JOHN McENROE was known for his swing of the racket and dynamic on-court behavior.
The tennis legend-turned-commentator is married to an equally hard-core star – singer Patty Smyth.
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Who is John McEnroe?
John Patrick McEnroe Jr., 64, was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, to American parents on February 16, 1959.
His family moved to New York when he was only a year old.
McEnroe started playing tennis at the early age of eight, and a year later, his parents enrolled him in the Eastern Lawn Tennis Association.
He then joined the Port Washington Tennis Academy, which was the driving force for the start of his illustrious career.
On March 3, 1980, McEnroe became the highest-ranked singles player in the world.
The left-handed McEnroe was known for his shot-making, improvisation, superior skills at the net, and cat-like reflexes.
Although he wasn’t the biggest server, his unique motion allowed him to disguise where he hit the ball.
McEnroe’s first taste of success came when he won the mixed doubles at the French Open with Mary Carrillo at only 18.
At age 21, he reached No. 1 in the world for the first time.
From 1981 to 1984, McEnroe maintained his No. 1 status, establishing himself as one of the greats.
He is a three-time winner at Wimbledon, out of five finals, and a four-time winner at the U.S. Open, including three consecutive wins from 1979 to 1982.
The seven Grand Slams is the joint-13th highest all-time for men in the singles, while his nine titles in the doubles is sixth.
McEnroe’s win percentage comes to a staggering 81.5 percent in singles and 83.7 percent in doubles.
As one of the best American players ever, McEnroe won seven Grand Slam singles titles and nine doubles titles, before wrapping up his career with 77 singles titles on the ATP Tour and 78 doubles titles.
In 1999, McEnroe was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
The 63-year-old has gone on to have a successful transition into the commentary box for various networks like ESPN, CBS, NBC, and BBC.
Who is John McEnroe’s wife, Patty Smyth?
Patricia ‘Patty’ Smyth, 65, was born in New York City on June 26, 1957.
She is a singer and songwriter who rose to stardom with the rock band Scandal and then went on to record and perform as a solo artist.
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In the 1990s, she reached the Top 10 with Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough – a hit duet with Don Henley of Eagles.
Smyth was married to singer Richard Hell from 1985 to 1987, and the pair share a daughter, Ruby Meyers.
She met McEnroe in 1993, and the pair wed four years later.
Speaking in his 2022 documentary, McEnroe said: “My present wife, who I have been with almost 28 years, finally I feel like allowed me to be me, which I think is important in a relationship.
“If you can have that, you feel like it’s already a success.”
Do John McEnroe and Patty Smyth have children?
Smyth and McEnroe share two children, including daughters Anna and Ava McEnroe.
McEnroe was first married to Academy Award-winning actress Tatum O’Neal before tying the knot with Smyth.
McEnroe and O’Neal have three children: Kevin, Sean, and Emily McEnroe.
However, in 1998, McEnroe was awarded sole custody of their kids due to O’Neal’s drug issues.
