"She was treating me like some sort of househusband" - When Jimmy Connors opened up about how Chris Evert 'got on his nerves'

Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert were among the most high-profile sports couples during the 1970s. The duo started their relationship in 1974 and were even engaged to be married. However, they went their separate ways in 1975.

In his memoir published a few years ago, Connors wrote about how Evert was 'getting on his nerves' during the 1974 Australian Open. The eight-time Grand Slam singles champion claimed that he would go to support Evert while also bringing his lunch, as his matches were scheduled just after hers.

Connors also wrote that his then-girlfriend would give him an angry look if he wasn't paying attention to her match, which in turn made him angry too.

“Chrissie was getting on my nerves. Nobody was safe. With the organizers usually scheduling me on the court after Chrissie, I would go along to support her, sometimes bringing a sandwich and Pepsi for my lunch. Chrissie didn’t like that one little bit," Jimmy Connors wrote in his memoir The Outsider.

"If she noticed me eating and not paying attention during her match, she would throw me a look, which wasn’t hard to read: 'If you’re not going to watch me play, then get out of here,'" he added. "That pissed me off even more than the hostile Australian fans because it was embarrassing; everyone in the stadium could see what was going on. Run along, Jimmy, do what you’re told."

Jimmy Connors further claimed that Chris Evert treated him like some sort of 'househusband' while he was rooting for her.

"We were not even married yet and the tension was already building," Connors wrote. "I was in Chrissie’s corner, rooting for her, and she was treating me like some sort of, well, househusband. You know how it is, guys: You can’t do anything right. I needed to eat before my matches and I wanted to see her play."

"What was I supposed to do? Stay back at the hotel and miss her match altogether? I’m sure that would have gone down really well," he added.

Connors stated that while Evert's mood swings could drive people crazy, he didn't let them change the fact that he loved her. The American claimed that he managed to convince himself he was patient enough to handle it.

"Chrissie’s mood swings could drive anyone crazy, but that didn’t change the fact that I loved her. No one is perfect, I told myself. I was no prize, either; she had to put up with a lot, too. Did I just say that?" the former World No. 1 wrote. “The question was, could my patience, which was thin at the best of times, cope with so much drama? I convinced myself it could."

Jimmy Connors made only two appearances at the Australian Open

Jimmy Connors made just two appearances at the Australian Open in his career. Back then, most top players did not compete at the tournament because of the low prize money and the fact that it took place in December.

Connors' first appearance at the Major came in 1974, where he was seeded second. He booked his place in the final with wins over Jean-Louis Haillet, Graeme Thomas, Syd Ball, Vladimir Zednik and John Alexander.

In the summit clash, Connors faced ninth seed Phil Dent and beat him 7-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to win the Australian Open.

Connors' second and final appearance at the tournament came in 1975, where he was the top seed. The American once again made it to the final but this time, he lost 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 to second seed John Newcombe.