Editing Jimmy Connors (section)

===Early years===
Connors grew up in [[East St. Louis, Illinois]], just across the [[Mississippi River]] from [[St. Louis|St. Louis, Missouri]], and was raised [[Catholicism|Catholic]]. During his childhood he was coached and trained by his mother and grandmother.<ref name="si1978"/> He played in his first U.S. Championship, the U.S. boys' 11-and-under of 1961, when he was nine years old. Connors's mother, Gloria, took him to Southern California to be coached by [[Pancho Segura]], starting at age 16, in 1968.<ref>Caroline Seebohm: ''Little Pancho'' (2009)</ref> But she remained part of the team as his coach and manager. He and his brother, John "Johnny" Connors, attended St. Phillip's grade school. Connors won the [[Junior Orange Bowl]] in both the 12- and the 14-year categories, and is one of nine tennis players to win the Junior Orange Bowl championship twice in its 70-year history.