First published 2013
Jimmy Connors opens his life to readers without reservation. The tennis legend sparked the sport's explosion in the seventies through fierce competition and raw talent. His matches against McEnroe, Borg, and Lendl became legendary battles that captivated audiences worldwide. Connors maintained his competitive edge well into his late thirties, stunning the tennis world by reaching the 1991 U.S. Open semifinals at age 39. Beyond his athletic achievements, Connors exposes his personal struggles with brutal honesty. He details his complex bond with his demanding mother and his romantic relationship with Chris Evert. The memoir reveals how gambling problems and marital infidelity nearly destroyed his career and his marriage to Patti McGuire. After disappearing from public attention following his retirement two decades ago, Connors returns with his trademark defiance intact. This uncensored autobiography includes original color photographs.
Genres: 20th-century, autobiography, sports, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: redemption, second-chance
Period: 1970s, 1991
401 pages · Hardcover · Harper
Content warnings: addiction