John McEnroe facts for kids
McEnroe in 2015
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| Full name | John Patrick McEnroe Jr. |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United States |
| Residence | New York City, New York, US |
| Born | February 16, 1959 Wiesbaden, West Germany |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Turned pro | 1978 |
| Retired | 1994 (singles) 2006 (doubles) |
| Plays | Left-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| College | Stanford University |
| Coach | Antonio Palafox |
| Prize money | US$12,552,132 |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1999 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 883–198 (81.68%) (81.7%) |
| Career titles | 77 (6th in the Open Era) |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (March 3, 1980) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | SF (1983) |
| French Open | F (1984) |
| Wimbledon | W (1981, 1983, 1984) |
| US Open | W (1979, 1980, 1981, 1984) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | W (1978, 1983, 1984) |
| Grand Slam Cup | QF (1992) |
| WCT Finals | W (1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1989) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 530–103 (83.7%) |
| Career titles | 77 (5th in the Open Era) |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (January 3, 1983) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | SF (1989) |
| French Open | QF (1992) |
| Wimbledon | W (1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1992) |
| US Open | W (1979, 1981, 1983, 1989) |
| Other doubles tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | W (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Career titles | 1 |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| French Open | W (1977) |
| Wimbledon | SF (1999) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | W (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1992) |
| Hopman Cup | F (1990) |
John Patrick McEnroe Jr. (born February 16, 1959) is a famous American former professional tennis player. He was ranked as the world's number one player in men's singles for 170 weeks. He was also the world's number one in men's doubles for 269 weeks, which is the third-longest time ever.
McEnroe is one of only two male players to have been ranked number one in both singles and doubles. He is the only one to hold both top spots at the same time. During his career, he was known for his amazing shot-making and quick volleys at the net. He also had exciting rivalries with other tennis legends like Björn Borg and Jimmy Connors. McEnroe was also known for his strong reactions on the court, which sometimes led to disagreements with umpires.
He won an Open Era record 155 career titles. This includes 77 in singles, 77 in doubles, and 1 in mixed doubles. Among these are seven major singles titles (four at the US Open and three at Wimbledon). He also won nine men's doubles major titles and one mixed doubles major. McEnroe is the only male player to win more than 70 titles in both singles and doubles.
His singles match record of 82 wins and 3 losses in 1984 is still the best single-season win rate in the Open Era. McEnroe also did very well in year-end tournaments, winning eight singles and seven doubles titles, which are both records. He was named the ATP Player of the Year and the ITF World Champion three times: in 1981, 1983, and 1984.
McEnroe helped the U.S. win five Davis Cup titles. After retiring from professional play, he continued to be active in tennis. He often plays in senior events on the ATP Champions Tour, where he has won 25 titles. He also works as a television commentator during major tennis tournaments.
Contents
Early Life and Tennis Beginnings
McEnroe was born in Wiesbaden, West Germany, on February 16, 1959. His parents were Americans, John Patrick McEnroe and Kay Tresham. His father was serving in the United States Air Force at the time.
When John was about nine months old, his family moved back to the U.S. They settled in Newburgh, New York, and later moved to Flushing, Queens, and then to Douglaston. John has two younger brothers, Mark and Patrick, who also became a professional tennis player.
John started playing tennis at the Douglaston Club when he was eight years old. By the age of nine, his parents enrolled him in the Eastern Lawn Tennis Association. He then began competing in regional and national junior tournaments. When he was twelve, he was ranked seventh in his age group. He joined the Port Washington Tennis Academy on Long Island, New York. McEnroe graduated from Trinity School in Manhattan in 1977.
McEnroe's Amazing Career
McEnroe started to make a name for himself as an 18-year-old amateur in 1977. He won both the Junior singles and mixed doubles titles at the French Open. He played mixed doubles with his friend Mary Carillo. Later that year, he made it through the qualifying rounds at Wimbledon and reached the main tournament. He lost in the semifinals to Jimmy Connors. This was a great achievement for an amateur player.
After Wimbledon, McEnroe went to Stanford University. In 1978, he won the NCAA singles title and helped his Stanford team win a championship. Later that year, he became a professional player on the ATP tour. He won four singles titles in 1978, including his first Masters Grand Prix. He finished the year ranked as the world's number 4 player.
Early Major Wins (1979–1983)
In 1979, McEnroe and his partner Peter Fleming won the Wimbledon men's doubles title. They also won the US Open doubles title that same week. McEnroe also won the singles US Open title, which was his first major singles win. He beat his friend Vitas Gerulaitis in the final. He became the youngest male winner of the US Open singles title since 1948. McEnroe won 10 singles and 17 doubles titles that year, making a total of 27 titles, which was an Open Era record.
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At Wimbledon in 1980, McEnroe reached the singles final for the first time. He played against Björn Borg, who was trying to win his fifth Wimbledon title in a row. The crowd booed McEnroe when he entered the court because he had some disagreements with officials during his semifinal match. In a long fourth-set tiebreaker, McEnroe saved five championship points and won 18–16. However, Borg won the fifth set, and the match. This match is still considered one of the greatest Wimbledon finals ever.
Two months later, McEnroe beat Borg in a five-set final at the 1980 US Open. He finished the year as the world's number 2 player, just behind Borg.
McEnroe continued to be a lively player when he returned to Wimbledon in 1981. During his matches, he famously shouted "you cannot be serious" after some umpire calls. This phrase later became the title of his autobiography. This behavior was very different from Borg's calm style. However, McEnroe never lost his temper when playing against Borg.
Despite some criticism, McEnroe reached the Wimbledon men's singles final again against Borg. McEnroe won in four sets, ending Borg's amazing streak of 41 wins in a row at the All England Club. The All England Club did not give McEnroe honorary club membership right away because of his on-court behavior. This honor is usually given to singles champions. McEnroe did not attend the traditional champions' dinner. He eventually received the honor after winning more titles.
Borg and McEnroe played their last major final at the 1981 US Open. McEnroe won in four sets, becoming the first man since the 1920s to win three US Open singles titles in a row. Borg never played another major tournament after that. McEnroe also won his second WCT Final and finished the year as the number one ranked player.
In 1982, McEnroe lost to Connors in the Wimbledon final. He also reached the semifinals at the US Open. He kept his world No. 1 ranking at the end of the year.
In 1983, McEnroe reached his fourth Wimbledon final in a row. He won his second Wimbledon title by beating Chris Lewis. He also won the WCT Final for the third time, beating Ivan Lendl. He won the Masters Grand Prix title for the second time, also beating Lendl. He finished the year as the world No. 1 player again.
The Incredible 1984 Season
McEnroe had his best season in 1984. He won 82 matches and lost only 3, which is the highest single-season win rate in the Open Era. He won 13 singles tournaments, including Wimbledon and the US Open. He also finished the year as the world No. 1 player.
McEnroe started the year with an amazing 42-match winning streak. He won his first six tournaments and reached his first French Open final, where he played against Ivan Lendl. McEnroe won the first two sets, but Lendl came back to win the match in five sets. McEnroe later said this was his most difficult loss.
He bounced back at Wimbledon, winning his third Wimbledon singles title. He then won his fourth US Open title, beating Lendl in the final. He also won his fourth WCT Final and his third Masters Grand Prix. He had a fantastic record against the number 2 and 3 players, Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl, winning 11 out of 12 matches against them.
The year ended with some more controversy. While playing in a tournament in Stockholm, McEnroe had a strong disagreement with the chair umpire. He then hit his racquet into a juice cart. He was suspended for 3 weeks because of his behavior. This meant he missed a big tournament in London. During his suspension, he hurt his wrist, which made him miss the Australian Open.
Taking Time Off and Later Career
In 1985, McEnroe reached the semifinals at the French Open. He then lost in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. He reached his last major singles final at the US Open, where he lost to Lendl. He finished the year as the world No. 2 player.
In 1986, McEnroe took a six-month break from tennis, missing Wimbledon. He married actress Tatum O'Neal and they had a son, Kevin. They later had two more children, Sean and Emily, before divorcing in 1994. When McEnroe returned to the tour, he won three tournaments. However, in 1987, he did not win any titles for the first time since becoming a professional. He took another long break after the US Open.
McEnroe struggled to get back to his top form after his breaks. He lost to Ivan Lendl several times in major tournaments. In 1989, McEnroe won a record fifth title at the World Championship Tennis Finals. At Wimbledon, he reached the semifinals.
In 1990, McEnroe was disqualified from the Australian Open for arguing with officials. He was not aware of a new rule that meant a third violation would lead to immediate disqualification. Later that year, he reached the semifinals of the US Open, losing to Pete Sampras. He finished 1990 ranked 13th in the world.
In 1991, McEnroe won his last singles title by defeating his brother Patrick in the final of the Volvo Tennis-Chicago tournament. In 1992, McEnroe beat the third-ranked player, Boris Becker, at the Australian Open. At Wimbledon, he reached the semifinals. McEnroe also teamed with Michael Stich to win his fifth Wimbledon men's doubles title in a very long final.
McEnroe officially retired from the professional tour at the end of 1992. He played one more tournament in 1994 as a special entry, but lost in the first round. This was his last singles match on the ATP Tour.
In 1999, after Steffi Graf won the French Open, McEnroe suggested they play mixed doubles at Wimbledon. They reached the semifinals but withdrew because Graf wanted to focus on the singles final.
Doubles Success
Besides his amazing singles career, McEnroe was also a fantastic doubles player. He was ranked number 1 in doubles for a total of 270 weeks and won ten Grand Slam doubles titles. His first Grand Slam doubles title was the 1977 French Open mixed doubles with his childhood friend Mary Carillo.
His most successful partnership was with Peter Fleming. They won 57 doubles titles together, including seven Grand Slams (four at Wimbledon and three at the US Open). Fleming once famously said that "the best doubles partnership in the world is McEnroe and anybody."
McEnroe won a fourth US Open men's doubles title in 1989 with Mark Woodforde. He won a fifth Wimbledon men's doubles title in 1992 with Michael Stich. Many people consider him one of the greatest doubles players of all time.
Davis Cup Contributions
McEnroe played a huge role in making the Davis Cup popular again in America. He was part of the U.S. teams that won the Davis Cup in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, and 1992. He holds many U.S. Davis Cup records, including the most years played (12), most ties (30), most singles wins (41), and most total wins in singles and doubles (59). He and Peter Fleming won 14 out of 15 Davis Cup doubles matches together.
One of his most memorable matches was a 6-hour, 22-minute victory over Mats Wilander in 1982. This was the longest match in Davis Cup history at the time. McEnroe also helped the U.S. win the World Team Cup in 1984 and 1985.
Life After Professional Tennis
After retiring from professional tennis, McEnroe tried to become a musician. He learned to play guitar and formed The Johnny Smyth Band. He was the lead singer and guitarist and wrote songs. The band toured for two years, but McEnroe stopped in 1997 before finishing his first album. His wife, singer-songwriter Patty Smyth, told him that only one of them would be touring for music.
McEnroe was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999. He is now a well-known sports commentator for television networks like ESPN, CBS, and BBC. He provides commentary for major tournaments like the US Open and Wimbledon.
McEnroe became the U.S. Davis Cup captain in September 1999. He resigned in November 2000, after 14 months, because he was frustrated with the Davis Cup schedule. His brother Patrick took over the job.
McEnroe has appeared as himself in movies like Mr. Deeds (2002), Wimbledon (2004), and You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008). In 2004, he hosted a talk show called McEnroe on CNBC, but it was canceled within five months. He also hosted the game show The Chair on ABC and BBC One.
McEnroe is involved in charity work and tennis development. He has helped raise money for New York City's youth tennis programs. He also collects American contemporary art and opened an art gallery in Manhattan in 1993.
McEnroe still plays regularly on the ATP Champions Tour, where he competes against old rivals like Ivan Lendl and Björn Borg. His last win on the Champions Tour was in 2016 in Stockholm.
In 2007, McEnroe received the Philippe Chatrier Award, which is the highest honor from the ITF, for his contributions to tennis. He also appeared on the TV comedies 30 Rock and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
In 2010, he started the John McEnroe Tennis Academy on Randall's Island in New York City.
In 2012, McEnroe, while commentating for ESPN, criticized Australian tennis player Bernard Tomic for not trying his best in a match. However, Tomic was cleared of any wrongdoing.
McEnroe was part of Milos Raonic's coaching team from May to August 2016. He also worked as a commentator for the Australian Open in 2019 and 2020.
From 2020 to 2023, McEnroe was the off-camera narrator for the TV series Never Have I Ever. In April 2023, McEnroe played in the first live broadcast of Pickleball on ESPN.
Return to Doubles Tournaments
McEnroe returned to the ATP Tour in 2006 to play two doubles tournaments. In his first tournament, he teamed with Jonas Björkman to win the title at the SAP Open in San Jose. This was McEnroe's 78th doubles title and his first title since 1992. This win meant McEnroe had won doubles titles in four different decades.
McEnroe also won the over-45 legends doubles competition at the French Open in 2012 and 2014, partnering with his brother Patrick.
Personal Life
McEnroe was married to actress Tatum O'Neal from 1986 to 1994. They had three children together. After their divorce, McEnroe was given sole custody of the children in 1998.
In 1997, McEnroe married rock singer Patty Smyth. They have two daughters and live in Manhattan's Upper West Side.
McEnroe has written two autobiographies: You Cannot Be Serious (2002) and But Seriously (2017).
Career Statistics
Singles Performance in Major Tournaments
| Tournament | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | SR | W–L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | SF | A | QF | NH | A | A | QF | 4R | A | QF | 0 / 5 | 18–5 | 78.26 |
| French Open | 2R | A | A | 3R | QF | A | QF | F | SF | A | 1R | 4R | A | A | 1R | 1R | 0 / 10 | 25–10 | 71.43 |
| Wimbledon | SF | 1R | 4R | F | W | F | W | W | QF | A | A | 2R | SF | 1R | 4R | SF | 3 / 14 | 59–11 | 84.29 |
| US Open | 4R | SF | W | W | W | SF | 4R | W | F | 1R | QF | 2R | 2R | SF | 3R | 4R | 4 / 16 | 65–12 | 84.42 |
| Win–loss | 9–3 | 5–2 | 9–1 | 15–2 | 18–1 | 11–2 | 18–3 | 20–1 | 18–4 | 0–1 | 4–2 | 5–3 | 10–3 | 8–3 | 5–3 | 12–4 | 7 / 45 | 167–38 | 81.55 |
| Year End Championships | |||||||||||||||||||
| The Masters | W | SF | RR | SF | F | W | W | 1R | SF | 3 / 9 | 19–11 | 63.33 | |||||||
| WCT Finals | W | F | W | F | W | W | QF | F | W | 5 / 9 | 21–4 | 84.00 | |||||||
| Win–loss | 5–0 | 5–2 | 2–4 | 5–2 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 5–2 | 8 / 18 | 40–15 | 72.73 | ||||||
| Year End Ranking | 21 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 13 | 28 | 20 | $12,552,132 | ||
Career Records
- These records were achieved during the Open Era of tennis.
| Championship | Years | Record accomplished | Player tied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam | 1984 | 89.9% (62–7) sets winning percentage in 1 season | Stands alone |
| Grand Slam | 1984 | 11 consecutive match victories without losing a set | Roger Federer Rafael Nadal |
| Wimbledon | 1979–1992 | 8 singles and doubles titles combined | Stands alone |
| Wimbledon | 1984 | 68% (134–63) games winning % in 1 tournament | Stands alone |
| US Open | 1979–1989 | 8 singles and doubles titles | Stands alone |
| Time span | Other selected records | Players matched |
|---|---|---|
| GP/WCT Finals records | ||
| 1980–1988 | 12 combined WCT and GP finals overall | Ivan Lendl |
| 1979–1988 | 18 combined WCT and GP finals appearances overall | |
| 1979–1988 | 8 combined WCT and GP titles overall | Stands alone |
| 1981–1984 | 3 combined WCT and GP titles won without losing a set | Ivan Lendl |
| 1979–1985 | 5 WCT titles overall | Stands alone |
| 1983–1984 | 2 consecutive WCT titles | Ken Rosewall |
| 1979–1989 | 8 WCT finals overall | Stands alone |
| 1979–1984 | 6 consecutive WCT finals | Stands alone |
| 1979–1984 | 21 match wins in WCT tour finals | Stands alone |
| 1978–84 | 7 Masters Grand Prix doubles titles consecutive and overall | Peter Fleming |
| 1978–84 | 7 Masters Grand Prix doubles titles consecutive and overall as a team | |
| Other records | ||
| 1978–2006 | 156 total titles (77 singles, 78 doubles and 1 mixed) | Stands alone |
| 1979 | 27 titles (10 singles & 17 doubles) in same season | Stands alone |
| 1979 | 17 doubles titles in same season | Stands alone |
| 1984 | 96.47% (82–3) single season match winning percentage | Stands alone |
| 1982 | Carpet Triple (London, Philadelphia and Tokyo) | Stands alone |
| 1984 | Hard Triple (Forest Hills, Toronto and Stockholm) | Stands alone |
| 1978–1985 | 10 carpet court Grand Prix Championship Series titles | Stands alone |
| 1978–1983 | 5 Wembley titles overall | Stands alone |
| 1978–1985 | 4 Stockholm Open titles overall | Boris Becker |
| 1982–1985 | 4 U.S. Pro Indoor titles overall | Jimmy Connors Rod Laver Pete Sampras |
| 1983–1984 | 9 consecutive hard court titles | Ivan Lendl |
| 1983–1985 | 13 consecutive carpet court titles | Stands alone |
| 1983–1985 | 15 consecutive indoor court titles | Stands alone |
| 1983–1985 | 66 consecutive carpet court match victories | Stands alone |
| 1979 | 56 carpet court match wins in a season | Stands alone |
| 1978–1991 | 84.29% (349–65) carpet court match winning percentage | Stands alone |
| 1978–1991 | 85.28% (423–73) indoor court match winning percentage | Stands alone |
| 1984 | 49 consecutive sets on carpet won | Stands alone |
| 1984 | Achieved No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles simultaneously | Stands alone |
| 1978–1992 | Achieved No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles | Stefan Edberg |
| 1980–1985 | Regained No. 1 ranking 14 times | Stands alone |
| 1984 | 42 consecutive matches won from the start of the season | Stands alone |
| 1979 | 15 doubles titles in 1 season as a team | Peter Fleming |
Legacy and Awards
Many people consider John McEnroe to be one of the greatest tennis players in history.
Professional Awards and Honors
- ITF World Champion: 1981, 1983, 1984
- ATP Player of the Year: 1981, 1983, 1984
- ATP Most Improved Player: 1978
- World Number 1 Male Player
- Davis Cup Commitment Award
- Chevalier of the Legion of Honour 2024
More About Tennis Legends
- World number 1 male tennis player rankings
- Tennis male players statistics
- List of Grand Slam men's singles champions
- Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
- Borg–McEnroe rivalry
- Lendl–McEnroe rivalry
- Connors–McEnroe rivalry
- Tennis records of All Time – Men's singles
- Tennis records of the Open Era – Men's singles
Images for kids
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McEnroe in 2015
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John McEnroe at the 1979 ABN Tennis Tournament
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McEnroe in a Dunlop advertisement published on El Gráfico, 1981
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McEnroe with Peter Fleming (left) at Wimbledon, mid 1980s
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John McEnroe serving during a Champions Cup Boston match, 2007
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John McEnroe in the 2007 Madrid Masters Senior
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McEnroe demonstrating his swing at a Vanity Fair party in New York City, 2009
See also
In Spanish: John McEnroe para niños
