“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.
