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John McEnroe ruled men’s tennis during the late 80s and the early 90s. He was one of the few players on the men’s tour to have achieved success across all formats. During his illustrious career, McEnroe managed to win seven Grand Slam singles titles. Additionally, he also has nine Grand Slam doubles titles and a mixed doubles title in his trophy cabinet.

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The American legend inspired many with his grit and determination on the tennis court. Boxing legend, Mike Tyson, has revealed an incident in his book about McEnroe.

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When Mike Tyson took inspiration from John McEnroe

In his book, Undisputed Truth, Tyson talks about how McEnroe inspired him in one of his matches. Opening up about that incident, Tyson wrote, “I didn’t go into the fight (with James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith) at a hundred percent. I was suffering from a pinched nerve in my neck that would haunt me for years so I was in a bit of pain. But I walked into the ring like I owned that place. I thought that the ring was my home and it was where I lived and I was totally comfortable in its circumference.”

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READ MORE: ‘Its Crazy..’ – John McEnroe Continues to Shower Support on Novak Djokovic as Momentum Gathers to Reverse His US Open Ban

Further, he added, “But I still wasn’t a seasoned fighter. My ego was out of whack back then. I felt like John McEnroe. F**k you who cares? I had so much respect for him. He was a beast and that was just how I felt. I felt entitled to anything concerning the boxing world. And if I wasn’t getting it you were going to hear from me.”

Tyson’s daughter practices with Sofia Kenin

Recently, Kenin shared glimpses of her outing with Mike Tyson and his daughter, Milan. The former also got a little practice with Milan, who is a huge tennis fan. Earlier, Tyson’s daughter also practiced with the American rising star, Coco Gauff.

Watch this story-“It Was Odd That I Started Playing Tennis” – Novak Djokovic

Milan has also practiced at Patrick Mouratoglou’s academy along with meeting her idol, Serena Williams, before stepping into tennis.

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Vatsal Shah

3,705 Articles

Vatsal Shah is a tennis journalist at EssentiallySports, covering ATP and WTA storylines from the ES Trends Desk since 2023. He delivers breaking insights on major tournaments and player arcs, decoding tactical shifts and viral moments into accessible takeaways for fans worldwide. His coverage of Taylor Townsend’s Dubai title win stood out for capturing both the emotional significance of her victory and the context of her comeback. Drawing on his background as a recreational player, Vatsal adds a courtside perspective to his reporting, bringing depth and authenticity to Grand Slam coverage for the ES News Center. By combining sharp observation with a clear, engaging writing style, he ensures that key tennis moments are not only reported but truly understood. Fluent in English, French, and German, as well as three Indian languages, Gujarati, Hindi, and Marathi, Vatsal connects with a diverse global readership. With his mix of linguistic reach, analytical insight, and passion for the sport, he is carving a niche as a fresh, incisive voice in tennis journalism.

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Tony Thomas

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