John McEnroe and Tatum O’Neal’s love story was once the talk of the town and a high-profile relationship in the tennis world. O’Neal started dating the tennis star in her early 20s, and in 1986, the power couple tied the knot at St. Dominic’s Roman Catholic Church in Oyster Bay, Long Island, a few months after the couple welcomed their first child, Kevin McEnroe. Their partnership was an amalgamation of tennis and Hollywood. However, they separated due to differences in 1992 and were divorced in 1994, after just 8 years of marriage. Despite sharing custody of their three children, Kevin, Sean, and Emily, McEnroe and O’Neal were rarely spotted together since the split.

Despite the turbulence between the two, in 2020, during an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Tatum O’Neal insisted, “The happiest times of my life were the times that I was married. Sometimes we think we’re making the right decision, and maybe we aren’t. And I have to live with that, too.” After years of not crossing paths with each other, both Tatum O’Neal and John McEnroe stood united at their son Kevin’s wedding on June 14, 2025. Talking about seeing her ex-husband after all these years, O’Neal claimed that the “anger is gone” and that there were no more hard feelings between them.

Their firstborn and a renowned author, Kevin McEnroe, had popped the question to Fern Cozine in November 2023 and soft launched their commitment to each other via a social media post. O’Neal had been one of the first people to react to her son’s major life update with a comment, “This is so beautiful.” Almost two years later, she stood side by side with the man who was once her partner, John McEnroe, beaming with pride at their son’s wedding. Fern Cozine McEnroe recently shared a few unseen pictures from their wedding day with the caption, “So many perfect little moments.”

Prior to this, in 2015, John McEnroe and Tatum O’Neal’s paths crossed briefly when they were present for the release of Kevin’s novel, “Our Town.“ During that time, O’Neal had admitted that the encounter with McEnroe had been pleasant, and that she was quite impressed with the way he had grown over the years. She expressed delight at being able to be on talking terms with him. However, she also added, “I would say there isn’t a relationship, but there is respect now.” Does she regret ending their relationship though?

John McEnroe’s ex-wife reveals her struggles after their separation

In 2020, during an interview, the Academy Award-winning actress, Tatum O’Neal, opened up about her decision to part ways with the tennis icon John McEnroe. Did she believe it was the right call? “Perhaps not. I was loved, I was cared for… That’s it, that’s what one wants, isn’t it, in a marriage? I’ve never met anyone who even comes close to my ex-husband.“

The most challenging phase for O’Neal came after their divorce, as she once admitted relapsing into an unruly lifestyle. This tumultuous period in particular was marred by reckless self-destructive behavior, including a near-fatal car accident, substance abuse, and much more. In 2004, during an interview with NBC, O’Neal had said, “Being away from John and away from the kids, that’s when the reality of my old life and who I was and all my demons came right back.“

From surviving addiction, a stroke, volatile relationships, and then being omitted from her late father’s will, Tatum O’Neal had to face a lot of trials and tribulations. In a previous interview with Variety, she even opened up about all these struggles. After the interview, their daughter, Emily, shared a story on her IG account with the caption, “Mom 🥹.“ She lauded her mother for gathering the courage to open up and lay bare her flaws and misgivings. John McEnroe attested to his daughter’s post with a one-word comment: “Proud“.

Even Kevin McEnroe once spoke about his mom during an interview in 2023. He claimed that there were times when they didn’t think she was going to make it, yet despite the despair, he acknowledged his mom’s steely resolve to weather any storm. Since then, Tatum O’Neal has embraced sobriety and has vowed to remain clean. Moments like these, when an entire frame does justice to the relationship and support among loved ones, serve to reinstall our faith in family. Share your thoughts about these never-before-seen candid pictures.