People | April 28, 2016 09:13 AM EDT
45 Facts About John McEnroe - American Tennis Player
McEnroe was controversial, immensely competitive, and prone to outbursts, but there could be no disputing his enormous talents. He is Pablo Picasso using tennis racquet instead of a paintbrush. Here are 45 facts about the world famous player:
- McEnroe is a former American tennis player, who is well known for his touch and volley. He has won seven Grand Slam singles, nine Grand Slam doubles and one mixed double titles.
- He was born on February 16, 1959 in Wiesbaden, West Germany to John Patrick McEnroe Sr. and Katherine Tresham. He was christened John Patrick McEnroe Jr.
- His father is of Irish descent. He was an advertising agent during day and pursuing law in night school. He has two siblings Mark and Patrick.
- He grew up in the Douglaston community in Queens County of New York. He took to tennis in the local Douglaston Club with his brothers. He was eight years old.
- By the age of nine he was enrolled in the Eastern Lawn Tennis Association. He soon started participating in regional tournament.
- He did his schooling at Trinity School in Manhattan, an Ivy League prep school. At school he played soccer, tennis and basketball.
- He was twelve when he was enrolled in the Port Washington Tennis Academy, Long Island, New York. He was coached by Tony Palafox and Harry Hopman and was ranked seventh in his age group.
- He graduated from high school in 1977. He was the top junior player, who never attained the number 1 ranking in the country.
- In 1977, he won the French Open Boys singles title. He also partnered Marry Carillo to win the seniors mixed double title, to claim his first grand slam title. He was 18 years and still an amateur.
- He entered 1977 Wimbledon Championship Main draw after going through qualifying matches. He reached semi-finals before losing to Jimmy Connors in four sets.
- His feat at the Wimbledon in 1977 is a record performance by an amateur in the open era and the best performance by a qualifier in the Grand Slam tournament.
- He joined Stanford University in 1977 and represented it in the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship. He won the singles and team titles in 1978.
- In 1978 he signed his first professional endorsement deal with Italian sportswear company, Sergio Tacchini and also joined the ATP tours.
- In1978 he entered US Hard court championship as 15th seed. He progressed to semi-finals once again losing to Jimmy Connors by 2-6, 2-6, 5-7.
- He won the 1978 Colgate-Palmolive Masters at the Madison Square Garden, New York City. In the final he defeated Arthur Ashe by 6-7, 6-3, 7-5. It was his first Masters win. He also won the doubles partnering Peter Fleming to make it double.
- He reached fourth round of 1979 Wimbledon Championship in singles, before losing to Tim Gullikson. He went on to win the doubles title with Peter Fleming. They defeated Gottfried and Ramirez 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
- McEnroe won his first singles Grand Slam singles title in the 1979 U.S Open championship. In the final he defeated Vitas Gerulaitis in three sets, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3. He also won the doubles title with Fleming. He became the youngest male winner at 20 years at U.S Open.
- He won the season ending championship, the WCT Finals in 1979 defeating Bjorn Borg in four sets, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6. He set open era record by winning 27 titles in 1979 including 10 singles.
- McEnroe played the 1980 Wimbledon final which many consider at that time as the greatest match ever played. He lost to Bjorn Borg in five sets by 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-6, 6-8 score line. The fourth set tie-breaker described by a reporter as most riveting episode in the sport’s history.
- On September 7, 1980, won his second Grand Slam singles title by winning the 100 edition of US Open finals against Bjorn Borg in five sets by 7-6, 6-1, 6-7, 5-7, 6-4. He lost the doubles final.
- After the first round win against Tom Gullikson in the 1981 Wimbledon, McEnroe was fined U.S $ 1,500 for his misconduct during the match. He called umpire Ted James names and swore at tournament referee Fred Hoyles.
- He shows his displeasure at the umpire during matches throughout his career with his famous line ‘you cannot be serious.’ Later this phrase became the title of his autobiography.
- He halted Borg’s 41 consecutive match victories at All England Championship, by defeating him in the finals to claim his first Wimbledon and third singles Grand Slam title. He won in four sets.
- His on court antics during the 1981 Wimbledon championship, the All England Club did not accord McEnroe honorary club membership. The singles champion for the first time at the club is honored.
- On winning his 1981 U.S Open singles title, he became the first male player since 1920s to win three consecutive singles title. He defeated Borg in the final in four sets. He also won his doubles title with Fleming.
- In 1983 he reached his fourth final at Wimbledon to claim the title by defeating Chris Lewis in strait set 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.
- He won the 1983 World Championship Tennis final against Ivan Lendl in epic five setter by 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6.He once again met Ivan Lendl in the Volvo Masters and won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
- 1984 was the closest McEnroe ever came to claim the French Open. He was leading by two sets before Lendl used his top spin, lobs, and cross court passing shots to turn the tide. He lost in five sets by 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 5-7, 5-7.
- McEnroe described his 1984 French Open loss as the bitterest defeat and a shadow on his career that could never be chased off. The loss ended his 42 match winning streak in 1984.
- He won his fourth US Open title by defeating Ivan Lendl in three straight sets in the 1984 final. Earlier he had defeated Connors in the semi-final in the night time thriller with match starting late in the evening.
- He had a wonderful year 1984, as he compiled 82-3 win-loss record with 13 singles tournament title. He was also part of US World Team cup and US was runner-up in Davis Cup.
- He won the 1984 Stockholm Open in which he had his on- court outburst for which, he was fined $ 7,500 and was suspended for 21 days.
- After almost a decade he took a break for six months from tennis for the first time. He returned to competitive tennis in 1987 only to take seven month break, when he failed to win any title.
- He married his long time friend Tatum O’Neal on August 01, 1986. He had a daughter Emily and two sons Kevin and Sean. They divorced in 1994.
- He reached quarter-final of the 1987 US Open before losing to Ivan Lendl. During the championship he was fined US $ 17,500 and suspended for two months.
- On March 03, 1980 he became World No.1 ranked singles player, which he maintained till 1984. He spent 170 weeks at the top of the rankings.
- He was World No.1 in doubles for 270 weeks. He won most of his matches partnering Fleming, with whom he has a powerful partnership. They won 57 doubles title.
- McEnroe was great team man and took pride in representing his country in the Davis Cup. He competed in the Davis Cup for 12 years and was part of winning team for five years. He has won a total of 59 matches in both single and doubles.
- McEnroe’s son Kevin was arrested for attempting to buy cocaine in July 2014. Later charges were dropped after it was discovered that cocaine he was trying to buy is in fact was baking soda.
- His tantrums with players, chair umpires, line umpires and with tabloid press made Ian Barnes of the ‘Daily Express’ nick-named McEnroe as ‘Super Brat.’
- In 1990 in the Australian Open in a match against Mikael Pernfors, he was ejected from the tournament. He was unaware of new Code of Conduct wherein a player after third court violation will be disqualified.
- He retired from professional tennis in 1992. He had win loss record of 875-198 matches with 77 career titles. At the time of retirement he ranked 20th in the world.
- He was married for the second time to rock star Patty Smyth in April 1997. He has two daughters Anna and Ava.
- He was inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999. He is now sports commentator for tennis.
- In 2004, McEnroe disclosed that during much of his career he was administered steroid without his knowledge.
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