goes to the semis of a major for the last time. Interestingly, Roger Federer also made his last Grand Slam semi, also seventeen years after winning his first major.

[@MarvinBBallJones]

Connors' mastery on the hard court was pure brilliance

[@MarvinBBallJones]

It was as if shots that were going long were willed by the crowd to bend in

[@PhilipClark-wu5vh]

How could he be blamed for the luck of the draw? He still had to go out there infront of the world and win

[@MarvinBBallJones]

When the human will supercedes the physical limits of the body

[@MarvinBBallJones]

Jimmy owned the Flushing Meadows crowd, and he knew it He used it to great advantagep

[@archangelmusic13]

i dont think this was unlikely, considering connors was always making the quarterfinals or semifinals for the past 6 years.only reason he didnt make the quarters or semis in 1990 the year before this was because he was out due to wrist surgery.

[@michaellincoln3739]

I'm from Australia but thank you USTA for preserving these important historical tennis match videos in excellent condition. Future tennis generations are relying on us to preserve the best video footage possible and this video is a great example. Please continue to collect the best quality old video footage, not just the US Open but world-wide in your collection.

[@fahdchoudry7763]

Ever since I was a child and I watched Connors run at the 1991 US Open, I only bought yellow tennis rackets. I was and still am sh.it at tennis but I used to pretend I was Jimmy, who was nearly 3 times older than me

[@MarvinBBallJones]

Connors was nothing short of awe inspiring

[@wayneharper2168]

Back when tennis players had charm, wit,and personality. Today even Nadal, Djokovic,and Alcaraz are boring by comparison.

[@cygnustsp]

A zero forehand, a basic two handed backhand, but great ball placement and desire to never give up

[@johnp515]

His backhand was far from basic.

[@haroldsmyth6685]

​​@@johnp515his serve was zero.his forehand was erratic. All or nothing. He coudnt win 8 slams with 0 forehand. With that serve

[@MarvinBBallJones]

When tennis was tennis

[@MarvinBBallJones]

Connors almost made it look easy Even when it looked impossible

[@TennisLegends-j7k]

What an incredibly poor choice of points 🤷‍♂️

[@peachman5698]

I agree...like not even the "overhead" vs haarhuis??????

[@Nocturnbandofficial]

Yeah, so many significant points left out, and a lot of insignificant points put in... strange.

[@JrJVintage1956]

he changed tennis forever.... from country club elites to regular sports fans!

[@PhilipClark-wu5vh]

Connor's raquet gloes in the dark how could he lose?

[@MarvinBBallJones]

This guy is bewildered, like how can I beat 30,000 people

[@MarvinBBallJones]

Incredible serve and volley action

[@MarvinBBallJones]

Pioneer of the two hand backhand

[@peachman5698]

Was never a fan of Jimmy.....except for this 1 tournament.....truly inspiring

[@larssoderstrom6244]

Connors played scrubs on the way though

[@rickr.3558]

McEnroe was playing his best tennis and had made the semis of the Australian Open. Paul Haarhuis was a perennial top doubles player and had a winning record against Pete Sampras and he had beaten Chesnokov and Becker before losing to Connors. Krickstein was the youngest player at the time to reach top 10 in the world and made deep runs at a number of grand slams in late 80’s and early 90’s. Your definition of scrubs is different than mine.

[@haroldsmyth6685]

​@@rickr.3558krickstein had previously beaten sampras. Agassi. Edberg that summer but was hampered by a bad knee

[@cygnustsp]

Notice he never had a big serve but his opponents still still back up

[@rolfbernserke4735]

Where’s the part where Connors gets absolutely destroyed by Jim Courier in the Semifinal?

[@MrStudGuy]

Courier destroyed everyone in that Open until the final. 6-3 6-3 6-2 is not bad for a guy that was 18 yrs older playing the current French Open champion. Also worth noting that Connors had spent over 5 hrs more on the court then Courier and J.C had a 3-1 lead in the 2nd set.

[@Ajayk9099]

Where was Courier at 39 ? Jimbo won the quarterfinal match at 39.

[@rolfbernserke4735]

@@Ajayk9099 In the international tennis Hall of Fame I believe

[@haroldsmyth6685]

Better yet what happened to courier in the final. Connors destroyed edberg two yrs previous at 37 yo