Segura and Connors
Caroline Seebohm
In 1968, Jimmy Connors won his first national singles title in the boys' sixteen championship. A revolutionary new addition to the game helped him do that. The Wilson T-2000--a tennis racket made of stainless steel instead of wood--was introduced in 1967, and Jimmy immediately took to it, not only for its jazzy looks but because it had a lot of power if the ball was struck dead center.
Most players found controlling the ball quite difficult with this erratic new racket, but after so many years of accuracy drills with his Mom, Jimmy's consistency in hitting ground strokes made the racket an ideal weapon.
That year, Gloria Connors came to a major decision about her son’s future. With that first national title, she knew he had it in him to be great, but she also sensed that she could not take him any further herself.
"I had my game, and I had my strokes," Jimmy said later, "but I needed something more."
When Pancho Segura came through St. Louis that year on a tour, Gloria made arrangements to meet him. "Pancho," she said, "I've got this kid. He's a good player."
