Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Developed by Blue Byte and published by Ubi Soft, Jimmy Connors Pro Tennis Tour was released for the Super Nintendo in 1992. Featuring the name and likeness of tennis legend Jimmy Connors, it is one of the more ambitious tennis simulations from the early years of the console and a surprisingly strong rival to Nintendo’s better-known Super Tennis.
Rating: 8/10
Rather than aiming purely for quick arcade action, Jimmy Connors Pro Tennis Tour gives players an unusually detailed set of controls. The SNES controller is put to good use, with the face and shoulder buttons assigned to different strokes. Lobs, slices, topspin shots, volleys and harder drives all have their place, while holding a button before contact lets you prepare the stroke and put more force behind the ball.
This initially makes the game harder to learn than Super Tennis, but it also gives rallies considerable tactical depth. Positioning matters, and simply reaching the ball is not enough; choosing the appropriate shot and preparing it at the right moment can make a significant difference. Some softer shots can behave a little unnaturally, and the pace is not always as immediately satisfying as Nintendo’s game, but once the controls become familiar the tennis itself is excellent.
One of the smartest features is the choice between Full and Easy controls. In Easy mode, the computer handles your player’s movement around the court while you concentrate on selecting and timing shots. It is an unusually effective accessibility feature for a 1992 sports game and makes the complex control system far less intimidating for newcomers.
The single-player Tour mode is also much more substantial than might be expected. It takes place across a calendar year with tournaments around the world, including the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open, as well as numerous smaller events. Ranking points are awarded according to performance as you attempt to reach the top of the standings. Different events use grass, clay, hard and indoor courts, while the game even includes novelty environments such as snow.
Training is another highlight. Instead of simply throwing the player into matches, the game provides dedicated practice designed to teach serving, ground strokes, volleys and other aspects of play. Combined with the Easy control setting, this makes Jimmy Connors Pro Tennis Tour one of the more welcoming tennis simulations of its era despite its considerable mechanical depth.
Exhibition play provides quicker matches, including both singles and doubles. Multiplayer is particularly enjoyable, and the SNES version can even accommodate three or four human players in doubles with the appropriate multiplayer adapter. This gives the game considerable replay value and makes doubles one of its strongest features.
Presentation is where it falls behind the very best SNES sports games. The courts are clean and easy to read and the player animations are reasonably fluid, but backgrounds are sparse and the overall visual style is fairly plain. Sound is similarly functional, relying mainly on racket impacts, ball bounces and basic match effects rather than creating much stadium atmosphere.
The inevitable comparison is Super Tennis. Nintendo’s game is faster, simpler and easier to enjoy immediately, while Jimmy Connors Pro Tennis Tour demands more effort from the player. In return, Blue Byte’s game offers a deeper control system, extensive training options and a much more convincing year-long tour structure.
Overall, Jimmy Connors Pro Tennis Tour is one of the strongest tennis games on the SNES. Its plain presentation hides an impressively sophisticated sports game with excellent shot variety, accessible control options, a substantial Tour mode and strong multiplayer. Super Tennis may remain the better choice for immediate arcade-style fun, but players looking for a deeper tennis simulation may actually prefer Jimmy Connors’ outing.
Developed by Blue Byte and published by Ubi Soft, Jimmy Connors Pro Tennis Tour was released for the Super Nintendo in 1992. Featuring the name and likeness of tennis legend Jimmy Connors, it is one of the more ambitious tennis simulations from the early years of the console and a surprisingly strong rival to Nintendo’s better-known Super Tennis.
Rating: 8/10
Rather than aiming purely for quick arcade action, Jimmy Connors Pro Tennis Tour gives players an unusually detailed set of controls. The SNES controller is put to good use, with the face and shoulder buttons assigned to different strokes. Lobs, slices, topspin shots, volleys and harder drives all have their place, while holding a button before contact lets you prepare the stroke and put more force behind the ball.
This initially makes the game harder to learn than Super Tennis, but it also gives rallies considerable tactical depth. Positioning matters, and simply reaching the ball is not enough; choosing the appropriate shot and preparing it at the right moment can make a significant difference. Some softer shots can behave a little unnaturally, and the pace is not always as immediately satisfying as Nintendo’s game, but once the controls become familiar the tennis itself is excellent.
One of the smartest features is the choice between Full and Easy controls. In Easy mode, the computer handles your player’s movement around the court while you concentrate on selecting and timing shots. It is an unusually effective accessibility feature for a 1992 sports game and makes the complex control system far less intimidating for newcomers.
The single-player Tour mode is also much more substantial than might be expected. It takes place across a calendar year with tournaments around the world, including the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open, as well as numerous smaller events. Ranking points are awarded according to performance as you attempt to reach the top of the standings. Different events use grass, clay, hard and indoor courts, while the game even includes novelty environments such as snow.
Training is another highlight. Instead of simply throwing the player into matches, the game provides dedicated practice designed to teach serving, ground strokes, volleys and other aspects of play. Combined with the Easy control setting, this makes Jimmy Connors Pro Tennis Tour one of the more welcoming tennis simulations of its era despite its considerable mechanical depth.
Exhibition play provides quicker matches, including both singles and doubles. Multiplayer is particularly enjoyable, and the SNES version can even accommodate three or four human players in doubles with the appropriate multiplayer adapter. This gives the game considerable replay value and makes doubles one of its strongest features.
Presentation is where it falls behind the very best SNES sports games. The courts are clean and easy to read and the player animations are reasonably fluid, but backgrounds are sparse and the overall visual style is fairly plain. Sound is similarly functional, relying mainly on racket impacts, ball bounces and basic match effects rather than creating much stadium atmosphere.
The inevitable comparison is Super Tennis. Nintendo’s game is faster, simpler and easier to enjoy immediately, while Jimmy Connors Pro Tennis Tour demands more effort from the player. In return, Blue Byte’s game offers a deeper control system, extensive training options and a much more convincing year-long tour structure.
Overall, Jimmy Connors Pro Tennis Tour is one of the strongest tennis games on the SNES. Its plain presentation hides an impressively sophisticated sports game with excellent shot variety, accessible control options, a substantial Tour mode and strong multiplayer. Super Tennis may remain the better choice for immediate arcade-style fun, but players looking for a deeper tennis simulation may actually prefer Jimmy Connors’ outing.
