"Would have been a mistake for us... Not my idea of being married" - When Jimmy Connors made honest admission about his engagement with Chris Evert
Jimmy Connors once reflected on his decision not to marry fellow tennis legend Chris Evert, expressing relief that they went their separate ways. Connors also explained why tying the knot wouldn't have been the right choice for either of their futures.
Connors and Evert established themselves as a power couple in the early 1970s, capturing widespread attention after they both emerged victorious at the 1974 Wimbledon Championships. They further captivated the spotlight when Connors proposed shortly afterwards. Although their wedding was planned for November 1974, their romance was short-lived, and the couple parted ways in 1975.
Both players eventually moved on to high-profile marriages, with Chris Evert tying the knot with British tennis player John Lloyd in 1979. That same year, Jimmy Connors wed Playboy model Patti McGuire, and the couple welcomed their son Brett.
In a 1980 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Connors spoke warmly about his relationship with Patti McGuire, disclosing that falling in love with her was an "earth-shaking" experience. The American was then asked whether he encountered similar feelings during his relationship with Evert.
However, Jimmy Connors admitted that getting married to Chris Evert would've been a "mistake" for both of them. He pointed out that if they had tied the knot, they would've constantly been competing in different parts of the world, which didn't align with his idea of marriage.
"You’re going back a long time. That would have been a mistake for both of us. If Chrissy and I had gotten married, she would have been playing someplace, and I would have been playing someplace, and that’s not my idea of being married," Connors said.
"We were not even married yet and the tension was already building" - Jimmy Connors on Chris Evert treating him like a 'househusband'
In his 2013 memoir 'The Outsider,' Jimmy Connors recounted how Chris Evert "got on his nerves" during their respective campaigns at the 1974 Australian Open. The eight-time Grand Slam champion admitted feeling "embarrassed" when Evert threw him disapproving looks for not paying attention during her matches.
"Chrissie was getting on my nerves," Jimmy Connors wrote. "If she noticed me eating and not paying attention during her match, she would throw me a look, which wasn’t hard to read: 'If you’re not going to watch me play, then get out of here.'"
"That pissed me off even more than the hostile Australian fans because it was embarrassing; everyone in the stadium could see what was going on. Run along, Jimmy, do what you’re told," he added.
Connors resented being treated like a "househusband," acknowledging that the tension in their relationship was already rising before they had even reached the altar.
"We were not even married yet and the tension was already building. I was in Chrissie’s corner, rooting for her, and she was treating me like some sort of, well, househusband. You know how it is, guys: You can’t do anything right. I needed to eat before my matches and I wanted to see her play," he said.
Chris Evert has expressed similar sentiments about their time together, admitting that they both prioritized themselves and were unable to live up to one another's expectations while being "so young and in love for the first time."