Seven Grand Slams, 155 titles and approximately zero patience – John McEnroe was tennis's ultimate entertainer

John McEnroe was a tennis genius on the court. His repertoire of skills made him a joy to watch. The proud New Yorker displayed a touch and panache which turned him into a box office draw.

Born on February 16th, 1959, in Wiesbaden, West Germany, due to his father, John Sr, being stationed there for the United States Air Force (USAF). McEnroe possesses Irish ancestry on his father's side.

After his father finished in the USAF, the family relocated to New York City. His mom Kay later had two younger brothers for John - Mark and Patrick, who was also a tennis professional. McEnroe began playing tennis at just eight years old at the Douglaston Club. His parents then entered him, at the age of 9, into regional tournaments before soon graduating into national events. He was ranked twelfth in his age group by the time he was 12.

McEnroe claimed his maiden career title at Hartford in September 1978 and went on to finish his breakthrough season with five singles titles.

The 1979 season witnessed the blooming of McEnroe from significant potential to a Grand Slam champion and serial winner. He won 10 titles in a campaign highlighted by victory at the US Open in his hometown, New York. A straight-set victory over Vitas Gerulaitis would prove to be the first of seven Grand Slam singles triumphs for the pugnacious American. But how did a player who went 82–3 in 1984 never win another singles major?

The challenge for McEnroe now was to supersede Bjorn Borg as the best player in the world. McEnroe pocketed four titles prior to Wimbledon, including a second consecutive title on the grass at Queen’s Club. Their rivalry would reach its peak over the next two years, but the match often best remembered is the 1980 Wimbledon showpiece. McEnroe prevailed 18-16 in an iconic tiebreak to force a fifth set. The ice-cool Swede, a polar opposite of McEnroe's fiery temperament, regrouped to win the fifth set and make it five in a row at SW19.

A rematch was soon forthcoming at the US Open two months later. This time McEnroe bested Borg in five sets. He then added five more tournament wins to finish with a total of 10 in 1980, a year where the balance of power in men's tennis was threatening to tilt in the direction of New York’s finest.

McEnroe would finally assume the mantle of top dog when, in 1981, he defeated Borg in the Wimbledon and US Open finals. These two slams formed part of a campaign that yielded ten titles.

During his first-round match against Tom Gullikson, he delivered his now-famous 'you cannot be serious' outburst at Wimbledon.

His four-set win over Borg in these finals would prove to be the last of a rivalry that went beyond the general tennis fanbase. Their 1980 Wimbledon final remains the most watched tennis match on the BBC. A peak audience of 17.7 million, even bettering Andy Murray's historic first Wimbledon triumph.

Borg, disillusioned with the fame and pressure of elite sport, walked away at just 26 years of age. McEnroe has often cited his frustration at this decision, feeling Borg enhanced his own performance levels. The 1982 season reinforced this claim. McEnroe didn't win a Slam and won five less titles, although he did finish year-end world number one for a second season running. His only Grand Slam final was a five-set loss to bitter rival Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon. This particular rivalry was founded on an enmity absent from the one with Borg. These two volcanic figures were not averse to verbal sparring on court.

McEnroe improved in 1983, reclaiming the Wimbledon title against surprise Kiwi finalist Chris Lewis. It was one of seven titles for McEnroe as he maintained his season-end number one ranking.

1984 was McEnroe's annus mirabilis. He finished with an 82-3 (96.5%) win/loss record, which remains the best match record in a single season. The American numbered a career-high 13 titles in an incredibly dominant season. The only significant low point was a brutal five-set loss to Ivan Lendl at the French Open, having been two sets up. In his first memoir, Serious, McEnroe cites this defeat as the most painful of his career. He would never add the clay court major to his CV. Solace was soon around the corner as McEnroe put on a masterclass in the Wimbledon final, beating old foe Connors for the loss of four games. A fourth US Open title was clinched to cement his position as the pre-eminent force in the game.

“That would be called in sports terms, choking,” he said on the podcast Undeniable surrounding that loss to Lendl. “It was extremely hot, I started to get irritable for no good reason but I still had him by the you know what.

“I started tightening up and then I lost the third set, which I probably should’ve won anyway. Then I got up in the fourth set, I was up a break, so I was five points away from winning, but then I managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.”

The 1985 season began smoothly for McEnroe with a third Masters title at a raucous Madison Square Garden, ultimately proving to be the highlight of a campaign where McEnroe was knocked off his perch as improved standards of power and fitness left McEnroe struggling to maintain his previous Grand Slam success of the 1980s. He won eight titles in 1985 but didn't win a Slam.

His decline accelerated in 1986 as three titles represented his lowest return since 1977, his first year on tour. The 1987 season would prove to be a barren term, losing all five finals he contested. A couple of titles in Tokyo and Detroit were added in 1988. Three titles in 1989 included a fifth success at the WCT Finals in Dallas. Overall, he sealed three Masters titles and five separate WCT Finals titles.

By the 1990s, McEnroe had slipped out of the leading pack. His combustible temperament led him to be defaulted at the 1990 Australian Open. He claimed just two more titles in this decade before retiring after the 1992 season. The last singles title was memorable for beating brother Patrick in the Chicago final. It was the 77th singles title won, from 109 final appearances. There was also a credible run at his last Wimbledon singles, in 1992, losing to Andre Agassi in the semi-finals.

McEnroe was one of the last top male singles players who combined an outstanding singles career with remarkable success in doubles. He's the only man to win more than 70 titles in both singles and doubles. He won 78 doubles titles, one more than his remarkable tally of 77 singles titles. His doubles record also included nine Grand Slams. Five of these came at Wimbledon, including four alongside Peter Fleming, a fellow New Yorker who is McEnroe's best friend in tennis. The last, in 1992, came in tandem with Michael Stich, winning 19-17 in the fifth set against Jim Grabb and Richey Reneberg.

This match is the longest Grand Slam doubles final in history. He also won four US Open doubles titles. The first three with Fleming before a 1989 triumph aligned with Australian Mark Woodford. McEnroe won a solitary mixed doubles Slam, teaming up with childhood friend Mary Carillo to win at the 1977 French Open, giving Mac his first Slam title in any discipline. Peter Fleming once said, “The best doubles pair in the world is John McEnroe and anybody."

McEnroe always revelled in team competition. In addition to a stellar doubles record, McEnroe was part of five Davis Cup winning squads (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1992). He also undertook a short stint as USA captain for 14 months in 1999-2000. The feisty American is often cited with reviving interest in the Davis Cup for the USA, as a number of top players, including Jimmy Connors, started to snub the competition.

Once retired, McEnroe helped to establish a seniors circuit for retired players. It allowed him an opportunity to renew his iconic rivalry with Jimmy Connors who he admitted he never liked. He quickly assumed a dominant position on the fledgling circuit, eventually finishing with 25 titles on the Champions Tour over a 16-year period. McEnroe even returned to the main tour in 2006 to win a doubles title with Jonas Bjorkman.

McEnroe made a seamless transition into broadcasting in the 1990s. A fast talker with a sharp wit, McEnroe was a natural fit for television. He's worked for over 30 years on American TV offering punchy analysis supplemented by amusing anecdotes. The BBC hired him for their Wimbledon coverage in 2000. He remained the best-paid employee on their output at the grass court slam until that was cut. His punditry tends to divide opinion. A certain number of tennis fans believe he lacks knowledge of players outside the very elite.

His broadcasting career expanded into hosting a quiz show called The Chair, which aired on both US and British television. This vehicle and short-lived chat show titled McEnroe proved ratings failures. He's also made cameos as himself in dramas such as CSI and Mr Deeds.

McEnroe's private life has been much publicised. He spent eight years (1986-1994) married to actress Tatum O'Neal. They had three children together, and McEnroe was eventually awarded sole custody in 1998 as a consequence of O'Neal's drug addiction. He would then marry singer Patty Smyth in 1997, having two children together and he became a stepdad to Smyth's child from a past relationship.

Music has played a big part in McEnroe's life. He's a keen guitarist and has performed numerous times on stage. He's experienced guest slots on stage with bands such as The Pretenders and Pearl Jam. He's also part of the McEnroe and Cash With The Full Metal Rackets alongside fellow past tennis pro Pat Cash. He's been the castaway on the long-running BBC radio show Desert Island Discs, selecting tracks from the likes of David Bowie, the Sex Pistols, Nirvana and Rage Against the Machine.

There’s a strong case to be made that McEnroe is the best male combined singles/doubles of all time. He and Stefan Edberg are the only two men to be ranked number one in both singles and doubles. McEnroe’s tally of 155 singles and doubles titles remains a record in the Open Era.

It was perplexing after such dominance between 1981 and 1984; McEnroe failed to win another singles Grand Slam and consistently challenge for the biggest events. His impact went far beyond impressive numbers, though. The rivalry with Borg transcended the sport and introduced a new breed of fans to the sport. Their rivalry was captured in the film drama Borg v. McEnroe in 2017. While McEnroe has kept himself in the tennis spotlight ever since retiring through his acerbic and entertaining punditry. Very few names in tennis are recognised with the general public as much as the fiery New York genius. You cannot be serious? I'm deadly serious.