Douglaston's Own: John McEnroe

Former world champion John McEnroe first picked up a tennis racquet as a young boy growing up in Douglaston.

McEnroe, whose father served in the United States Air Force, was born in Germany, but grew up in northeast Queens.

As early as age 8, he would play tennis with his brother Patrick, who is also a former tennis player, at the .

His parents enrolled him in the Eastern Lawn Tennis Association and he began to play regional tournaments. Eventually, he joined the Port Washington Tennis Academy and attended Trinity School.

In 1977, he won the French Open’s mixed doubles and made it to Wimbledon’s semifinals, where he was defeated.

The following year, he entered Stanford University and won five titles, including his first Masters Grand Prix, besting Arthur Ashe.

In 1979, he won his first Grand Slam singles title at the U.S. Open, becoming the youngest male winner in more than 30 years.

McEnroe, who also became known for his confrontational behavior on the court, made it to the 1980 Wimbledon’s singles final, but was defeated by Bjorn Borg. But he beat the Swedish player in the U.S. Open later that year.

He went on to win the Grand Slam singles at Wimbledon three times and at the U.S. Open four times.

In 1983, he was ranked the top singles player in the world and, 16 years later, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

McEnroe’s was first married to actress Tatum O’Neal, but the couple later divorced. In 1992, he married singer Patty Smyth, with whom he had two daughters.

In the mid-1990s, he learned to play guitar and formed The Johnny Smyth Band, which featured McEnroe as lead singer.

The group toured for two years, but later broke up just before finishing a first album.

McEnroe continues to act as a commentator for Wimbledon.