An Ageless Miracle: Jimmy Connors’ 1991 US Open Run at Age 39

This year’s US Open is just around the corner, and as the sport’s top seeds prepare to battle it out in Queens, we can’t help but reflect on one of the most unforgettable storylines in the tournament’s rich history.

Back in 1991, the tennis world witnessed something few thought possible — a nearly 40-year-old Jimmy Connors, long past his prime, launching an electrifying and improbable run to the semifinals.

It was part comeback, part miracle, and a whole lot of fun for everyone watching in person and at home.

A Champion Through the Ages

Jimmy Connors was no stranger to Flushing Meadows. In fact, he was a symbol of its evolution. When he won his first US Open title in 1974, the tournament was still played on grass at Forest Hills. A few years later, he won again — this time on green Har-Tru clay. By 1978, the Open had moved to hard courts at its new home in Queens, and Connors won there, too.

That makes him the only player in US Open history to win the tournament on three different surfaces: grass, clay, and hard. A feat that speaks not just to longevity, but to adaptability across eras.

1991: A Wild Card with Nothing to Lose

By the early ’90s, Connors wasn’t supposed to be a contender. He had undergone wrist surgery and entered the 1991 US Open ranked No. 174 in the world. Most assumed he was there for ceremonial purposes — a wildcard invitation honoring a legend.

But Jimmy Connors had other plans.

In the first round, down two sets and trailing 3–0 in the third against Patrick McEnroe, Connors clawed back and won in five. It was a gritty, defiant performance — and it was just the beginning.

The Best 11 Days of His Life

That’s what Connors would later call it: “the best 11 days of my tennis career.”

In Round 2, he beat Michiel Schapers in straight sets. Then came an upset of 10th-seeded Karel Nováček.

And on September 2 — his 39th birthday — Connors delivered one of the most dramatic matches in US Open history. Down 2–5 in the fifth set against Aaron Krickstein, he surged back to win in a nearly five-hour thriller, complete with fist-pumps, crowd roars, and raw emotion.

Next up was Paul Haarhuis. Connors again found himself trailing but rallied to win in four sets, clinching a spot in the semifinals. It was his first trip that far in a major since 1987 — and the crowd couldn’t get enough.

The End of the Run, But Not the Story

In the semifinals, Connors finally ran out of magic. Rising American star Jim Courier beat him in straight sets. But that didn’t matter.

For 11 days, Jimmy Connors was the story of the tournament. A walking time capsule who turned back the clock and reminded the world what greatness looks like.

Legacy of a Legend

Connors didn’t win the 1991 US Open. But he won over an entirely new generation of fans — and reminded the old ones why they loved him in the first place.

To this day, his five US Open titles — across three different surfaces — remain unmatched in style and symbolism. His 1991 run is one of the greatest second acts in tennis history.

So as the lights shine on Arthur Ashe Stadium this week, just remember: age is just a number. And every wildcard holds a story.

Because sometimes, legends don’t fade away — they fight like hell for one more run.