Man, the reproductive rights system is tough on men. If they forget a condom, the condom breaks, they’re not on birth control, or a variety of other factors come into play, they’re biologically geared to carry the child of whatever person they bone, and, depending on their geographic location, just may be forced to keep it. Oh, wait, no. That’s women!

Nevertheless, Jimmy Connors, former tennis star and fellow Wimbledom champ’s Chris Evert’s ex-boyfriend, feels shafted by her 39-year-old decision to have an abortion without informing him that she was pregnant. And he’s exposed her choice — without her consent — in his new biography, The Outsider, as well as a sardonic aside to Evert: “Well, thanks for letting me know. Since I don’t have a say in the matter, I guess I am just here to help.” (Via Slate.)

He writes that she may have gotten the procedure because she misunderstood his willingness to take responsibility — i.e. that it had nothing to do with her indidual choice at all — to be “was perfectly happy to let nature take its course and accept responsibility for what was to come.” Which, in this case, is implied to be that Evert put aside her seven time #1 worldwide pro tennis ranking (and career winning percentage over 90 percent, a record that’s never been beaten by another woman or man), to keep it for him. I won’t even say “baby” or “child,” because we have no idea how far along she was, nor is it any of our godd*mn business. It’s her story to tell, and the fact that he even thinks he can mention it in his book, let alone shame her for it, is truly indicative of the lingering shame we force on women for having abortions.

Evert was just 19 in 1974, the year that this likely occurred — when she and Connors, dating at the time, won their respective championships at Wimbledon and began appearing in the tabloids as a tennis power couple, reports The Atlantic. Ironically, Connors writes that at another point, when Evert wanted to be comforted after losing a match, that “You can’t have two number ones in a relationship.” Uh, maybe that’s how she felt about her tennis career and simultaneously being pregnant with a cluster of cells contributed by someone who was completely self-absorbed. Or, hell, even if he was awesome! Or a Teletubby! Really, she has absolutely no need to justify her decision to ANYONE.

Evert has since released an understandably terse statement:

In his book, Jimmy Connors has written about a time in our relationship that was very personal and emotionally painful. I am extremely disappointed that he used the book to misrepresent a private matter that took place 40 years ago and made it public, without my knowledge. I hope everyone can understand that I have no further comment.