John McEnroe Biography

John McEnroe, Jr. was born in 1959 in Wiesbaden, West Germany into a military family. His father was serving in the United States Air Force at the time of his birth, but only one year later the family relocated to the Queens, New York area, where McEnroe spent most of his formative years. John began playing tennis when he was nine, and it quickly became evident that he was no ordinary player; his excellence on the court led to his triumph at multiple tournaments, and by the time he was twelve, McEnroe was ranked seventh in his age group.

John McEnroe was still competing as an amateur in 1977, when he began his studies at Stanford University. One year later, he’d gone professional, joining the ATP tour and signing his first endorsement deals, and only a year after that, he won his first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open. From 1979 onward, John McEnroe dominated the court in nearly every major competition – Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Masters Grand Prix – frequently winning the same tournament year after year consecutively. By 1980, he’d earned the title of top-ranked singles player and he remained at the top of the rankings for the next four years. He also quickly established a reputation for his on-court behavior, frequently throwing "temper tantrums" and earning himself the nick-name SuperBrat (from the Daily Express.)

John McEnroe officially retired from tennis in 1992, ending with a ranking in the top twenty players worldwide. He is credited with helping boost the popularity of the sport during the era, but has also left a legacy of his on-court behavior which has found its way into popular culture. In the new millennium, McEnroe seems to have embraced the opportunities to poke a little fun at his own behavior of the past, appearing in such capacity on the television programs 30 Rock and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Parodies of his fiery temper have also made their way into repertoires for multiple comedians and impersonators.

Over the course of his career, McEnroe was recognized as ATP Player of the Year (in 1981, 1983, and 1984) and as ITF World Champion (in 1981, 1983, and 1984.) In 1999, John McEnroe was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Later that same year, he served as captain for the US David Cup team. Most recently, John McEnroe serves as a sports commentary for the sport and frequently appears on major networks during key events. McEnroe is also an active philanthropist, co-chairing a number of organizations which seek to raise funds to further promote the sport of tennis and make it available to under-privileged youth. And he still plays, often to benefit such charities in their fundraising endeavors.