At 66, John McEnroe still can’t resist stirring the pot when it comes to his legendary rivals. During the 2025 US Open coverage, the tennis icon dropped a confession that had everyone laughing while taking a playful shot at an old wound that apparently never healed. His target? Chris Evert’s famous 1970s engagement to Jimmy Connors, a romance that once made teenage McEnroe see red.
John McEnroe’s Confession to Marry Chris Evert
During the 2025 US Open discussions, McEnroe expressed his feelings about Evert from the early days. Although the two tennis legends were sitting in different studios, that didn’t stop him from revealing the truth and his bitter feelings toward Connors.
Addressing Evert directly, McEnroe said, “The attention you brought to the sport made me want to be a tennis player, and thankfully, I became one.” He then dropped his playful confession: “Like millions of other young boys, I wanted to marry you, I admit it.”
Laughter followed as the former World No.1 continued with his trademark honesty: “Then you got engaged to Jimmy Connors. I hated that. If I ever play that guy, I’m going to beat his ass. Chrissie, I love you, congrats. Glad I can call you a friend.”
John McEnroe to Chris Evert at the #USOpen2025 😂 pic.twitter.com/OWV46ONsLN
— Gamer Grip® (@GamerGripUSA) September 1, 2025
Evert and Connors first sparked headlines in 1974, becoming the first engaged couple to win Wimbledon singles championships. The press dubbed their romance “The Lovebird Double” after both lifted the singles trophies that year.
Their engagement lasted less than a year, ending in 1975, but it remains one of tennis’s most famous off-court stories. McEnroe’s mention of that engagement highlighted just how intertwined personal and competitive histories were among the sport’s biggest names during that era.
The Rivalry Between Connors and McEnroe
Beyond these playful remarks lies one of tennis’s most intense rivalries. McEnroe and Connors met 34 times between 1977 and 1991, trading wins in a head-to-head series that ended 20-14 in McEnroe’s favor. Their matches were defined by contrasting personalities: Connors’s relentless aggression against McEnroe’s fiery flair.
Their contrasting playing styles created electric on-court battles. McEnroe was known for his serve-and-volley game, while Connors built his reputation as a hard-hitting baseliner. The 1982 Wimbledon final stands as one of their most memorable clashes, where Connors outlasted the younger McEnroe in a five-set marathon to claim his second Wimbledon title, eight years after his first. Connors saved three match points in the fourth set to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4.
The 1980 US Open semifinal remains one of the finest and most spectacular contests in tennis history. The match featured a heated clash of personalities in full view, with McEnroe even launching his racket over Connors’ head in anger. McEnroe won the match in a fifth-set tiebreak.
Their rivalry truly shows how they pushed one another to new heights. Each match added chapters to tennis history, with both players leaving an incredible mark on the game’s style and attitude. Today, McEnroe and Connors share mutual respect off court, even as McEnroe teases that old rivalry whenever Connors’s name comes up.
