Connors loves the U.S. Open
By: Jim Williams
Examiner Sports Columnist
August 30, 2009
There is no doubt that the fans of New York and former tennis great Jimmy Connors have a mutual love for each other. Connors was a tough, brash, in your face kind of player, and that fit the kind of player that New Yorkers can really get behind. He is a five-time U.S. Open winner starting when the tournament used to be held at Forest Hills.
Connors' victory at the 1976 U.S. Open came during the brief period (1975-77) when that tournament was held on clay courts. So while Connors never won the French Open, he is, therefore, one of only five men -- Mats Wilander, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal -- to have won a Grand Slam singles title on grass, clay and hard courts.
He will be the lead broadcaster on the Tennis Channel for the U.S. Open starting Monday, and in a recent conversation he talked about his fondest memories of the championship.
Connors on the U.S. Open » "It was the swirl around the U.S. Open that attracted me to it. It was not like what you expected tennis to be like. I did not mind the airplanes, or people walking after points. I didn't mind anything but being down there playing tennis. Everything else was just a bonus ... The fans make the event what it is."
On the 25th Anniversary of Super Saturday » "I remember 25 years ago I lost ... At the end of the day, that's what happened. I'm glad it was a great day, but not so much for me. ... It is still a day talked about by players. ... Sometimes the hype and what you expect is an overload. But on that day it was not an overload. You got everything you expected to see and more and walked out loving it."
On former pupil Andy Roddick » "He is taking care of what is in front of him ... keeping his mind on his business. ... Not looking so much into the stands. ... Going about his own game in his own way. Wimbledon was the kind of tennis you expect Andy to play."
The combination of ESPN2, Tennis Channel and CBS will give tennis fans nearly 24-hour coverage for almost two weeks.
The Tennis Channel will start the live action every day at 11 a.m., then ESPN2 picks up the coverage at 1 p.m. That will run till 6 p.m. The night session will begin on ESPN2 -- 7 p.m. till at least 11 p.m.
The Tennis Channel will take the late shift from 11 p.m. for twelve hours to 11 a.m. with complete matches, features and highlights.
CBS picks up action on the weekends.
On broadband, the action can be found on ESPN360 and the Tennis Channel.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on washingtonexaminer.com.
