On this day in 1976: Connors beats Borg in US Open classic

Sport360 staff 08:00 12/09/2016
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Jimmy Connors.

    Two years removed from a magical year in which he claimed three majors, Jimmy Connors would finally add more silverware to his collection when he defeated Bjorn Borg in the US Open finals on this day in 1976.

    It was Borg, however, who entered the clash having claimed the first of his five straight Wimbledon titles two months earlier.

    The contrasting styles collided as the players split the first two sets before a back-and-forth third set that ended in an 11-9 tiebreaker for Connors.

    The American then sealed the victory by taking the fourth set 6-4 to cap the drama-filled classic. Connors would go on to win three more US Open titles, as well as another Wimbledon crown.

    Other memorable events to happen on this day

    1920: The seventh edition of the Olympic Games come to a close in Antwerp, Belgium.

    1964: American Ralph Boston sets the long jump record at 27 feet, 4 ½ inches.

    1979: Boston Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski is the 15th MLB player to record 3,000 hits.

    2005: England regain the Ashes to end a 16-year drought.

    Recommended