"No matter how hard I tried, it didn't match up to Jimmy Connors" - When John McEnroe credited fellow American legend for teaching him about hard work

John McEnroe once praised Jimmy Connors, admitting he could never match his arch-rival's "effort" on the court. He made these comments after they both retired and were playing on the ATP Champions Tour.

McEnroe and Connors clashed 34 times between 1977 and 1991, with the former holding a slight 20-14 advantage. Their rivalry was known for its intensity and frequent heated moments. McEnroe even accused the older American of manipulating fans against him during one of their matches.

Their rivalry extended beyond the tennis court, with both taking shots at each other in the media. However, there was mutual respect, and as they aged, their rivalry softened, mellowing into a more cordial relationship.

One memorable moment of mutual respect came during a 1998 interview ahead of John McEnroe’s Champions Tour tournament in Dallas, Texas. He showered Jimmy Connors with praise, saying (via The Independent):

"I've learned a lot of things from Jimmy, for example the effort level. I have never seen anybody try as hard as him. No matter how hard I tried, and I consider that pretty hard, it didn't match up to him. So once again he was one up on me."

"He is still playing amazing tennis. I have no idea how he does it, he's incredible. He must put a lot more time into it than he admits to. He is still obsessed with the game. I don't see myself doing this for more than another year or two because you can't half-ass it," he added.