Tennis Legends: John McEnroe - You cannot be serious? The tennis genius and box office draw

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 snr 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 aged just eight, 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 a maiden career title at the Hartford event of September 1978. He went on to accumulate three further titles that season to announce his arrival as a contender.

The 1979 season witnessed the blooming of McEnroe from significant potential to a Grand Slam champion and serial winner. He trousered eleven titles in a campaign highlighted by victory at the US Open in hometown New York. A straight sets victory over Vitas Gerulaitis would prove to be the first of seven Grand Slam singles triumphs for the pugnacious American.

The challenge for McEnroe now was to supercede 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 four more tournament wins to finish with a total of nine 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. His four set wins 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 six 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.

The 1985 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 what is now the ATP Tour Finals. This quintet of victories were particularly sweet for McEnroe as all came in New York at Madison Square Garden, home of his beloved New York Knicks.

By the 1990s, McEnroe had slipped out of the leading pack. His combustible temperament led him to being 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 creditable 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 a great singles with a hugely successful one in doubles. He's the only man to win more than 70 titles in both singles and doubles. He matched his title tally of 77 singles titles in the doubles sphere. 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 Woodforde. 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 and 1990). 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. 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 remains the best paid employee on their output at the grass court Slam. 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 another child and becoming a stepdaughter 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, Sex Pistols, Nirvana and Rage Against the Machine.

There’s a strong case to be made that McEnroe is the best 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.