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Tennis

McEnroe still does it his way

The former bad boy of tennis has mellowed but at 44 remains outspoken.

By KEITH NIEBUHR, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 28, 2003

People always watched.

Tennis fans. Nontennis fans. Even fellow professionals.

When John McEnroe, the poster boy for bad behavior, took the court, stadiums were filled and television sets were on. He was admired for his talent and scorned for his unsavory behavior.

Some cheered him.

Some jeered him.

But with his trademark bandana and often out-of-sorts curly hair, he had an appeal to the masses that the sport has lacked since he retired from competitive tennis in 1992.

"I loved to watch him play," said former women's standout Tracy Austin. "He would draw me to the TV. I wanted to see him."

McEnroe, with a unique serve-and-volley style, won seven major championships. He claimed four U.S. Open titles, three Wimbledon crowns and won 77 tournaments. His doubles record -- 77 titles and nine major championships -- was equally impressive. And he shined in Davis Cup for the United States, going 41-8 in singles and 18-2 in doubles while helping his team win five championships. "He played tennis like nobody really played before him," legend Martina Navratilova said. "I loved to watch him play. I just kept thinking he was going to grow up, and he never did."

At his peak, McEnroe's shotmaking skills were unmatched. But, of course, with him you always took the good with the bad. He was always on the edge, and that was part of his allure.

"I really tried to emulate Jimmy Connors because of his effort level," said the 44-year-old McEnroe, who lives in New York and is a television commentator.

While growing up in New York, McEnroe was a ball boy at the U.S. Open. In 1977, at age 18, he reached the semifinals at Wimbledon. He won an NCAA singles title at Stanford the following year. In 1979, McEnroe won his first U.S. Open, beating friend Vitas Gerulaitis in the final. He also won Opens in 1980, '81 and '84. McEnroe broke through at Wimbledon in 1981 with a four-set final win over Bjorn Borg, ending Borg's run of five consecutive championships there. The Borg-McEnroe rivalry became one of the most storied in sports.

Borg was forever stoic. McEnroe was brash, outspoken and volatile. Even their style of play clashed. While McEnroe frequently charged the net to force his opponent's hand, Borg was the classic baseliner.

"I loved playing Borg," McEnroe said. "I wish I had played him more. That was the ultimate rivalry that I had. He was the guy I thought could bring me to the top of my game."

At the 1992 U.S. Open, McEnroe's last major, he lost to Jim Courier in the round of 16, signaling the end of his competitive career. "When I felt like I couldn't win a major, I decided to hang it up," McEnroe said. "It was a disappointing feeling. It was hard to face up to that. ... It's always hard to let go. That's one of the reasons I'm happy I get to play matches like (Saturday's Volvo Classic exhibition in Tampa). There's still that competitive blood in you."

McEnroe has mellowed and matured with age. But just as he did when he played, he has an announcing style all his own. On the court he did as he pleased. In the booth, he speaks his mind.

"Announcing is real nice," McEnroe said. "It allows people to see a side of my personality I wasn't very good at showing when I was a player. I can be a little self-deprecating and have some fun. My personality was suppressed when I was out there (playing). I was very intense. I thought if I showed that side of me I might lose my concentration."

One thing he never lost was his audience.

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