Few players have ever made a tennis court feel as electric as John McEnroe. The left-hander from New York won seven Grand Slam singles titles, spent 170 weeks as world No. 1 and gave us the 1980 Wimbledon tiebreak that people still talk about more than four decades later.
Today he is a familiar voice in the commentary box. Browse our tennis collection for more icons of the game.
John McEnroe Fact File
| Full name | John Patrick McEnroe Jr. |
|---|---|
| Date of birth (age) | 16 February 1959 (67) |
| Place of birth | Wiesbaden, West Germany (raised in New York) |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Discipline | Singles and doubles; left-handed, one-handed backhand |
| Nationality | American |
| Current status | Retired; broadcaster and International Tennis Hall of Famer (1999) |
| Nickname | Johnny Mac; "SuperBrat" |
Career History
| Event | Singles titles | Singles finals | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wimbledon | 3 | 5 | 1981, 1983, 1984 |
| US Open | 4 | 5 | 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984 |
| French Open | 0 | 1 | Runner-up 1984 |
| Masters Grand Prix (Tour Finals) | 3 | – | 1978, 1983, 1984 |
| WCT Finals | 5 | – | 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1989 |
| Career (all events) | 77 | 109 | 881–198 match record |
Figures are for men's singles only and follow the ATP Tour's official record, cross-checked with Wikipedia.
Early Years: The Qualifier Who Shook Wimbledon
Born in Wiesbaden, West Germany, where his father was stationed with the US Air Force, McEnroe grew up in Queens, New York. In 1977, as an 18-year-old amateur, he came through qualifying at Wimbledon and marched all the way to the semi-finals before Jimmy Connors stopped him in four sets.
He then won the 1978 NCAA singles title at Stanford before turning professional.
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Breakthrough: Borg, Flushing Meadows and That Tiebreak
McEnroe won his first Grand Slam at the 1979 US Open, beating Vitas Gerulaitis in the final, and reached world No. 1 for the first time on 3 March 1980. His rivalry with Björn Borg defined the era. In the 1980 Wimbledon final he saved five championship points and won an extraordinary fourth-set tiebreak 18–16, only for Borg to take the fifth set 8–6.
In 1981 he ended Borg's run of five straight Wimbledon titles, then beat him again in New York.
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Peak: The Near-Perfect 1984
McEnroe finished as year-end No. 1 four years running from 1981 to 1984, adding Wimbledon in 1983 against Chris Lewis. Then came 1984, one of the greatest seasons the sport has seen. He went 82–3, the best single-season win rate of the Open Era, won 13 titles and demolished Jimmy Connors in the Wimbledon final before beating Ivan Lendl for his fourth US Open crown.
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Later Career and Legacy
McEnroe won a fifth WCT Finals title in 1989 and the 1992 Wimbledon doubles with Michael Stich. His combined singles and doubles haul is the largest of any man in the Open Era by the ATP's count. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999 and later captained Team World at the Laver Cup from 2017 to 2024.
Honours
Grand Slam Singles (7)
- Wimbledon: 1981, 1983, 1984
- US Open: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984
Grand Slam Doubles (9) and Mixed (1)
- Wimbledon men's doubles: 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984 (with Peter Fleming), 1992 (with Michael Stich)
- US Open men's doubles: 1979, 1981, 1983 (with Peter Fleming), 1989 (with Mark Woodforde)
- French Open mixed doubles: 1977 (with Mary Carillo)
Team and Year-End Titles
- Davis Cup: 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1992
- Masters Grand Prix: 1978, 1983, 1984
- WCT Finals: 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1989
Recognition
- Year-end world No. 1: 1981–1984
- International Tennis Hall of Fame (1999)
Away From the Court
McEnroe has become one of the best-known voices in tennis broadcasting, including for ESPN and the BBC's Wimbledon coverage. In 2010 he founded the John McEnroe Tennis Academy on Randall's Island in New York City, and he is married to the singer Patty Smyth.
FAQs
How old is John McEnroe?
John McEnroe was born on 16 February 1959, so he is 67 years old.
Where was John McEnroe born?
He was born in Wiesbaden, West Germany, and grew up in New York.
How tall is John McEnroe?
He stands 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in).
How many Grand Slams did John McEnroe win?
He won seven Grand Slam singles titles (three Wimbledons and four US Opens).
What was John McEnroe's best season?
In 1984 he went 82–3 and won 13 titles, the best win rate of the Open Era.
What happened in the famous 1980 Wimbledon tiebreak?
In the final against Björn Borg, he saved five championship points to win the fourth-set tiebreak 18–16, though Borg won the match.
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Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Björn Borg Career Story: 11 Slams and Five Wimbledons and Pete Sampras Career Story: 14 Slams and Seven Wimbledons.
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