"I had to put more time in and train harder": Jimmy Connors uses Federer and Nadal as example in challenges of ageing in tennis
Tennis News
Jimmy Connors opened up on his latest episode of Advantage Connors of the challenges of getting older in the sport of tennis using his own experiences in parallel to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
It makes them and Novak Djokovic still playing at the top until the tail end of their careers even more remarkable with Connors admitting that the need to train harder is there as the body starts to slow down and other players start to catch up. But at the same time, the dilemma is there that you need to do this while looking after yourself and not taking it too far so the endless battle is always there.
"Even though I was getting older I knew that I had to put more time in and train harder because I was playing against guys younger, but I also understood that I couldn't do it so much and I'd hurt myself," Connors said.
"When you do get older, whether Nadal or Federer or Pacho Gonzales, who played well into his 40s, or me, you got to figure that out on your own (how to manage the body)."
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Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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