Connors, Who Turns 39 Today, Faces Krickstein in Fourth Round

Jimmy Connors celebrates his 39th birthday today by playing Aaron Krickstein in a fourth-round match.

Krickstein, who is 0-5 against Connors, says he doesn’t think he will be psyched out by the Connors mystique.

“I think a lot of guys . . . you get a five-time U.S. Open champion . . . if you read into it, you think about it too much,” Krickstein said. “Then you can be in awe of him. We grew up watching him on TV, so it is kind of weird to be playing him (in important matches). But for some reason, I don’t think it will be a factor (today).”

Connors says he is not concerned about the other players still left in the draw.

“I am just out there,” he said. “I can’t worry about them. Nobody is sure as hell worrying about me.”

In 1974, 22-year-old Connors defeated 39-year-old Ken Rosewall in the U.S. Open final (he also beat Rosewall to win Wimbledon), which Connors noted as a historical footnote.

“It was time for me to kind of push guys aside,” he said. “Now, it is time for somebody else to take my place, but if they don’t want it, I am not going to give it to them.”