Winning grand slams is certainly the biggest feat one can achieve in tennis. At the same time, Wimbledon is considered to be the biggest event in the tennis calendar. Should common sense prevail, nothing gets bigger than a Wimbledon final in this sport. Recently, the seven-time major champion, John McEnroe, revealed the biggest victory of his career, and unsurprisingly, the ‘Superbrat’ was referring to one of the five Wimbledon finals he featured in. However, it was also one of the two finals he ended up on the losing side. But how did a defeat turn into the biggest win of McEnroe’s career?

During his heyday on the ATP Tour, McEnroe was renowned for his ultra-competitive and volatile nature. So, it will surprise some of his ardent fans when he mentioned a defeat in the final at SW19 as his biggest victory. He revealed the reason during his speech in the commencement ceremony at Stanford University.

Nelson Mandela’s words change McEnroe’s perspective

When John McEnroe addressed the Stanford commencement ceremony and filled the students’ minds with words of encouragement, he spoke at lengths about success, optimism, and motivation. However, the 1980 Wimbledon Final reference was the highlight of the speech. McEnroe suffered the cruellest defeat of his career against archrival Bjorn Borg in a five-set final. But, the late South African president and non-violence freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela, turn this defeat into McEnroe’s biggest win, according to the American tennis legend.

John McEnroe was lucky enough to meet the former South African President Nelson Mandela in the flesh. It was during this special meeting that Madela revealed how McEnroe provided a form of entertainment and relief during some of the toughest moments of his life. Knowing that Mandela was listening to the final on the radio, while in prison, changed McEnroe’s point of view.

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According to Stanford Report, McEnroe said, “That we gave Mandela a brief respite from the excruciating hell of 27 years of political imprisonment meant more to me than any award I’ve ever won. The lesson here is you don’t have to win to be part of something that is truly magical.”

However, even before his meeting with Mandela, a young McEnroe showcased his values and upbringing when he rejected the chance to play in South Africa for big money.

Why did John McEnroe refuse to play in South Africa?

In 1980, McEnroe was offered a million dollars to play an exhibition match in South Africa. A million dollars 40-odd years ago would be as valuable as ten million, if not more. However, McEnroe turned down the offer as he stood against the apartheid in South Africa.

‘That Was the Proudest Decision I Ever Made’ – John McEnroe Details His Conversation With Nelson Mandela and Why He Refused to Play in South Africa

The American was attracted by the offer, but he was also aware of the interior motives of the then-South African regime. He refused to allow the apartheid regime to use him as a part of their propaganda.

WATCH THIS STORY: John McEnroe, Boris Becker, and Others in the Most Shocking Moments of Wimbledon Championships