Born in Sydney on May 23, 1944, Newcombe gravitated toward sports from an early age but truly excelled on the tennis court. He became Australia’s junior champion in 1961 and repeated the feat in the following two years, earning a Davis Cup call-up at just 19 in 1963.

Over his career, Newcombe amassed 68 singles titles, including seven Grand Slam singles championships at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. He never captured a French Open singles title, but his achievements were nonetheless remarkable.

He also reached the world No. 1 ranking in singles, becoming the second player ever to hold the top ATP spot after Ilie Nastase when the official rankings were introduced in 1973.

The day he made Jimmy Connors mad

Newcombe’s career was defined by fierce rivalries with the era’s top stars, including Rod Laver, Arthur Ashe, Ilie Nastase, Guillermo Vilas, and Jimmy Connors.

One notable clash occurred ahead of the 1975 Australian Open final. Newcombe had accused Connors of avoiding him on the court, prompting a sharp response from the American.

Jimmy Connors said before the final: “Newcombe should talk more with his racket and less with his mouth. He says that I’ve been avoiding him, but I don’t need to avoid anyone. Whenever I reach a final, he’s not there”.

Despite Connors’ remarks, Newcombe won the final in four sets. The two would face each other four more times in their careers, with Connors winning each subsequent encounter.

Doubles and team success

Newcombe also reached World No. 1 in doubles, primarily partnering with Tony Roche. Together, they won 17 Grand Slam doubles titles. Including two mixed doubles titles, Newcombe’s career total across all Majors reached 26. In Davis Cup competition, he helped Australia secure five championships: 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1973.

Life after tennis

Newcombe retired from professional tennis in 1981. In 1986, he and Tony Roche were inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. From 1995 to 2000, he served as captain of Australia’s Davis Cup team, guiding them to victory in 1999.

He later relocated to Texas with his wife, former German player Angelika Pfannenburg, and founded the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, which offers recreational tennis programs for children. Newcombe remains active in the tennis world, including presenting awards at the 2025 Australian Open.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, in July 1954 as Vytautas Kevin Gerulaitis, he was better known simply as Vitas. The son of Lithuanian immigrants, both Vitas and his sister Ruta developed a passion for tennis—and both went on to become professional players.

Known for his thick blonde hair, Vitas earned the nickname “The Lithuanian Lion”. He turned pro in 1971, joining a talented generation of American players destined to make tennis history.

Gerulaitis’ career highlights: Two Grand Slams and Davis Cup glory

Between 1971 and 1986, Gerulaitis excelled in both singles and doubles, reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 3. His crowning achievements include winning the 1977 Australian Open singles title (played on grass in December) and the 1975 Wimbledon doubles crown alongside fellow American Sandy Mayer.

Beyond those victories, Gerulaitis reached two other Grand Slam finals: the 1979 US Open, where he fell to John McEnroe, and the 1980 French Open final, where Bjorn Borg prevailed.

Over his career, Gerulaitis collected 24 singles titles and eight in doubles. He also played a crucial role in the U.S. Davis Cup team’s triumphs in 1978 and 1979, securing vital points in the final against Italy.

The famous Connors feud and an unforgettable quote

Gerulaitis shared a friendly but fierce rivalry with Jimmy Connors, one of tennis’s all-time greats. They first met in 1972, with Gerulaitis claiming the win, but Connors dominated their subsequent 16 matches until Gerulaitis finally broke the streak at the Masters tournament at Madison Square Garden.

After that victory, Vitas famously told the crowd, “I want to give you all a lesson: Nobody beats Vitas Gerulaitis 17 times in a row!” However, that bold statement would be disproved just two years later when Bjorn Borg notched his 17th straight win against Gerulaitis.

Life after tennis

After retiring in 1986, Gerulaitis remained connected to tennis as a commentator alongside John McEnroe and Mary Carillo. He also coached Pete Sampras for a season, including Sampras’s Rome Masters victory.

Tragic passing and lasting legacy

Gerulaitis tragically died on September 17, 1994, from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. While visiting a friend in Southampton, New York, a faulty heating system led to the buildup of the deadly gas in the guest room where he was staying.

In his memory, a tennis academy and a street in Vilnius, Lithuania—the birthplace of his parents—were named in his honor. Though an investigation was launched against the company responsible for the heating installation, the firm was cleared in 1996.

After opting out of the Cincinnati Open, Djokovic left the global tennis community speculating about his future on the professional circuit. He also withdrew from the Toronto Open by the end of July, casting doubt on his Wimbledon performance being a true reflection of his capabilities.

At 38 years old, Djokovic continues to prove his mettle against ATP stalwarts such as Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev. However, Connors expressed concern over Djokovic’s absence from Cincinnati, especially with the US Open fast approaching.

“I am thinking of him [Djokovic]. You can’t count him out. The only thing that is worrying me is, I wish he would go to Cincinnati and just play two or three matches. That is the only thing that worries me, he left Wimbledon in the semis, which was a pretty good result, but he didn’t play in that match like he wanted to and lost in three straight,” Connors remarked.

Djokovic’s decision to skip tournaments

The Serbian ace clarified his stance on retirement, indicating that it is not in his immediate plans. Nevertheless, Connors suggested that Djokovic’s absence from these key tournaments preceding the US Open might be part of his strategy.

“Then to take two and a half months off, he has a family, going on vacation, and getting away. But you never know!” Connors commented, hinting at Djokovic using this period for personal matters.

Djokovic’s competitors prepare for Cincinnati

As Djokovic rests and gears up for the US Open, his rivals, including Alcaraz and Sinner, are primed for their Cincinnati debut. During the early rounds, the top two players in the world rankings have trained side by side.

In a widely-shared video, both players discussed their preparation for the tournament after their clash in the Wimbledon final. They shared insights about their brief holiday breaks and the steps they took to ready themselves for the US Open. Their eagerly-awaited debuts are set for Saturday, with opponents yet to be announced.

During the thought-provoking ‘Advantage Connors’ podcast, Jimmy Connors boldly questioned the widely held notion that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were the unequivocal best players of all time. Known for his unfiltered opinions on and off the court, Connors ignited the passionate GOAT debate with his daring assertions about the modern greats.

Federer, Nadal, and Novak Djokovic etched their names in history through mesmerizing performances, making the quest for a definitive answer to the GOAT question even more complex. Each player possesses distinct qualities that shaped their iconic reputations, and their epic head-to-head rivalries gifted the sport with some of its most captivating moments. Over the past decade, these three legends dominated the tennis world, smashing records and rewriting history with every match.

Federer’s graceful style of play made him a sporting icon with an incredible 20 Grand Slam victories. Nadal’s relentless determination and unmatched success on clay courts left an indelible mark, securing him an impressive 22 Grand Slams. Novak Djokovic’s adaptability and mental fortitude made him a master of the sport, as evident from his extraordinary 23 Grand Slam titles, cementing his status as a fierce contender in the GOAT debate.

Connors’ Take on Who Is the GOAT

Connors had previously argued in an earlier podcast episode that Djokovic’s dominance during the era of Federer and Nadal should not be underestimated. While the Swiss and Spanish champions were often lauded as GOAT candidates, Connors defiantly highlighted that they may not even be the best players of their own time, let alone the greatest in tennis history.

“Look at everyone who said that Federer and Nadal were the greatest of all time. They are not even the best of their time”, Connors said, leaning towards Djokovic as his preferred choice. During the podcast, Connors’ son, Brett Connors, also raised a compelling point about the Wimbledon crowd’s apparent preference for Carlos Alcaraz over Djokovic.

“It comes to a point where a lot of people think he’s had enough. To me that’s BS. Look at all the people that were on the Federer bandwagon and the Nadal bandwagon as the greatest of all time. They’re not even the greatest of all time in their own era. They think that maybe he’s had enough and it’s time for somebody else to come up. I look at it the other way, I say ‘Kill it.’ Stay out there and play until somebody just comes up and beats your brains out because you always got a chance to win”, Connors finalized.