‘He Did Worse Things’ – John McEnroe Says There Was One Tennis Player Whom He Wanted to Strangle on the Court

Published 09/26/2022, 5:50 AM EDT

The sport of tennis has never been short of entertaining superstars. At 63 years of age, John McEnroe still sparks fear amongst his opponents. The American tennis legend is remembered by fans for his singles and doubles triumphs. Over his illustrious career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles and nine Grand Slam doubles titles.

During a recent interview with NPR, he revealed his strong feelings towards his opponent, Ilie Nastase. The Romanian is well known for his unorthodox and unpredictable exploits on and off the court.

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“There were certain antics that they did that were way beyond the pale, in my book, of what I was doing. I’m not saying I’m some angel, but I’m saying they took it to vulgarity at times, situations where there would be altercations, potentially”, McEnroe said.

The ‘Bad Boy’ of tennis and his anger issues

McEnroe’s tennis career is filled with heavy fines and suspensions for his volatile behavior against other players and officials. His verbal potshots, aimed against opponents, lines judges, umpires, and even sometimes spectators overshadowed his swift shot-making. “He (Nastase) would be on the court and you’d want to strangle the guy,” McEnroe added. He further said that Ilie Nastase and he would later go for dinner and the antics would never go beyond the court.

McEnroe was once disqualified for his behavior at the Australian Open. The American’s personal turmoil and anger issues arguably never affected his precise playing style.

‘A Little Bit More Explosive Temper’- John McEnroe Explains How the Sport Badly Needs Players Who Show Raw Emotions

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John McEnroe inspires millions despite his controversial past behavior

During the 2022 Laver Cup, McEnroe was full of smiles after Team World clinched the tournament for the first time. McEnroe, alongside his brother Patrick, led Team World to victory over Team Europe. The weekend event saw 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer play his final professional tennis match.

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McEnroe remains a part of the game he loves most, often seen commentating on matches and tournaments across the globe.

What is your favorite John McEnroe moment, either on or off the court? Let us know in the comments below.

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Aditya Menon is a Tennis Author at EssentiallySports. A dentist by profession, he developed an unbridled love for tennis from the moment his father introduced him to the sport. Watching Roger Federer dominate the ATP tour with his unique and effortless style played a pivotal role in pushing Aditya to write about tennis for national publications.

‘He Did Worse Things’ – John McEnroe Says There Was One Tennis Player Whom He Wanted to Strangle on the Court

The ‘Bad Boy’ of tennis and his anger issues

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John McEnroe inspires millions despite his controversial past behavior