Portal:1980s/Selected biography/43
John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. (born February 16, 1959) is an American former World No. 1 professional tennis player, often rated among the greatest of all time in the sport, especially for his touch on the volley. He 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 also won a record eight year-end championships, 19 Grand Prix Super Series titles, and finished his career with 77 ATP-listed singles titles and 78 in doubles.
McEnroe is known for his shot-making artistry and volleying skills; for his rivalries with Björn Borg, Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl; and for his confrontational on-court behavior, which frequently landed him in trouble with umpires and tennis authorities. In 1981, 1983 and 1984 he was both the ATP player of the year and the ITF World Champion for Men's singles. His match record of 82–3 in 1984 remains the best single season win rate of the Open Era.
McEnroe is a former Captain of the United States Davis Cup team and as a player was part of five Cup-winning teams. He continues to play tennis and competes in senior events on the ATP Champions Tour. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999 and received the Philippe Chatrier Award in 2007. After his tennis career he became a television commentator, a game show host and a chat show host. Additionally, he has appeared in several films and television shows as himself and has played music live. He has been married since 1997 to musician and former Scandal lead singer Patty Smyth, and they have six children between them (two together). (Full article...)