Always good for a quote - John McEnroe's birthday party
Today, Tuesday, John McEnroe celebrates his 63rd birthday. The legendary American was not at a loss for an answer either on or off the pitch.
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
Feb 16, 2022, 12:35 am

The big John McEnroe Festivals usually take place at the end of the summer. Then the US Open takes place in New York, a tournament that is close to McEnroe's heart by birth and which the former tennis bad boy has won four times. And since 2017, the Laver Cup has also been played very soon after. There McEnroe is by far the liveliest part in Team World, which has not yet been able to win any of the four matches in Prague, Chicago, Geneva or Boston.
But especially in his role as team leader, John McEnroe keeps surpassing himself verbally. As well as a TV commentator for the last Grand Slam tournament of the year. Time to celebrate the US legend, who celebrates his 63rd birthday today, with some quotes.
And so John McEnroe spoke...
"When I was 25, if I was told I was going to be a TV commentator, it would have been like, 'Oh my God. That's a huge step down." (Today we know: As a commentator for ESPN, John McEnroe is indispensable, especially at the US Open.)
"I think you can only write one autobiography." (Which is why McEnroe wrote two: You Cannot Be Serious and Seriously.)
"Nick Kyrgios, if you don't want to be a professional tennis player, do something else." (Wise words, apparently spoken ahead of the 2022 Australian Open, where Kyrgios won the doubles match with Thanasi Kokkinakis.)
"Everyone loves success, but everyone hates successful people ." (John McEnroe was always sure of the envy, not only of his competitors.)
"One of the things I respected about Connors was that one second he could spit out the four-letter word, the next he was doing something that had viewers in their seats. But he never seemed to lose his focus." (John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors never became friends.)
"There was an exclamation that didn't look particularly good. After that I freaked out. Called the referee an idiot. Kicked a ball i the spectators. Then I hit a soda can with my bat and the Swedish king, who was sitting in the front row, was covered in soda." (John McEnroe on one of his legendary freaks.)