Short Biography

John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. (born February 16, 1959) is an American former World No. 1 professional tennis player. McEnroe won seven Grand Slam singles titles—three at Wimbledon and four at the US Open—nine Grand Slam men`s doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title. He is remembered for his shot-making artistry and superb volleying; for his famous rivalries with Björn Borg, Jimmy Connors, and Ivan Lendl; for his confrontational on-court behavior, which frequently landed him in trouble with umpires and tennis authorities; and for the catchphrase "You can not be serious!" directed toward an umpire during a match at Wimbledon in 1981. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999. After a 12-year absence from the professional tour, McEnroe returned to top-level doubles competition in 2006 and became the oldest male player to win an Association of Tennis Professionals title in 30 years at San Jose.

By 1986, the pressures of playing at the top had become too much for McEnroe to handle and he took a six-month break from the tour. It was during this sabbatical that he married the actress Tatum O`Neal on August 1, 1986. They would eventually have three children: Kevin (born May 23, 1986), Sean (born September 23, 1987), and Emily (born May 10, 1991), and divorce in 1994. When he returned to the tour later in 1986, he won three titles. But McEnroe never seemed to be able to recapture his very best form again. In 1987, McEnroe failed to win a title for the first time since turning pro. He took a seven-month break from the game following the US Open, where he was suspended for two months and fined US$17,500 for misconduct and verbal abuse. McEnroe separated from Tatum O`Neal in 1992 and they divorced in 1994. While he was originally awarded full custody of their children, they now have joint custody.[citation needed] He married musician Patty Smyth in April 1997, with whom he has two daughters, Anna (13) and Ava (10), and one stepdaughter, Ruby (23) (from Smyth`s previous marriage to rock star Richard Hell). McEnroe was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999.

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