Jimmy Connors didn't just win. He made you feel every point. 

Coming out of East St. Louis and Belleville, honed on the courts of St. Louis, the left-hander took tennis by storm in 1974, winning Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in the same year. He would go on to win four more U.S. Opens, another Wimbledon, and an Australian Open. Eight Grand Slams in all, and a men's career singles record 109 professional titles. 

Known for his two-handed backhand and his return of serve, Jimmy was ranked No. 1 for 268 weeks over a 25-year career, including a then-record 160 consecutive weeks at the top. 

But the numbers only tell part of the story. What set Connors apart was the fighting spirit. Unrelenting, unapologetic, and entirely his own. Crowds didn't just watch Jimmy Connors. They felt him. 

(2017)