Desert Island Discs: Archive: 2016-2018

John McEnroe


Listen Later

Kirsty Young's castaway is the tennis player and commentator, John McEnroe. He won three singles and five doubles Wimbledon titles, four singles and four doubles at the US Open and was ranked number one in the world for four consecutive years in the 1980s.

John McEnroe grew up in New York and didn't pick up a tennis racquet until the age of eight, but his talent was quickly spotted and he began to compete in junior tournaments. In 1977, aged 18 and between high school and university, he qualified for the main draw at Wimbledon and reached the semi-finals where he lost to Jimmy Connors. By the end of the tournament his on-court behaviour - shouting, haranguing umpires and abusing his racquet - earned him the nickname 'Superbrat'.

He made his first Wimbledon final against Bjorn Borg in 1980. In one of the finest matches in history, despite winning a tiebreak 18-16 to win the fourth set, he lost the match. He beat Borg the following year to win his first Wimbledon singles title. 1984 was the best year in John's career: he won 82 out of 85 matches he played, but it was also the year when he was beaten at the French Open by Ivan Lendl, who replaced him as number one.

John married the actress Tatum O'Neal in 1986. They divorced in the mid-1990s and he has been married to the singer Patty Smyth since 1997. Since retiring in 1992, in addition to his role as tennis commentator, he has been a coach and runs his own tennis academy. He still plays in tennis tournaments.

Producer: Cathy Drysdale.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Desert Island Discs: Archive: 2016-2018By BBC Radio 4

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

24 ratings


More shows like Desert Island Discs: Archive: 2016-2018

View all
Woman's Hour by BBC Radio 4

Woman's Hour

404 Listeners

Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs

2,058 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2005-2010 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2005-2010

159 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive 1991-1996 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive 1991-1996

86 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2000-2005 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2000-2005

71 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive 1996-2000 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive 1996-2000

54 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2011-2015 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2011-2015

54 Listeners

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day by Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

1,279 Listeners

Life Changing by BBC Radio 4

Life Changing

58 Listeners

Comfort Eating with Grace Dent by The Guardian

Comfort Eating with Grace Dent

219 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

114 Listeners

Young Again by BBC Radio 4

Young Again

47 Listeners

Off Air with Jane & Fi by The Times

Off Air with Jane & Fi

182 Listeners

Brydon & by Rob Brydon | Wondery

Brydon &

82 Listeners

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth by Gyles Brandreth / Plain Jaine Media

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

539 Listeners