John McEnroe has always been an entertainer on and off the court. Few names in tennis command as much respect and intrigue as this 66-year-old American tennis legend. Known for his unmatched skill, fiery personality, and unforgettable rivalries, McEnroe transformed the sport both on and off the court. Whether it be his artistry with the racket in his hand or his outspoken commentary after retirement, his legacy continues to inspire and entertain generations of fans, cementing his place among the greatest of all time in the game.

Talking about his legacy in the sport, apart from winning seven Grand Slam titles in his 16-year-long singles career, John McEnroe was ranked as the world number one in men’s singles by the ATP for 170 weeks. McEnroe was best known during his playing days for his incredible shot-making and volleying skills, and also for his insane rivalries with players like Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors. Other than that, there have been several occasions when he landed himself in troubled waters for his confrontational on-court behavior with umpires and tennis authorities. Perhaps that’s why he was also labeled as ‘tennis’s bad boy.’

John McEnroe’s tennis journey is not just about winning titles and achieving milestones. It was more like a drama, which is worth putting up on display for all the tennis fans who hadn’t had the chance to see him play. There have been two films focusing on John McEnroe: a 2022 documentary also named ‘McEnroe’ and a 2017 narrative film titled ‘Borg vs McEnroe.’ Are we now going to witness a biopic featuring this tennis great? Well, the 29-year-old American and French actor, Timothée Chalamet, recently shared a tweet featuring John McEnroe.

That picture represented John McEnroe’s heroics at the 1981 Wimbledon, and there was a writing on that picture which read, “DREAM BIG.” Seeing that post from the actor sparked major speculations among the fans.

If we talk about the previous movies, in the ‘Borg vs McEnroe,’ Shia LaBeouf played the role of John McEnroe, while in the documentary named ‘McEnroe, ‘ the tennis star played the role himself. Plenty of reactions came in when LaBeouf played he role of John McEnroe. But what are the fans saying about the rumors surrounding Timothée Chalamet playing the role of the tennis legend?

Tennis fans’ wild reactions seeing Timothée Chalamet’s shoutout to John McEnroe

Playing the role of John McEnroe is never going to be easy. His character is simply unmatchable! The 2017 biographical sports drama film, named ‘Borg vs McEnroe,’ focused on their famous rivalry at the 1980 Wimbledon Championships, culminating in their encounter in the men’s singles final, one of the most dramatic matches of all time. Speaking about LaBeouf’s role, the writer, Ronnie Sandahl, had then said he “identifies strongly with the character of McEnroe, and felt that he is a misunderstood person.” Shia LaBeouf said that he “cried when reading it (script) for the first time.” 

However, when asked to give a reaction to the same, John McEnroe raised his eyebrows at the comparison with LaBeouf. He said, “Supposedly, he’s crazy. So maybe that works. I’ve never talked to him, so I don’t know how he could play me.” Now, after seeing Timothee Chalamet’s tweet, the tennis fans wondered if he’s now ready to take up this challenging task. Some of them asked, “Is he doing a McEnroe biopic ???“

Now, coming to his biopic, ‘McEnroe’, which was released in 2022, it brings together the golden age of tennis, which McEnroe was a part of, as well as showcasing New York City. “Compassionate, human and heartfelt, McEnroe is the definitive portrait of a force of nature powered by the beating heart of New York.” That biopic documentary drew a lot of attention from the tennis fans. Now seeing Chalamet’s shoutout, a few of them wrote, “It never occurred to me that Chalamet could play McEnroe in a biopic one day…“

While sharing his thoughts about the ‘McEnroe’ biopic, Stephen Espinoza, President Sport and Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc., stated, “The complexity, intensity, and depth of John’s multifaceted persona make this film transcend from sports documentary to character study. John McEnroe is not just a tennis great; he is a true icon whose career created cultural touchstones and captured the world’s fascination.” Playing the role of this tennis legend will surely be a challenge that Timothée Chalamet will be looking forward to. Some of the fans wondered, “This is gonna be how we find out Timmy starting in a John McEnroe biopic or smth.“

Chalamet’s accolades include a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards, four British Academy Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. Seeing this post from him raised multiple questions like “John McEnroe biopic?????“

Timothée Chalamet is a known tennis fan, and during the 2025 BNP Paribas Indian Wells Open, he was also spotted enjoying a match with Kylie Jenner. Interestingly, he also has a vast popularity in the tennis world. So, considering all of that, and his recent post, one of the fans even wrote, “I want to see you as a tennis player 🙂‍↔️”  What are your thoughts on seeing him playing the role of John McEnroe in the near future?