John McEnroe

John McEnroe was one of the most successful tennis players in history. McEnroe filled the stands with fans to watch his unbelievable ability as well as those who despised him for his temperamental outbursts leveled at the officials and himself. He built his reputation not only on his fantastic playing record, but his tirades on the court made him the one to watch. After his retirement in 1992, he became a commentator at the Wimbledon. He has many interests, including his own band, an art gallery he opened, and his many charitable activities have softened the public opinion of his “bad boy” image.

Born in 1959, McEnroe was the youngest player at age eighteen to reach the semi-finals at the Wimbledon. While attending Stanford University in 1978, he won the National Collegiate Athletic Award. The same year he turned professional. In 1979, McEnroe won his first US Open. Some consider his loss to Bjorn Borg at Wimbledon in 1980 to be the greatest match in sports history. He recaptured the Wimbledon Championship the next year by defeating Borg.

During his career, McEnroe won seven Grand Slam singles titles and seven doubles. He was No. 1 in Association of Tennis Professionals year-end ranking from 1981 to 1984. McEnroe slacked off in training and began to decline in 1985. He took some time off and married actress Tatum O’Neil 1986. They had three children and divorced in 1992. McEnroe is now married to singer Patty Smyth with two daughters. McEnroe was inducted into the World Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999.