John Mcenroe Quotes

Powerful John Mcenroe for Daily Growth

About John Mcenroe

John Mcenroe, born on February 16, 1959, in New York City, is an iconic American tennis player known for his fiery temperament as much as his prodigious talent. Nicknamed 'Superbrat' due to his contentious on-court behavior, Mcenroe revolutionized men's tennis during the 1970s and 1980s with his aggressive playing style, unpredictable shots, and verbal exchanges with officials and opponents. Mcenroe began his tennis journey at the age of eight under the tutelage of his father, a former college player. His professional debut came in 1977, at the age of 18, when he reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open, losing to Jimmy Connors. This marked the beginning of an unprecedented reign in men's tennis, during which Mcenroe won four consecutive U.S. Open titles (1979-1983) and seven Wimbledon championships (1977-1984, 1988-1989). Influenced by the likes of Rod Laver and Jimmy Connors, Mcenroe's game combined power, precision, and an innovative serve-and-volley approach. Off the court, he was vocal about social issues and outspoken against the rigid traditions of tennis, earning him both criticism and admiration. Post-retirement in 1992, Mcenroe has remained active in the sport as a commentator, coach, and author. His books, including "You Cannot Be Serious" (1986) and "Seriously: An Autobiography" (2007), offer a candid look into his life and career. Mcenroe's legacy extends beyond tennis, as he continues to be a cultural icon who challenged the status quo and left an indelible mark on sports and popular culture.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"You cannot be serious!"

This quote by John McEnroe, "You cannot be serious!", is a classic expression of frustration and disbelief. It highlights a situation where he finds something unacceptable or incomprehensible, often used during heated moments in tennis matches when rules or decisions don't go his way. In a broader sense, it underscores the importance of honesty, fairness, and clarity in any context, be it sports, relationships, or everyday life. The quote suggests that if something lacks these qualities, it is unacceptable and unworthy of being taken seriously.

"I think it's a disgrace to lose like this."

This quote, by tennis legend John McEnroe, suggests his strong feelings about defeat, particularly when he believes the outcome was undeserved or due to circumstances rather than skill. It highlights McEnroe's high standards for himself and his competitive spirit, which drives him to strive for victory in every situation.

"This court is unplayable. I can't see the ball."

This quote, spoken by tennis legend John McEnroe, conveys his frustration with a suboptimal playing condition. Specifically, he's finding it difficult to play effectively due to poor visibility caused by factors like insufficient court lighting or adverse weather conditions, making it challenging for him to track the ball's movement and make accurate shots.

"It's amazing. It's in the top 50, maybe even the top 100."

This quote implies that John McEnroe is expressing surprise or sarcasm about something being mediocre or relatively unimpressive, yet he feels compelled to acknowledge it, if only by placing it in a very large list (top 50 or even top 100). The humor lies in the hyperbole used to describe something that is not particularly noteworthy or exceptional.

"I feel I've been playing well enough to win this tournament for about five years now."

This quote suggests that, despite not having won a particular tournament in the past five years, John McEnroe believes he consistently performs at a level high enough to potentially secure victory in that tournament. It implies a sense of frustration or disappointment at not yet achieving a long-standing goal, but also underscores his confidence in his ability and persistence in pursuit of success.

I like to be close to water and the ocean, particularly. I love to get out and body surf. I like mountain biking, too.

- John McEnroe

Love, Surf, Particularly, Biking

I've seen tennis clubs close in Manhattan and garages put up in their place, and I'd sure like to be part of reversing that trend.

- John McEnroe

Trend, Like, Sure, Manhattan

If people do things without thinking them through, that rubs me up the wrong way.

- John McEnroe

Through, Wrong Way, Them, Rubs

I was a different kind of player as a kid and didn't do too much shouting and screaming. If things didn't go my way, I tended to get a bit overwhelmed. All I wanted to do was cry on my mom's shoulder. I didn't know how to handle defeat in front of a crowd, and I didn't want to be the loser.

- John McEnroe

Kid, Crowd, Different Kind, Handle

The best thing I ever did was when I was offered a million dollars to go play in South Africa and didn't take it. I was 21 years old, and part of it was like, 'Well, if they're offering me this obscene amount of money just to play one match, there must be something really wrong.'

- John McEnroe

Play, Part, South, Obscene

I don't take myself as seriously as I did when I was playing, and it works, and I think people see the self-deprecation in my commentary.

- John McEnroe

Think, I Think, Works, Commentary

I don't think enough players channel the energy of the crowd. If it's done properly, and you don't let anger overwhelm and distract you, it's like a shot of adrenaline in the arm, and it gets the crowd pumped up.

- John McEnroe

Think, Crowd, Like, Overwhelm

Jack Nicholson didn't get anything until he was in his thirties. You have to persevere and put yourself in positions, and sooner or later, you will break through.

- John McEnroe

Through, Sooner, Persevere, Nicholson

I'd like to be the commissioner of tennis, but do I want to get into politics? Sometimes I have delusions of grandeur that that would be an interesting, good thing. I'm talking about actual politics, like being a congressman, but then I see how unbelievably nasty it really is, and maybe I'm not quite knowledgeable enough to actually do it.

- John McEnroe

Politics, Sometimes, Maybe, Nasty

Nick Kyrgios, if you don't want to be a professional tennis player, do something else.

- John McEnroe

Want, Tennis, Something Else, Nick

Everybody loves success, but they hate successful people.

- John McEnroe

Success, Everybody, Loves, Successful People

When I was 25, if you'd have said I was going to be a commentator, that would seem like, 'Oh, my God. That's a huge step down.'

- John McEnroe

Like, Going, Oh My God, Commentator

But these guys learn so fast now, they sort of soak up the information, they're fearless. Those are the guys who learn from their mistakes and come back strong the next time.

- John McEnroe

Strong, Learn, Next, Next Time

When I came on the tour, I thought, 'Why don't they treat tennis players the same way they look at football players?' Because I've got news for you: when they are on the pitch, they are not saying, 'Hello, how are you?' out there.

- John McEnroe

Treat, Why, Tennis Players, Football Players

If Roger stopped right now and never won another match, to me he'd already be one of the greatest players to ever play the game. To me, he's the greatest all around talent that I've ever seen.

- John McEnroe

Game, Play, Stopped, Roger

Nadal and Roger Federer have great respect for each other. I think Novak Djokovic gets under those two guys' skin a little bit, and maybe they don't want to admit it, and I think that's, in a way, healthy.

- John McEnroe

Other, Maybe, I Think, Roger

I went to play in Brazil when I had just turned 18 and was the world's top junior player. I got to the airport, and no one knew who I was. I couldn't speak any Portuguese, and no one spoke English. Then someone said something that resembled 'tennis,' and I went with that.

- John McEnroe

Play, Brazil, Turned, Junior

There's a certain beauty and majesty to Wimbledon. The elegance, the way the grass looks on TV.

- John McEnroe

Elegance, Looks, TV, Grass

Do women golfers say they could go out and beat Tiger Woods?

- John McEnroe

Woods, Go, Could, None

Kyrgios has got to look in the mirror if he wants to become a top player and win Grand Slams.

- John McEnroe

Mirror, Grand, Got, Grand Slams

I didn't get along with most of the players I played against, but the one guy I did get along with was my greatest rival, so it can be done.

- John McEnroe

Against, Guy, Players, Rival

When I felt I was rejected by my first wife, and she said, 'Some day you will thank me for this,' you know what? I do. And so, sometimes it is darkest before the dawn. You can think it is bleak and you can't see. You never know.

- John McEnroe

Some, Before, Rejected, Bleak

What is the single most important quality in a tennis champion? I would have to say desire, staying in there and winning matches when you are not playing that well.

- John McEnroe

Winning, Desire, Staying, Champion

I don't really know why I started playing as a kid, but I grew up in Queens, New York, not too far from Forest Hills, where they played the U.S. Open in those days. I even got to be a ball boy there. Also, there was a tennis court just a block away from our house, and I'd hang out down there.

- John McEnroe

Forest, Away, Hang, Block

You look at a guy like Michael Jordan: I can't believe there will be other basketball players like him.

- John McEnroe

Other, Like, Michael Jordan, Jordan

I thought doubles was a good way for me to practice and get some reps in - I didn't like to train in the gym as much as players these days.

- John McEnroe

Practice, Thought, Some, Doubles

I haven't seen a professional player come out of New York in over 20 years since my brother Patrick came out. Blake spent a few years in Harlem, but he moved to Connecticut when he was a kid.

- John McEnroe

Kid, Seen, Moved, Blake

The important thing is to learn a lesson every time you lose. Life is a learning process and you have to try to learn what's best for you. Let me tell you, life is not fun when you're banging your head against a brick wall all the time.

- John McEnroe

Against, Important Thing, Brick

It seems like the richer you are, the more chance you have of paying less tax.

- John McEnroe

Chance, Like, Paying, Richer

Do you have any problems, other than that you're unemployed, a moron, and a dork?

- John McEnroe

Other, Moron, Than, Dork

If you look at the top 100 players, you would see that the great majority of them have had at least a couple of surgeries. That tells me that we have to protect the players.

- John McEnroe

Players, Couple, Least, Great Majority

What I've realised is that you can run miles, jump on a bike, lift weights, and all that other garbage, but the bottom line is that you get in tennis shape by playing tennis. You build the right muscles, and I don't believe people can do it as successfully any other way.

- John McEnroe

Run, Other, Line, Weights

Look at Becker and Djokovic. If you look at Novak's record since Boris has been there, it's been phenomenal.

- John McEnroe

Look, Been, Record, Phenomenal

To be involved in a senior tournament back in the States is very satisfying.

- John McEnroe

Senior, Very, Involved, Satisfying

There's something deeply satisfying when it succeeds, but I'm not going to do another book just to put my name on something and make some money if it's not something I deeply care about.

- John McEnroe

Some, Going, Succeeds, Satisfying

It's one thing if you live in London and you're rooting for Chelsea or you're in New York and you love the Giants or Jets and no matter who's on the team you're into it. It's different in tennis; you're sort of your own guy, so you have to reach out and grab a person in a different way.

- John McEnroe

Love, Chelsea, Rooting, Giants

With commentating, I've had a chance to show the humorous side of my personality that I didn't use on the court. It's fun, and I don't take myself too seriously. I have good broadcast teams with me, but I'm not a huge stats guy. I think they post the numbers too quickly, and I'd rather let the match play out a bit first.

- John McEnroe

Play, I Think, Broadcast, Humorous

I remember when I was younger taking more pride in Wimbledon than the French. That and the U.S. Open - they were the ones I wanted to win.

- John McEnroe

I Remember, Remember When, U.S. Open

I won't admit to having a poster of Borg on my bedroom door. But I certainly found him to be someone who got me way more into tennis.

- John McEnroe

Door, Certainly, Having, Poster

I didn't serve and volley until I got to Wimbledon in '77.

- John McEnroe

Serve, Got, Until, Volley

I would not have an event before the majors. I would build them up. It very rarely happens that a player plays the week before, wins the event, and then goes on to win the slam.

- John McEnroe

Very, Wins, Plays, Slam

I just remember watching Federer the first year he won Wimbledon. He was struggling with his back problem. I remember it vividly. It looked like there was a chance he was not going to finish. He had that look in his eye. Then, somehow, he found the wherewithal to dig a little deeper, and suddenly he wins the thing, and he's a different player.

- John McEnroe

I Remember, Dig, Year, Wimbledon

The only thing 'championship' about Wimbledon is its prestige.

- John McEnroe

Only, The Only Thing, About, Wimbledon

If you watch a guy go out on court and have a meltdown, you're not going to think, 'Oh my God, now I'm screwed.' Or you're not going to think, 'The umpire's going to give him calls because he's just told him he's an idiot or the pits of the world.'

- John McEnroe

Him, Guy, Pits, Meltdown

They should be required to be in less events; there should be less events for the women. It seems it takes an actual meltdown on the court or women quitting the game altogether before they realize there's a need to change the schedule.

- John McEnroe

Game, Before, Actual, Meltdown

When I was 15 and playing in Kalamazoo, I ran into a light pole on the side of the court and was knocked out for a little while - when I woke up, I was seeing stars!

- John McEnroe

Knocked, Woke, Side, Ran

When I walk out there on court, I become a maniac... Something comes over me, man.

- John McEnroe

Man, Me, Over, Maniac

Sitting there clapping and smiling... it's difficult. You're like, 'Don't worry about it, you just double faulted, you just played a really dumb point. Keep positive.' Then more clapping. That would annoy me as a player.

- John McEnroe

Dumb, Annoy, About, Sitting

There was a line call that didn't look so great. I went ballistic. Called the umpire a jerk. Whacked a ball into the stands. Then smacked a soda can with my racket, and got soda all over the King of Sweden, who was sitting in the front row.

- John McEnroe

Line, Jerk, Racket, Sitting

It means a lot to be back in New York. Particularly since one of the last senior event scheduled in the States was supposed to be here in New York. We were supposed to play in Central Park right after 9-11 and when 9-11 happened obviously things changed.

- John McEnroe

Play, Back, Here, Changed

I think the players, I put in the book for example that we should go back to wood rackets, probably they laughed at me, I'm a dinosaur, but I think that you see these great players, have even more variety and you see more strategy, there'd be more subtlety.

- John McEnroe

Book, Subtlety, I Think, Wood

Why don't they go back to wood racquets? Then we would see the best tennis to be played.

- John McEnroe

Go, See, Would, Wood

I can tell you from experience that when you get that pent-up and crazed, it can be distracting.

- John McEnroe

Experience, Tell, Get, Distracting

As I got older and started moving up the ranking, the matches got more important, and my emotions ratcheted up. I guess I hid my real feelings behind the anger.

- John McEnroe

Emotions, Behind, Hid, Feelings

The perception is I didn't get along with umpires, obviously, and I didn't, on the court. But off the court, we had a good vibe.

- John McEnroe

Vibe, Get, Along, Umpires

Of course for your main rivals, you're going to get extra motivated for it, particularly if you haven't played him for a long time.

- John McEnroe

Motivated, Particularly, Extra

The mistake, if I made one, in the late 1980s, was thinking I needed to change my game.

- John McEnroe

Game, Mistake, Late, 1980s

The sting of losing is bad.

- John McEnroe

Losing, Bad, Sting

The greatest compliment I ever got was when people called me an artist, and I understand that solo aspect of being an artist, when you're in there by yourself, trying to do something great, and people who don't even know you can come up and just dump on you.

- John McEnroe

Artist, Got, Aspect, Dump

I was always fighting the establishment, trying to run through brick walls.

- John McEnroe

Walls, Through, Always, Brick

Believe it or not, I was a pretty shy youngster growing up.

- John McEnroe

Growing Up, Growing, Pretty, Youngster

I did a terrible job of composing myself. I was a spoiled brat from Long Island who benefitted from the energy of New York.

- John McEnroe

New, Island, Long Island, Brat

One of the things I respected about Connors was that one second he would be spewing a four-letter word, the next second he would do something that had people falling off the aisles. Yet he never seemed to lose his concentration.

- John McEnroe

Next, Had, One Of The Things, Respected

The good part of having six kids is, there's always one who wants to hug you and say, 'Daddy, I love you.'

- John McEnroe

Love, Always, Having, Hug

Maybe I should have played two more Australians and two less Davis Cups? I could have had more majors and still have three Davis Cups when most people don't have one.

- John McEnroe

More, Maybe, Still, Australians

You have to keep persevering. An actor goes to a lot of auditions and doesn't get the part.

- John McEnroe

Actor, Lot, Auditions, Persevering

You hit a wall at some stage when you don't want it so bad, but you don't know when that's going to be - as far as competition or as far as health is concerned. Sometimes it's just natural. You just taste it, and you want it so bad that you find other gears.

- John McEnroe

Bad, Some, Other, Gears

Women have it better in tennis than any other sport, but you shouldn't push them to play more than they're capable of playing.

- John McEnroe

Play, More, Other, Push

I'm going to vote for Obama. I'm going for the change.

- John McEnroe

Change, Going, Obama, Vote

I was a Yankee fan until 1981. That was the year the Yankees were two up on the Dodgers and lost four straight. And George Steinbrenner apologized to the city.

- John McEnroe

City, Year, Yankee, Yankees

I always got along with Borg, who was my greatest rival. People like to see me and Connors, me and Lendl, go at it. We didn't like each other.

- John McEnroe

Always, Other, Like, Rival

If they think I'm better at commentating than I was as a player, then I must be pretty darned good at commentating.

- John McEnroe

Think, Pretty, Then, Darned

I'm a tell-it-like-it-is kind of person; I don't like being misled or someone not telling the truth. That upsets me.

- John McEnroe

Kind, Like, Telling, Upsets

No one cares about the Davis Cup. How many people know I won five Davis Cups and seven majors, but that I rarely played the Australian Open?

- John McEnroe

Australian, Cares, About, Cups

When I was eight and a half, my parents moved to a part of Queens where there was a club nearby. We joined, and if you believe in someone up above, I think I was meant to play tennis.

- John McEnroe

Play, Think, Meant, Queens

I would put tiebreakers in the fifth set, no question about it.

- John McEnroe

Set, No Question, Would, Fifth

I've never seen a good tennis movie. They all were terrible.

- John McEnroe

Never, Movie, Were, Terrible

Tennis was a white, upper-class sport, and I wanted it to be treated like other sports were.

- John McEnroe

White, Other, Treated, Upper-Class

It's only human nature to want to know what you can do on your own or with someone else.

- John McEnroe

Nature, Someone, Else, Human Nature

It's ironic - people used to want to suspend me and talk about how bad my behaviour was, but now they like it when I shout and scream.

- John McEnroe

Bad, Ironic, Suspend, Shout

If you really want to get it more exciting, no linesmen. And have the players call their lines. That would make the game more exciting, I promise you. It would be awesome.

- John McEnroe

Game, More, Players, Lines

I got a lot of publicity, but it steamrolled. Event organizers weren't used to that kind of behavior, so later, they tightened the rules.

- John McEnroe

Rules, Kind, Used, Publicity

I think it's the mark of a great player to be confident in tough situations.

- John McEnroe

Think, Confident, I Think, Mark

I like John McCain, or he seems like a cool guy in a lot of ways. I don't agree with a lot of his policies, but he still seems like a cool guy.

- John McEnroe

Cool, Like, Still, Cool Guy

Things slow down, the ball seems a lot bigger and you feel like you have more time. Everything computes - you have options, but you always take the right one.

- John McEnroe

Bigger, Always, Like, Options

Nadal is one of the great champions - a class act.

- John McEnroe

Great, Champions, Act, Class

I'm 56 years old. I like to get out on the court. I continue to try to play the best I can. Obviously, I'm nowhere near where I was when half this age. But I can still hit a pretty decent ball.

- John McEnroe

Best, Play, Half, Near

I was always taught that you needed to be intense and never lose your focus.

- John McEnroe

Never, Always, Taught, Intense

I can't advocate people not liking each other. But... I'd prefer it.

- John McEnroe

Other, Advocate, Prefer, Liking

London is great, but New York is the greatest city in the world.

- John McEnroe

World, London, New, Greatest City

What I think is frustrating for Americans is that it feels like more was going to change with Obama.

- John McEnroe

Think, I Think, Feels, Frustrating

I'd like to think I could have and should have won more, but that's not the point. And I was at the point where I was playing great tennis in the mid 80s - the type of tennis people hadn't seen before - and I was very proud of that.

- John McEnroe

Proud, Think, Very, Tennis

I'd love to see all the guys play their best because I think it's better for tennis.

- John McEnroe

Love, Play, Think, Tennis

My best tennis at my peak was when I played a lot of matches.

- John McEnroe

Best, Peak, Lot, Tennis

You're asking too much of the women. They shouldn't be playing as many events as men. If tennis is best served by women playing events with men, so be it.

- John McEnroe

Best, Too Much, Asking, Tennis

I grew up watching Dr. J, and I was like, 'Oh my God, this guy is the greatest basketball player I ever saw.'

- John McEnroe

Like, Oh My God, Saw, Player

If you yell at your box, I'm not really sure it's something where it should be a penalty. It seems like you hurt yourself.

- John McEnroe

Like, Penalty, Sure, Hurt

The best way I knew how was to give 110% and want it more than them, and walk on the court and every moment of the match feel like it was the end of the world, in a sense. So that worked for me in a lot of ways. There were times that it hurt me, but for the most part, it helped me.

- John McEnroe

Feel, Part, Best Way, Hurt

Roland Garros is the only one of the four majors that is 15 days, and that is too long.

- John McEnroe

Only, Four, Too, Majors

I can't speak for other people, but I still hate losing. When I did lose, I found it easier to yell than to cry. Guys aren't supposed to cry, are they?

- John McEnroe

Lose, Other, Still, Easier

Sometimes you get hungrier when you taste it.

- John McEnroe

Sometimes, Taste, Get, Hungrier

They would go back and listen to my matches, and two days later, I'd be fined. Because no one heard it while it was being played, but they heard it on some mic behind the court. Is that the way it should be? I don't think so.

- John McEnroe

Behind, Some, Mic, Matches

What made my matches against Borg and Connors interesting was, comparing it to boxing, it was like a puncher and a counter-puncher.

- John McEnroe

Against, Like, Made, Matches

The older I get, the better I used to be.

- John McEnroe

Better, Used, Get, Older

I had a harsh lesson in 1996, when I lost four times to Andres Gomez on clay.

- John McEnroe

Lost, Four, Times, Clay

I believe there's only one autobiography you can do.

- John McEnroe

Believe, You, Only, Autobiography

I can barely remember what I was like 36 years ago when I was 21 years old.

- John McEnroe

Remember, Old, Like, Years Ago

There's always a concern when you play the week before a major. That's not the easiest time for a scheduler or a promoter, I would think.

- John McEnroe

Play, Think, Always, Promoter

I'll let the racket do the talking.

- John McEnroe

Sports, Talking, Racket

I went on safari in South Africa just after apartheid had ended.

- John McEnroe

Africa, South Africa, South, Apartheid

I happened to be one of those guys who doesn't play much golf.

- John McEnroe

Golf, Play, Guys, Happened

I'm generally happy, although my kids and wife may sometimes argue with that.

- John McEnroe

Wife, May, Although, Generally

You can't give away points and games against someone like Murray. You're not going to make it to the top with that kind of effort.

- John McEnroe

Give, Away, Like, Points

I used to take pride if my kids were playing basketball, and I'd be there, and I wouldn't say anything. People were obviously expecting me to yell and scream at the ref and at them and everything. I wouldn't say anything.

- John McEnroe

Say, Expecting, Obviously, Scream

We should reach out to people to try to go after the fans the way other sports do. Because we can't just depend on the fact that it is a great game.

- John McEnroe

Game, Fact, Other, Fans

I'm sure a lot of players say it, but winning is almost so you don't lose. The thrill of winning is not as great as the pain of losing.

- John McEnroe

Pain, Winning, Sure, Thrill

I am finicky about making sure my sneakers are pretty tight. It is almost like a superstition for me.

- John McEnroe

Pretty, Making, Sure, Tight

No other athlete in any sport has ever had to go through what I have to.

- John McEnroe

Through, Other, Ever, Sport

If you're out there and things are going badly, are you going to cry or break down?

- John McEnroe

Going, Break, Badly, Cry

This taught me a lesson, but I'm not quite sure what it is.

- John McEnroe

Me, Lesson, Sure, Taught

Sometimes my negativity worked to my advantage, and early in my career, it got me going. But you need to understand that you're not just fighting opponents, you're also fighting yourself.

- John McEnroe

Career, Need, Going, Opponents

Well I think that's probably one of a few, where I grew up in the City of New York, it's got a lot of energy, my parents are Irish-American so there was a bit of yelling going on in my house but it seemed normal.

- John McEnroe

City, I Think, Bit, Yelling

I had a similar year back in 1984 when I felt like I couldn't lose.

- John McEnroe

Lose, Year, Like, Similar

If, in a few months, I'm only number 8 or number 10 in the world, I'll have to look at what off-the-court work I can do. I will need to do something if I want to be number 1.

- John McEnroe

Work, Will, Need, Months

In general, people are administered drugs too readily.

- John McEnroe

People, General, Too, Readily

I thought if I looked back and evaluated my life, it would help me in the future.

- John McEnroe

My Life, Thought, Back, Looked

I used to get two racquets a year. As you can imagine, they didn't last me too long.

- John McEnroe

Year, Used, Last, Imagine

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