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John McEnroe enjoyed tremendous success at all levels of tennis and owns 77 career singles titles, including seven Grand Slams. He joined the circuit in 1978 and it took him only three years to attain the No. 1 ranking. The 1980 Wimbledon final, between McEnroe and Bjorn Borg, is considered by many tennis experts to be the best match ever, a five-set thriller which McEnroe avenged the following year for his first Wimbledon title. In doubles, McEnroe is recognised as the best player of all time. He was ranked No. 1 for a record 257 weeks and captured a total of 74 titles, including eight Grand Slams. Still an active player, McEnroe is now a tennis commentator and broadcaster for the BBC and other national networks. This autobiography covers his amazing tennis career, marriage to movie star Tatum O'Neal and where arguably the greatest tennis player of all time goes from here.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
About the author
John McEnroe
21 books56 followersJohn McEnroe is a American former world professional tennis player. He grew up in Queens, NY and began playing tennis at age 8. McEnroe is often rated as the greatest in the sport. He is also well known for his on court behavior that got him in trouble with tennis authorities and umpires.
McEnroe is also an expert tennis commentator and occasionally makes guests appearances in TV shows. He was married to actress Tatum O'Neal for eight turbulent years and is currently married to singer Patty Smyth. He has five children between both marriages.
McEnroe is also an expert tennis commentator and occasionally makes guests appearances in TV shows. He was married to actress Tatum O'Neal for eight turbulent years and is currently married to singer Patty Smyth. He has five children between both marriages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
April 28, 2020
A pretty frank and illuminating portrayal of the life and times of one of the greatest and dare I say most infamous professional tennis players in the Open era. As I grew up during this era of tennis, I watched him emerge and finally play and win at Wimbledon (on TV) for many years, his story now retold in his own voice was of a lot of interest to me. 6 out of 12
2011 read
2011 read
December 27, 2019
The autobiography of Super-Brat,Mac the Mouth,is an entertaining one.As gifted as he was as a tennis player,his on court tantrums will probably be remembered even more than his victories."He took whining to the next level".
He also won a number of grand slams,and became the number one player in the world,before the power hitters displaced him from the pinnacle of the sport.
McEnroe writes about his admiration for Borg,against whom he played some memorable matches,particularly at Wimbledon.His impressions of Jimmy Connors,are not too favorable.
The highs and lows of his tennis career are narrated in a lively manner,
along with the temper tantrums he threw.
He is not too contrite about his on court behavior,even saying that tennis had had "too much behaving" and he wanted to change that.
There are plenty of anecdotes,including one about Donald Trump,who he says,offered him a million dollars to play the Williams Sisters.
Also,a candid account of his failed marriage to Tatum O Neal,and the tabloid interest it generated.Plus,the eternal question of what should an elite athlete do with the rest of his life,once his career is over,at a young age.
McEnroe tried to become a musician after tennis,and unsurprisingly,it didn't work out.
As sports biographies go,this is a good one,and brought back quite a few memories.
He also won a number of grand slams,and became the number one player in the world,before the power hitters displaced him from the pinnacle of the sport.
McEnroe writes about his admiration for Borg,against whom he played some memorable matches,particularly at Wimbledon.His impressions of Jimmy Connors,are not too favorable.
The highs and lows of his tennis career are narrated in a lively manner,
along with the temper tantrums he threw.
He is not too contrite about his on court behavior,even saying that tennis had had "too much behaving" and he wanted to change that.
There are plenty of anecdotes,including one about Donald Trump,who he says,offered him a million dollars to play the Williams Sisters.
Also,a candid account of his failed marriage to Tatum O Neal,and the tabloid interest it generated.Plus,the eternal question of what should an elite athlete do with the rest of his life,once his career is over,at a young age.
McEnroe tried to become a musician after tennis,and unsurprisingly,it didn't work out.
As sports biographies go,this is a good one,and brought back quite a few memories.
October 23, 2017
Johnny Mac was a rock star in the eighties, and he was able to do this because tennis was more popular. I enjoyed his journey from a nobody to number one but after that I didn't care much about his troubles. He is a legend however and I continue to be interested in his opinion of tennis and the improvements he envisions. I would love to see the pros playing with wooden racquets, if only for a tournament, or even one match.
December 15, 2012
The McEnroe-Borg-Connors years were the apex of tennis viewing. These three very different individuals brought tennis to a much larger viewing audience. Their games and rivalries have – in my opinion – never been matched since. Men’s tennis has become too power-serve oriented – at least Women’s tennis has more rallies and somehow the shorter games can make for an interesting match.
As you would expect from a super-star and a number-one ranked player, Mr. McEnroe comes off as very self-centred – there are all manner of justifications in this book for his many temper tantrums and outspokenness on the tennis court. He does dwell on his inner feelings – he has never gotten over his loss to Ivan Lendl in the French Open Final – a Grand Slam event he never won. And surprisingly, in the same way that Borg never got over losing to McEnroe at the 1980 U.S. Open, McEnroe never quite got over Borg’s total withdrawal from the game after 1981. He missed his adversary and fell into the doldrums. He describes difficulties after that in getting motivated for matches.
As much as John explores his inner feelings, he does come off as someone incapable of viewing the world from another individual’s perspective. He becomes irate in the late 1980’s when Steffi Graff pulls out of a doubles competition with him in Wimbledon – without realizing that doubles competition is a very poor cousin to singles competition – can anyone remember who won a doubles competition at a Grand Slam event? Also Mr. McEnroe himself either withdrew or deliberately “choked” in several matches due to his tennis “depression”. He does not seem to realize that his several vicious tirades against umpires and fans (plus breaking tennis rackets) will make some people think rather less of him.
Mr. McEnroe is honest about himself in this book. For my taste there is too much on wives, ex-wives and girlfriends. Little is said about women’s tennis – Navaratilova is hardly mentioned, Chris Evert not at all.
As you would expect from a super-star and a number-one ranked player, Mr. McEnroe comes off as very self-centred – there are all manner of justifications in this book for his many temper tantrums and outspokenness on the tennis court. He does dwell on his inner feelings – he has never gotten over his loss to Ivan Lendl in the French Open Final – a Grand Slam event he never won. And surprisingly, in the same way that Borg never got over losing to McEnroe at the 1980 U.S. Open, McEnroe never quite got over Borg’s total withdrawal from the game after 1981. He missed his adversary and fell into the doldrums. He describes difficulties after that in getting motivated for matches.
As much as John explores his inner feelings, he does come off as someone incapable of viewing the world from another individual’s perspective. He becomes irate in the late 1980’s when Steffi Graff pulls out of a doubles competition with him in Wimbledon – without realizing that doubles competition is a very poor cousin to singles competition – can anyone remember who won a doubles competition at a Grand Slam event? Also Mr. McEnroe himself either withdrew or deliberately “choked” in several matches due to his tennis “depression”. He does not seem to realize that his several vicious tirades against umpires and fans (plus breaking tennis rackets) will make some people think rather less of him.
Mr. McEnroe is honest about himself in this book. For my taste there is too much on wives, ex-wives and girlfriends. Little is said about women’s tennis – Navaratilova is hardly mentioned, Chris Evert not at all.
May 22, 2012
Let's just say this is worth the read if you like tennis and/or John McEnroe. If not, it probably won't hold your interest. I appreciated that James Kaplan let John's voice shine through. Some of the extra exclamation points and short phrasing may not be very sophisticated as a writing style, but it sounds like John. So many autobiographies of celebrities lose that in trying to clean up the writing.
This book doesn't delve super deep into John's personal life. It's not some tell all, but I don't think it needs to be. It's more about his personal journey. There's no People Magazine feature story about life with Tatum O'Neal, but there is a lot of discussion about how the drive to get to the top was lost shortly after reaching number one. I think he does a good job of discussing what's appropriate and acknowledging everything else.
This book doesn't delve super deep into John's personal life. It's not some tell all, but I don't think it needs to be. It's more about his personal journey. There's no People Magazine feature story about life with Tatum O'Neal, but there is a lot of discussion about how the drive to get to the top was lost shortly after reaching number one. I think he does a good job of discussing what's appropriate and acknowledging everything else.
February 22, 2014
Maybe I am a little bias in my opinion of McEnroe, as I have met him twice at Wimbledon, and he is Not a nice person, well unless their are cameras on him !
His book although interesting from a tennis point of view, showed to me he is not a sincere person.
Found the book a little hard work.
His book although interesting from a tennis point of view, showed to me he is not a sincere person.
Found the book a little hard work.
September 16, 2009
September 17.
Just finished it and I really enjoyed reading about all the tennis players back in the days. I was always rooting for McEnroe while my mom wanted Borg to win.
Never was a fan of Ivan Lendl. Interesting read. He is not as mean about Tatum as she was about him in her book.
I do think reading this what a miserable sod is this guy. He appears to be never happy. Not when he won, not when he was married. I wanted to read more about his life with Tatum, about his own drug use, and hers!. It was all superficial and that is why I prefer biographies instead of autobiographies.
I do give it an 8 just because I like to read the stories of back in the days. Hope there is another book about him not written by McEnroe.
Oh and by the way, what a jealous guy he is. He does not even want his own brother to win? geez. And every time he lost he had an excuse, fog, referee, Connors, etcetera.
Just finished it and I really enjoyed reading about all the tennis players back in the days. I was always rooting for McEnroe while my mom wanted Borg to win.
Never was a fan of Ivan Lendl. Interesting read. He is not as mean about Tatum as she was about him in her book.
I do think reading this what a miserable sod is this guy. He appears to be never happy. Not when he won, not when he was married. I wanted to read more about his life with Tatum, about his own drug use, and hers!. It was all superficial and that is why I prefer biographies instead of autobiographies.
I do give it an 8 just because I like to read the stories of back in the days. Hope there is another book about him not written by McEnroe.
Oh and by the way, what a jealous guy he is. He does not even want his own brother to win? geez. And every time he lost he had an excuse, fog, referee, Connors, etcetera.
September 8, 2025
I have had this book for years. I think the timing of this read is interesting since he is currently one of the sports commentators for the US Open.
Tennis was pretty popular when I was growing up. We didn’t have a lot of channels back then like Direct TV or Cable. Tennis was on TV a lot and I remember, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Pete Sampras, Bjorn Borg…and so on.
I liked this book.
I thought it was very honest, interesting and humbling. It also provided some very interesting information about some of the matches John played in.
I was actually surprised as to how much I liked this book. I like it so much, I would like to read his other one.
Tennis was pretty popular when I was growing up. We didn’t have a lot of channels back then like Direct TV or Cable. Tennis was on TV a lot and I remember, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Pete Sampras, Bjorn Borg…and so on.
I liked this book.
I thought it was very honest, interesting and humbling. It also provided some very interesting information about some of the matches John played in.
I was actually surprised as to how much I liked this book. I like it so much, I would like to read his other one.
May 15, 2017
I try never to be so.
August 18, 2007
I love me some Johnny Mac but this book was unreadable.
October 21, 2022
4.5🌟 I could hear John's voice as I was reading this honest account of his early and successful tennis life. I'm a Mac fan, so maybe biased, but I loved it 😊
March 14, 2020
Usually I don't read many biographies, but John McEnroe is a legend I've followed since I was a child. I was curious to know what's behind the irascible, capricious and talented champion, what made him become a true personality.
This is his story, from the first approaches to sports (basketball and football with friends) and tennis in particular, up to great results, friendships, personal dramas. The result is a portrait of John McEnroe as I had never seen him, but at the same time there is the evolution of tennis over the years, as a sport and as a media event.
Through his words, we know better also the other champions of the past: Borg, Connors, Vilas, Gerulaitis, Năstase. I really enjoyed listening to the stories that concerned them (not always cheerful and pleasant), quickly discovering which ones he related with most and with whom he didn't get along well, but always giving life to exceptional match. I discovered with surprise his frequentations with music and cinema stars, seeing "Big Mac" in the light of not exclusively tennis superstar.
The book covers the whole of his career, describing his interests and the activities he undertook after leaving (definitely varied). McEnroe describes his character and choices very honestly, including his mistakes in dealing with others. An important part is made up of the description of his personal life, his first marriage, his children and then the family he has today.
Unfortunately, the detailed descriptions of scores and match, often a sequence of results and technical analyzes, make the pace in some parts too slow.
Perhaps this book will not make John McEnroe nicer, but I found it a good way to get to know him and the tennis environment to which his name is inextricably linked.
This is his story, from the first approaches to sports (basketball and football with friends) and tennis in particular, up to great results, friendships, personal dramas. The result is a portrait of John McEnroe as I had never seen him, but at the same time there is the evolution of tennis over the years, as a sport and as a media event.
Through his words, we know better also the other champions of the past: Borg, Connors, Vilas, Gerulaitis, Năstase. I really enjoyed listening to the stories that concerned them (not always cheerful and pleasant), quickly discovering which ones he related with most and with whom he didn't get along well, but always giving life to exceptional match. I discovered with surprise his frequentations with music and cinema stars, seeing "Big Mac" in the light of not exclusively tennis superstar.
The book covers the whole of his career, describing his interests and the activities he undertook after leaving (definitely varied). McEnroe describes his character and choices very honestly, including his mistakes in dealing with others. An important part is made up of the description of his personal life, his first marriage, his children and then the family he has today.
Unfortunately, the detailed descriptions of scores and match, often a sequence of results and technical analyzes, make the pace in some parts too slow.
Perhaps this book will not make John McEnroe nicer, but I found it a good way to get to know him and the tennis environment to which his name is inextricably linked.
August 17, 2015
“You Cannot Be Serious” by John McEnroe with James Kaplan, published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons.
Category – Autobiography Publication Date – June 10, 2002.
John McEnroe can arguably be considered the best tennis player of all time. He is also considered the bad boy of tennis for his considerable outbursts on the court. Say what you will but the sport of tennis has missed him and will never be the same without him. McEnroe dominated the tennis courts throughout the 1980’s. During this time he was able to win Wimbledon three times, the U.S. Open four times and spearheaded the United States to five Davis Cup Championships.
The book deals not only with his tennis career but also his struggle, on and off the court, to bring his life under control. This was a time when the top seeded tennis players made vast sums of money and were treated like movie stars, maybe even better. The demons of his personal life unfold with his desire to have children, married or not, and have a staple home life, very difficult for one who is traveling to tournaments most of the year. McEnroe discusses his difficulties with his marriage to Tatum O’Neil and their subsequent divorce. He also tells of how he found his true love in Patty Smyth. He now lives in his beloved New York happy in his life of Husband and Father.
A really nice read for those interested in his life, tennis, and autobiographies.
Category – Autobiography Publication Date – June 10, 2002.
John McEnroe can arguably be considered the best tennis player of all time. He is also considered the bad boy of tennis for his considerable outbursts on the court. Say what you will but the sport of tennis has missed him and will never be the same without him. McEnroe dominated the tennis courts throughout the 1980’s. During this time he was able to win Wimbledon three times, the U.S. Open four times and spearheaded the United States to five Davis Cup Championships.
The book deals not only with his tennis career but also his struggle, on and off the court, to bring his life under control. This was a time when the top seeded tennis players made vast sums of money and were treated like movie stars, maybe even better. The demons of his personal life unfold with his desire to have children, married or not, and have a staple home life, very difficult for one who is traveling to tournaments most of the year. McEnroe discusses his difficulties with his marriage to Tatum O’Neil and their subsequent divorce. He also tells of how he found his true love in Patty Smyth. He now lives in his beloved New York happy in his life of Husband and Father.
A really nice read for those interested in his life, tennis, and autobiographies.
May 4, 2014
He sure was a brat. A bit dated with hardly any surprises. But an interesting read for any tennis fan who watched the Borg-McEnroe matches.
January 30, 2024
Some of it reads true but he should go back through it with a red editing pen and rewrite all the rationalization and revisionist history in it.
February 7, 2026
Objective Summary
John McEnroe was born and raised in New York City. He began playing tennis at a young age and succeeded as a junior. He rose to the top of the tennis world and was ranked #1 for a few years, winning multiple major championships. He was known for his temper on the court and yelling at officials for what he perceived to be bad calls. He made millions of dollars. He married Tatum O’Neal, who was a child actress, and they had three kids together before divorcing because of his travel and her drug problems. He traveled the world playing major tennis tournaments, exhibitions, and the Davis Cup. He played both singles and doubles. He was a left-handed serve and volleyer. He was quick on his feet and had great hands. He tried drugs. He partied with A-list celebrities, jammed with musicians, and chatted with politicians. He became an announcer covering tennis tournaments, continued playing seniors tennis, tried to make it as a musician playing guitar, and opened an art gallery in New York City. He remarried Patty Smyth, a singer and songwriter, and they had kids together too.
Subjective Thoughts
Celebrity memoires are an easy read, so the book was an enjoyable distraction. Not exactly overflowing with durable insights though, I’m afraid. It takes a lot to be the best in the world at anything. And it’s impressive. It also sounds exhausting and repetitive. McEnroe himself stated it was unfulfilling and left him unhappy at times. That’s undoubtedly true for everyone to some degree. His life generally sounds more exciting than that of an accountant. It was interesting that he said raising kids was the hardest thing he had done, and his family seems to be the thing that he believes brings him the most lasting happiness. I guess his curmudgeonly Catholic parents were on to something.
I found myself a bit saddened when McEnroe fell from the top spot and his hopes of ever returning faded ever into the distance. That’s the thing about life: You’ll frequently have your last time to do something (win Wimbledon, play competitive sport, or change a diaper) and not even realize it as it happens. Your life changes and moves on.
Being the best in the world at anything was never in the cards for me. It’s not for most people. That bothered me for about a week when I was about 16 and for briefer flashes in my twenties. But reading McEnroe’s life leads me to believe I haven’t really missed much. It would be cool to meet accomplished people, and very satisfying to the ego to be the best at something. But I’m not at all willing to make the sacrifices necessary to get there. It sounds miserable. I’ve never loved any activity that much. And partying and drugs just aren’t appealing to this introvert.
Celebrity is a weird concept. McEnroe was before my time. I recognized some of the later tennis players he mentioned like Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. But his references to TV stars and musicians meant nothing to me. It all fades, like a worn tennis ball lying abandoned on a court.
Revealing Quotes
I believe firmly that players at every level should practice every shot from any position on the court, using a variety of paces and spins, lobs, drop shots and half volleys—all shots that are too seldom paid attention to by recreational players—can change the outcome of a match.
That was when it all came together for the first time. My style of play was very high percentage—short back swings, no wasted energy, no unnecessary chances. I believed that my quickness and anticipation and hand-eye coordination were better than any baseline player’s—that playing my style against theirs, I could win.
Arthur Ashe once said that there was as much difference between #10 in the world and #5 as there was between #100 and #10. Going from #5 to #4, he said, is like going from 10 to 4. And from 3 on up is inconceivable.
I sucked it up. I firmly believe that one of the hallmarks of a champion, any champion, is the ability to absorb losses and regain confidence immediately.
I wouldn't have told this to his soul back then, but as early as my first Wimbledon in ‘77, I realized I had the potential to be the very best: the best tennis player in the world. I confirmed it for myself as I rose through the rankings—but then, more and more, the problem became that almost everybody was somebody I shouldn't lose to. The pressure became incomprehensible. I countered it by building defenses that almost nothing and nobody could get through.
For me, the relief of not failing has always been just as strong as, if not stronger than the joy of winning
Some people don't want to rehearse; they just want to perform. Other people want to practice 100 times first. I'm in the former group: I've always felt that if I practiced too much, I'd get stale, that the thrill of hitting tennis shots would go flat. Practice has always felt like a chore to me. Sometimes I'll say, “God, I'm looking forward to practicing”—and then within a couple of minutes, I'm bored. Then I want to play games or sets, to make it more interesting.
I did spend a lot more time practicing than most people thought I did, however, and a lot more time thinking about tennis. That may sound like a cop-out, but it's not. I've always thought constantly about the game, almost the way chess players think about chess. Tony Palafox drilled it into me: Be ready for the next shot. Know what you're going to do next.
Nobody will be surprised to hear that number one in the world requires a major-league ego. You need ego to get there, and ego to stay there.
As I moved to the top of pro tennis though, cockiness became a survival mechanism. I don't care who you are—Borg or Sampras or Michael Chang—you can't exist at the top without it. Self-confidence is a must, and so is selfishness.
I always had to fight to find my best self, to be aware of other people's feelings—and the devil's bargain of it is the players who are more aware of others struggle more.
Girls tennis players were also an option. I never had to try too hard wherever I was. When you're #1 everything comes to you. But I wasn't very happy.
To have a child out of wedlock! My parents were churchgoing Catholics: My brothers and I had all been baptized and confirmed and had gone to Mass every week until I was 18. Even though I had decided for myself that organized religion was a sham and that God, if He exists, must be deaf, dumb, and blind—Catholic guilt doesn't go away easily.
What happened to me is more or less the same thing that's happened to everyone who's been on top. Once you've lost it, everything spirals out of control and it's difficult to find your way back. The process is gradual rather than sudden, and the whole way down you keep telling yourself that things are going to change. Little by little, however, the bad days at the office start to outnumber the good ones, and pain begins to replace the pleasure you once took in your profession.
What I didn’t realize was this: It’s never possible to be prepared when the future takes over from the past.
Having children outside of wedlock is complicated. But Patty and I were committed to each other. What wasn’t complicated was my absolute determination to stay faithful. It seemed to me that there was no other way. If that made me an anomaly in the world of macho, married tennis players, so be it.
I loved being a father. It was the hardest work by far that I'd ever done. . . . Every day seemed to bring situations that would try the patience of a saint—let alone John McEnroe. Of course, there were times I lost it (there still are), but when you're responsible to other people, and especially very young people, you quickly learn that you have to find ways to control yourself. However much you may feel the need to let off steam, the needs of people who depend on you for everything come first.
Inside was a letter from Mr. Promoter himself, Donald Trump—his box was right next to the broadcast booth—offering me $1,000,000 to play either one of the Williams sisters at one of his hotels. Because the Williamses had been going around for a couple of years claiming they could beat ranked male players, Tompkins had asked me if I thought it was true. I responded that I felt any respectable male player, be it a top college competitor, a seniors player, or a professional, could beat them. I’d always thought that men’s and women’s tennis were simply apples and oranges.
It's very strange. You reach these highs at a young age, then part of you keep searching forever to recreate them. That's why bad things happen with athletes more often than other people. They can't reach that high anymore, so they have to get it artificially—or if they don't succeed, feel empty. My life feels good and better all the time, but as good as it gets, sometimes it's hard to forget those tremendous victories. That's when I have to remind myself that I really had no one to share those victories with. That's when I remember how cold the top of the mountain was.
John McEnroe was born and raised in New York City. He began playing tennis at a young age and succeeded as a junior. He rose to the top of the tennis world and was ranked #1 for a few years, winning multiple major championships. He was known for his temper on the court and yelling at officials for what he perceived to be bad calls. He made millions of dollars. He married Tatum O’Neal, who was a child actress, and they had three kids together before divorcing because of his travel and her drug problems. He traveled the world playing major tennis tournaments, exhibitions, and the Davis Cup. He played both singles and doubles. He was a left-handed serve and volleyer. He was quick on his feet and had great hands. He tried drugs. He partied with A-list celebrities, jammed with musicians, and chatted with politicians. He became an announcer covering tennis tournaments, continued playing seniors tennis, tried to make it as a musician playing guitar, and opened an art gallery in New York City. He remarried Patty Smyth, a singer and songwriter, and they had kids together too.
Subjective Thoughts
Celebrity memoires are an easy read, so the book was an enjoyable distraction. Not exactly overflowing with durable insights though, I’m afraid. It takes a lot to be the best in the world at anything. And it’s impressive. It also sounds exhausting and repetitive. McEnroe himself stated it was unfulfilling and left him unhappy at times. That’s undoubtedly true for everyone to some degree. His life generally sounds more exciting than that of an accountant. It was interesting that he said raising kids was the hardest thing he had done, and his family seems to be the thing that he believes brings him the most lasting happiness. I guess his curmudgeonly Catholic parents were on to something.
I found myself a bit saddened when McEnroe fell from the top spot and his hopes of ever returning faded ever into the distance. That’s the thing about life: You’ll frequently have your last time to do something (win Wimbledon, play competitive sport, or change a diaper) and not even realize it as it happens. Your life changes and moves on.
Being the best in the world at anything was never in the cards for me. It’s not for most people. That bothered me for about a week when I was about 16 and for briefer flashes in my twenties. But reading McEnroe’s life leads me to believe I haven’t really missed much. It would be cool to meet accomplished people, and very satisfying to the ego to be the best at something. But I’m not at all willing to make the sacrifices necessary to get there. It sounds miserable. I’ve never loved any activity that much. And partying and drugs just aren’t appealing to this introvert.
Celebrity is a weird concept. McEnroe was before my time. I recognized some of the later tennis players he mentioned like Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. But his references to TV stars and musicians meant nothing to me. It all fades, like a worn tennis ball lying abandoned on a court.
Revealing Quotes
I believe firmly that players at every level should practice every shot from any position on the court, using a variety of paces and spins, lobs, drop shots and half volleys—all shots that are too seldom paid attention to by recreational players—can change the outcome of a match.
That was when it all came together for the first time. My style of play was very high percentage—short back swings, no wasted energy, no unnecessary chances. I believed that my quickness and anticipation and hand-eye coordination were better than any baseline player’s—that playing my style against theirs, I could win.
Arthur Ashe once said that there was as much difference between #10 in the world and #5 as there was between #100 and #10. Going from #5 to #4, he said, is like going from 10 to 4. And from 3 on up is inconceivable.
I sucked it up. I firmly believe that one of the hallmarks of a champion, any champion, is the ability to absorb losses and regain confidence immediately.
I wouldn't have told this to his soul back then, but as early as my first Wimbledon in ‘77, I realized I had the potential to be the very best: the best tennis player in the world. I confirmed it for myself as I rose through the rankings—but then, more and more, the problem became that almost everybody was somebody I shouldn't lose to. The pressure became incomprehensible. I countered it by building defenses that almost nothing and nobody could get through.
For me, the relief of not failing has always been just as strong as, if not stronger than the joy of winning
Some people don't want to rehearse; they just want to perform. Other people want to practice 100 times first. I'm in the former group: I've always felt that if I practiced too much, I'd get stale, that the thrill of hitting tennis shots would go flat. Practice has always felt like a chore to me. Sometimes I'll say, “God, I'm looking forward to practicing”—and then within a couple of minutes, I'm bored. Then I want to play games or sets, to make it more interesting.
I did spend a lot more time practicing than most people thought I did, however, and a lot more time thinking about tennis. That may sound like a cop-out, but it's not. I've always thought constantly about the game, almost the way chess players think about chess. Tony Palafox drilled it into me: Be ready for the next shot. Know what you're going to do next.
Nobody will be surprised to hear that number one in the world requires a major-league ego. You need ego to get there, and ego to stay there.
As I moved to the top of pro tennis though, cockiness became a survival mechanism. I don't care who you are—Borg or Sampras or Michael Chang—you can't exist at the top without it. Self-confidence is a must, and so is selfishness.
I always had to fight to find my best self, to be aware of other people's feelings—and the devil's bargain of it is the players who are more aware of others struggle more.
Girls tennis players were also an option. I never had to try too hard wherever I was. When you're #1 everything comes to you. But I wasn't very happy.
To have a child out of wedlock! My parents were churchgoing Catholics: My brothers and I had all been baptized and confirmed and had gone to Mass every week until I was 18. Even though I had decided for myself that organized religion was a sham and that God, if He exists, must be deaf, dumb, and blind—Catholic guilt doesn't go away easily.
What happened to me is more or less the same thing that's happened to everyone who's been on top. Once you've lost it, everything spirals out of control and it's difficult to find your way back. The process is gradual rather than sudden, and the whole way down you keep telling yourself that things are going to change. Little by little, however, the bad days at the office start to outnumber the good ones, and pain begins to replace the pleasure you once took in your profession.
What I didn’t realize was this: It’s never possible to be prepared when the future takes over from the past.
Having children outside of wedlock is complicated. But Patty and I were committed to each other. What wasn’t complicated was my absolute determination to stay faithful. It seemed to me that there was no other way. If that made me an anomaly in the world of macho, married tennis players, so be it.
I loved being a father. It was the hardest work by far that I'd ever done. . . . Every day seemed to bring situations that would try the patience of a saint—let alone John McEnroe. Of course, there were times I lost it (there still are), but when you're responsible to other people, and especially very young people, you quickly learn that you have to find ways to control yourself. However much you may feel the need to let off steam, the needs of people who depend on you for everything come first.
Inside was a letter from Mr. Promoter himself, Donald Trump—his box was right next to the broadcast booth—offering me $1,000,000 to play either one of the Williams sisters at one of his hotels. Because the Williamses had been going around for a couple of years claiming they could beat ranked male players, Tompkins had asked me if I thought it was true. I responded that I felt any respectable male player, be it a top college competitor, a seniors player, or a professional, could beat them. I’d always thought that men’s and women’s tennis were simply apples and oranges.
It's very strange. You reach these highs at a young age, then part of you keep searching forever to recreate them. That's why bad things happen with athletes more often than other people. They can't reach that high anymore, so they have to get it artificially—or if they don't succeed, feel empty. My life feels good and better all the time, but as good as it gets, sometimes it's hard to forget those tremendous victories. That's when I have to remind myself that I really had no one to share those victories with. That's when I remember how cold the top of the mountain was.
December 23, 2019
The cover of the book shows the smiling face partially concealed in shadow. What does this represent? I think this is a fantastic book. It opens with a normal day in the McEnroe household, well actually not that normal. The day in question was September 11 2001. As he was waking his kids up for school, little did he know what would happen that fateful morning.
It took him a long time to achieve what he has in tennis. I remember when he first burst onto the scene, with his foul mouth and aggressive attitude. Challenging every controversial call he felt that went against him.
Despite that he won 7 grand slam titles and played in probably the greatest Wimbledon final in living memory. The 1980 final against Borg was a classic, which he lost but came back in 1981 and won.
It took him years to win a fan base but I don’t think it really bothered him.
Most tennis players have many battles going on. On the court against their opponents; against the crowd and sometimes a battle with themselves.
This book also shows how much of a family man he is and despite his relationships, his adoration of his children is expressed.
It’s a short book but it covers so much.
He was one of the first to challenge calls in tennis; nowadays tennis players have the right, three challenges per set. Would we have this because of his behaviour?
Still a legend in my eyes before the days of power tennis as he calls it, when they played with wooden racquets, which he longs for a return to.
His career as a pundit is also covered, and his knowledge is second to none considering he has worked for two or three different television companies.
It took him a long time to achieve what he has in tennis. I remember when he first burst onto the scene, with his foul mouth and aggressive attitude. Challenging every controversial call he felt that went against him.
Despite that he won 7 grand slam titles and played in probably the greatest Wimbledon final in living memory. The 1980 final against Borg was a classic, which he lost but came back in 1981 and won.
It took him years to win a fan base but I don’t think it really bothered him.
Most tennis players have many battles going on. On the court against their opponents; against the crowd and sometimes a battle with themselves.
This book also shows how much of a family man he is and despite his relationships, his adoration of his children is expressed.
It’s a short book but it covers so much.
He was one of the first to challenge calls in tennis; nowadays tennis players have the right, three challenges per set. Would we have this because of his behaviour?
Still a legend in my eyes before the days of power tennis as he calls it, when they played with wooden racquets, which he longs for a return to.
His career as a pundit is also covered, and his knowledge is second to none considering he has worked for two or three different television companies.
July 4, 2017
I thought about not finishing it but I did. To it was told from this "I am the center of the world" standpoint. For the most point lacked any real depth. I sure won't be reading his latest book or really be interested in anything else he might do.
July 19, 2017
If you like sports biographies, tennis and Mcenroe then you will like this. If you can tick two of the three then you will still enjoy this book
August 12, 2024
Did not hold my interest.
December 16, 2023
This book was fine. Nothing especially special about it. However I did not know much about John McEnroe so I learned a lot and all the info was new to me. Tennis players are a bit loony.
September 4, 2025
McEnroe certainly has had his ups and downs and an interesting life, but the story doesn’t quite hold up in comparison to Agassi’s Open. Still fun and McEnroe had some great suggestions at the end of his book on how to improve the sport of tennis. Wish the sport would listen to him.
June 6, 2024
As a tennis fan- loved this book-. It gave you a totally different perspective on the tennis circuit and what Mac went through on his rise to the Grand Slam's.
Read
March 2, 2025What an arrogant ass.
August 7, 2017
exactly what you want from this book
January 10, 2026
Il genio ribelle che ha preso il tennis a racchettate
Se c’è un uomo che ha preso lo sport più elegante del mondo e lo ha ribaltato come un calzino a colpi di talento puro e furiose sbroccate, quell'uomo è John McEnroe.
Leggere «Non puoi dire sul serio» non è semplicemente scorrere un'autobiografia sportiva, ma entrare nel dietro le quinte di un tennis fatto di aneddoti ironici e retroscena curiosi. Il libro è un concentrato di racconti arguti, dove l'ex numero uno del mondo si mette a nudo senza filtri, raccontando con notevole autoironia non solo le sue storiche battaglie in campo, ma soprattutto i suoi leggendari corpo a corpo con arbitri, guardalinee e con le regole stesse del circuito.
Dietro l'iconica frase che dà il titolo al libro — quel "You cannot be serious!" urlato a Wimbledon nel 1981 e diventato un pezzo di storia della cultura pop — c'è il ritratto spassoso di un atleta che non sapeva e non voleva stare dentro gli schemi. McEnroe trascina il lettore negli spogliatoi di un tennis che non esiste più, fatto di rivalità feroci ma umane, eccessi rock 'n' roll e colpi di genio assoluti.
Pagine preziose smontano anche il mito della rivalità tossica alimentata dai media, rivelando il profondo rispetto per Björn Borg: negli scontri con lo svedese, "SuperBrat" conteneva la sua rabbia e non sbroccava mai, arrivando persino a sparare deliberatamente una risposta in tribuna sul punto immediatamente successivo alla penalità subita da Borg durante il tie-break del primo set al Masters del 1980, proprio per restituirgli quel punto.
Questa totale assenza di retorica celebrativa è la vera forza del libro: l'autore si prende in giro da solo, rievocando le sue figuracce e i suoi eccessi d'ira con la stessa lucidità con cui pennellava i suoi traccianti millimetrici sotto rete.
«Non puoi dire sul serio» si rivela un'opera densa di personalità, una lettura scorrevole che riesce a strappare più di un sorriso anche a chi non ha mai impugnato una racchetta in vita sua, restituendo il ritratto ravvicinato di un'epoca irripetibile.
Se c’è un uomo che ha preso lo sport più elegante del mondo e lo ha ribaltato come un calzino a colpi di talento puro e furiose sbroccate, quell'uomo è John McEnroe.
Leggere «Non puoi dire sul serio» non è semplicemente scorrere un'autobiografia sportiva, ma entrare nel dietro le quinte di un tennis fatto di aneddoti ironici e retroscena curiosi. Il libro è un concentrato di racconti arguti, dove l'ex numero uno del mondo si mette a nudo senza filtri, raccontando con notevole autoironia non solo le sue storiche battaglie in campo, ma soprattutto i suoi leggendari corpo a corpo con arbitri, guardalinee e con le regole stesse del circuito.
Dietro l'iconica frase che dà il titolo al libro — quel "You cannot be serious!" urlato a Wimbledon nel 1981 e diventato un pezzo di storia della cultura pop — c'è il ritratto spassoso di un atleta che non sapeva e non voleva stare dentro gli schemi. McEnroe trascina il lettore negli spogliatoi di un tennis che non esiste più, fatto di rivalità feroci ma umane, eccessi rock 'n' roll e colpi di genio assoluti.
Pagine preziose smontano anche il mito della rivalità tossica alimentata dai media, rivelando il profondo rispetto per Björn Borg: negli scontri con lo svedese, "SuperBrat" conteneva la sua rabbia e non sbroccava mai, arrivando persino a sparare deliberatamente una risposta in tribuna sul punto immediatamente successivo alla penalità subita da Borg durante il tie-break del primo set al Masters del 1980, proprio per restituirgli quel punto.
Questa totale assenza di retorica celebrativa è la vera forza del libro: l'autore si prende in giro da solo, rievocando le sue figuracce e i suoi eccessi d'ira con la stessa lucidità con cui pennellava i suoi traccianti millimetrici sotto rete.
«Non puoi dire sul serio» si rivela un'opera densa di personalità, una lettura scorrevole che riesce a strappare più di un sorriso anche a chi non ha mai impugnato una racchetta in vita sua, restituendo il ritratto ravvicinato di un'epoca irripetibile.
September 16, 2015
This book was a mixed bag for me. I like Johnny Mac, especially when he is behind the mic. I don't especially care for his version of tennis, even though I love serve and vollyers. But I digress.
Everyone knows at this point that JM is an in your face sort of guy, he was hugely successful for a very long time and did things that alot of players didn't do, and pretty much worked his way up from nothing to being one of the most iconic figures in tennis, still even today. At the majors, players STILL ask him to come down for a hit on their off days. It's quite incredible really the impact he has had on the game.
His book however, while telling his story, was a little bit much, even for JM. It was a bit over the top, he seemed to like telling stories about how he and other players would go out, drinking and doing drugs and womanizing all night and then wake up and have to play the semis of some big tourney. He is very proud of his shortcomings and basically brags about everything.
At some point, you have to grow up, but John hasn't gotten there yet. And I think that's what annoyed me a bit about his book. It is no where NEAR the quality of book that Andre's OPEN is. Nowhere NEAR. But it tries to be, and fails miserably.
While fun to read at some points along the way, and giving you a nice inside look at the world of tennis, I would definitely go with more current players takes on their game, their lives and the sport of tennis before picking this one up.
Everyone knows at this point that JM is an in your face sort of guy, he was hugely successful for a very long time and did things that alot of players didn't do, and pretty much worked his way up from nothing to being one of the most iconic figures in tennis, still even today. At the majors, players STILL ask him to come down for a hit on their off days. It's quite incredible really the impact he has had on the game.
His book however, while telling his story, was a little bit much, even for JM. It was a bit over the top, he seemed to like telling stories about how he and other players would go out, drinking and doing drugs and womanizing all night and then wake up and have to play the semis of some big tourney. He is very proud of his shortcomings and basically brags about everything.
At some point, you have to grow up, but John hasn't gotten there yet. And I think that's what annoyed me a bit about his book. It is no where NEAR the quality of book that Andre's OPEN is. Nowhere NEAR. But it tries to be, and fails miserably.
While fun to read at some points along the way, and giving you a nice inside look at the world of tennis, I would definitely go with more current players takes on their game, their lives and the sport of tennis before picking this one up.
September 14, 2017
Superbrat grandioso!
Scrivere non è proprio il suo mestiere, ma guadagna terreno game dopo game, mettendo a punto qualche volé assolutamente grandiosa.
A differenza di Agassi che inizia descrivendo la sofferenza fisica (e va avanti facendo sentire a ogni pagina quanto poco gli piaccia giocare – insomma, magari giocare no, ma vincere si), Mac si diverte a tutto spiano, non ama allenarsi ma giocare, e più ancora vincere vincere vincere.
Essere i numeri uno della classifica mondiale è supergodurioso, e qualche sfuriata (qualche ….) se la concede a ogni match, per dare lo spettacolo che gli spettatori si aspettano da lui (buon tennis e intemperanze).
Molto veloce, pochissimo gossiparo (accipicchia, sei stato con Tatum O’Neal e hai suonato con Keith Richards, potresti almeno raccontare qualcosina), ma a tratti decisamente intimista, soprattutto quando parla dei figli e della famiglia.
Quello che non si capisce è da dove gli venga tanta irruenza linguacciuta: a lui giocare piaceva, i genitori non sono stati particolarmente oppressivi, e liquida acciacchi e malanni come normale routine. E allora perché tanta rabbia?
Ps: chapeau a Mac che mette il nome del coautore, Kaplan, in copertina.
Pps: Certo che gli anni d’oro del tennis e delle superpersonalità me li ricordo pure io, che sapevo chi erano Borg Mac Wilander e Lendl, mentre oggi non so neanche chi ci sia al primo posto.
Scrivere non è proprio il suo mestiere, ma guadagna terreno game dopo game, mettendo a punto qualche volé assolutamente grandiosa.
A differenza di Agassi che inizia descrivendo la sofferenza fisica (e va avanti facendo sentire a ogni pagina quanto poco gli piaccia giocare – insomma, magari giocare no, ma vincere si), Mac si diverte a tutto spiano, non ama allenarsi ma giocare, e più ancora vincere vincere vincere.
Essere i numeri uno della classifica mondiale è supergodurioso, e qualche sfuriata (qualche ….) se la concede a ogni match, per dare lo spettacolo che gli spettatori si aspettano da lui (buon tennis e intemperanze).
Molto veloce, pochissimo gossiparo (accipicchia, sei stato con Tatum O’Neal e hai suonato con Keith Richards, potresti almeno raccontare qualcosina), ma a tratti decisamente intimista, soprattutto quando parla dei figli e della famiglia.
Quello che non si capisce è da dove gli venga tanta irruenza linguacciuta: a lui giocare piaceva, i genitori non sono stati particolarmente oppressivi, e liquida acciacchi e malanni come normale routine. E allora perché tanta rabbia?
Ps: chapeau a Mac che mette il nome del coautore, Kaplan, in copertina.
Pps: Certo che gli anni d’oro del tennis e delle superpersonalità me li ricordo pure io, che sapevo chi erano Borg Mac Wilander e Lendl, mentre oggi non so neanche chi ci sia al primo posto.
August 28, 2017
As a huge tennis fan I found it interesting to get an in depth view of the history of tennis. As a reader, I kind of hate ghost writing because it generally seems so forced and sounds like a lame dad trying to sound cool writing a book. As for the topic of McEnroe, he just seems like a megalomaniac that expects everyone to like him, throws tantrums when things don't go his way, and has to do something when people stop paying attention to him. I YouTubed some of his music and he is a horrible musician. The only reason his music career got any traction is because of his name and that is bogus that real musicians get pushed to the side for some jackass that thinks he can do anything. And how self centered that is when an actual musician, Patty Smyth, has to take the sidelines to raise his kids while he plays horrible music. The entire book just makes me realize he is still a narcissist. It is also appalling that he couldn't contain his attitude towards his mother either. You would think he could respect his mother but I guess not. I also believe he is racist as well. In both this book and his other book, he admits to using a racial slur and the most disparaging comments he makes are towards the Williams sisters. I'm sorry even if you are angry, if you are not a racist, racial slurs wouldn't even exist in your language. Whatever. I will never be friends with this guy anyway.
May 24, 2019
Visto il grande successo dell'autobiografia di Agassi il grande McEnroe ha pensato di provarci anche lui.
Niente da fare.
Evidentemente il ghost writer di Andre era assai migliore di quello ingaggiato da John.
O la vita tormentata del primo ha avuto la meglio sull'essere un personaggio più interessante.
Perché non c'è alcun dubbio che la maggioranza del grande pubblico preferirebbe uscire a cena con il vulcanico McEnroe piuttosto che col "noioso" Agassi.
Ma se dovete scegliere quale dei due libri leggere non c'è alcun dubbio. Questo non vale un decimo di quello del collega.
Magari se siete dei fan sfegatati del carismatico e imprevedibile "the genius" troverete aneddoti e particolari interessanti, ma non c'è pathos, non c'è un filo conduttore, manca un'anima.
Tutti ingredienti presenti in "Open".
Niente da fare.
Evidentemente il ghost writer di Andre era assai migliore di quello ingaggiato da John.
O la vita tormentata del primo ha avuto la meglio sull'essere un personaggio più interessante.
Perché non c'è alcun dubbio che la maggioranza del grande pubblico preferirebbe uscire a cena con il vulcanico McEnroe piuttosto che col "noioso" Agassi.
Ma se dovete scegliere quale dei due libri leggere non c'è alcun dubbio. Questo non vale un decimo di quello del collega.
Magari se siete dei fan sfegatati del carismatico e imprevedibile "the genius" troverete aneddoti e particolari interessanti, ma non c'è pathos, non c'è un filo conduttore, manca un'anima.
Tutti ingredienti presenti in "Open".
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