what always struck me with mcenroe is that he was a true natural. he didn't have to work the way others did to get where he was so young. watch "fire and ice". i was shocked that he didn't really train the way others did. he was truly born at a champion level. i don't know anyone else playing who didn't work like hell. he just plays because he's good at it. THAT'S a genius. name one other tennis player like that. i can't. borg admits he isn't.
nobody worked the angles like mac. He moved forward to cut angles and create angles plus with his abbreviated back swing he could wait for his opponent to comitt before choosing where too hit his shot.Nobody plays like him because its too hard too master. Without Tatum, lendl could have been submitted with this style of play.
The sad thing is that McEnroe's tennis ability declined so rapidly and noticeably after his brilliant 1984 season. His on-court behavior towards tennis officials was, of course, appalling. If the administrators of tennis had suspended him for a full year early in his career, and if he had worked on his physical conditioning more instead of playing doubles he probably would have won more major singles titles.
i had the same idea for the rennaissance theatre in berlin. get in touch, info@quickstring.de. i´m also working as an actor. or call me, i got hypnotised about your posting!! +49 (0) 30 25564300
Roger is a great player, no doubt probably the best ever. But his volley skills are greatly exaggerate. I can name so many players with better volleying skills than Roger. He does not even break top 20 lists. I do not know where some people get this idea that his volleying skills are great. :-p
Anyone who actually follow tennis closely should know what makes Roger great is basically his reliable serve, forehand and footwork. He very rarely use volley as a change up, certainly not a weapon.
mmmm.. no.... his SKILLS are fantastic, technically perfect volleys, and smashes too.
he just isnt used to play volleys too much in offical matches, and becomes nervous often at the net and does stupid errors, but if he would try to play serve and volley, he would be the best attacker at the moment. only Edberg and McEnroe and maybe Sampras could do better, but he is also a defensive genious, he has too many weapons.. thats why he sometimes doesnt know which one to use.
McEnroe was never my favourite person, but there is no denying that he was a true and unique tennis genius. Federer will has never had and will volley like McEnroe. Tennis has had many great volleyer's (very few now including Federer) but none of them, with the possible exception of Laver, could consistently do the things McEnroe could at the net. It was a never to be seen again combination of fantastic timing uncanny reflexes and competitive desire.
most talented player ever in the game..ever.I am a huge fan of federer, but as for raw natural talent mac is beyond reproach. Federer's favourite player and who he aspired to play like since he was a kid.
Roger has never said that Mac was his idol, he had other players as idol, mainly Becker, Edberg and also Sampras. Mac was already a bit older when Roger started to idolize.
I disagree, i think Fed is the greatest talent ever, i've seen many many videos of both, when they were young and older, there's almost no difference in raw talent but i gotta give Roger the egde because his raw talent is as great at the net (in his younger years) and slightly better from the baseline, so overall.
Borg. Winning so many on grass and clay and even though he didn't win US Open he still made four finals. Thats like winning Indy and Nascar races. which is why Foyt is a legend.
The game has changed and this makes it hard to compare. Mac often saying that Roger is the greatest talent the sport has seen and looking at how many people already said it from Roger's teenage years and on, are a good testament as well.
Of course Mac will not say he's the best talent, but him repeating it so often about Federer is interesting.
They also both show their raw talent differently, due to their characters on court.
Mac was an insane genius, Roger the most stable insane ever.
Federer is from another planet, MAC was unbelievable skilled in serve and volley and chip and charge, but what Federer did, will never be done again in this sport, noone takes the balls earlier, he is permanetly halfvolleying from the baseline, his serve, his speed, his antizipation, his returns, hes the most complete player ever and the by far technically best
He is the one that shows how it has to be done.
Hes almost never injured because his technic is perfect.
McEnroe is a genuis not that he win 7 grandslam titles in his era, but the way he hit the ball, his backhand hit like a beginner, no spin and flat, with less power compared to others, same as his forehand, but to such extent he was able to beat so many top rank players, look closely how funny and even ridiculously his style was. he is not a conventional but a gifted serve & volleyer, and probably the best ever have.
Johnny Mac - when he was on, he was unbeatable. If he didn't let his temper get the best of him so many times, he would be up there with Sampras and Federer as the best of the best. Look at those angles and his precision. As far as I'm concerned, he is the best serve and volley player ever. He's like a magician at the net.
McEnroe had the very best hands at the net the game has ever seen. He is also the quickest to get to the net. His speed was incredible. It was 1984 when he hit his peak as a player but, unfortunately, he lost his fire as a player and was never the same.
Still maybe the most uniquely talented tennis player I have seen.
@carde15 No matter how good he was, and he was very good, he cannot be considered to be the best ever; fact. By numbers alone he doesnt come near Nadal or Federer. And he lacks the kinesthetic virtuosity of Federer and the ridiculous fitness and focus of Rafa.
Note Mac's unorthodox strokes, both forehand and backhand. Note his approaches and insane dashes to smother the net and then his un-coachable deft touches on the volley. Note also the Dunlop Maxply in one of the clips!!
Appalling behabiour of Mac should have been punished; it certainly was disgraceful- but in those times there was no technology and important points totally depended on human eye!!!! AND often on prejudice (if u get my meaning)
Great combo of Bob Dylan, and John McEnroe...big fan of both. The only irony is that there are lots of clips of Mac versus Lendl in the 1984 French Open final. This was BY FAR, beyond any shadow of any doubt, the worst match of his career. He blew a 2 sets and a break lead versus Lendl to lose. Mac still regrets this match to this very day! It was the black sabbath of his career, and he won only one major title after it.
C'mon Nick, how can you say that this french open final in 1984 was Mac's worst match ? Please check those 2 first sets again and tell me who was able to ridiculize Lendl on clay like that. Of course he messed up in the last three sets (don't forget the physical exhaustion in the reasons that led to his defeat : this sunday final was the hottest day of the tournament), but Lendl kept on fighting and had him play time after time that one more shot that eventually burnt Mac's energy...
@andyclass This is not the worst of McEnroe's career from a level of play standpoint. John played over 1000 ATP matches, and I'm sure he played worse in many of them. My point is that this immensely match harmed McEnroe's career from a psychological standpoint. He was up a set and a break on Lendl in the French Open final and then lost. McEnroe has admitted that that match still haunts him to this day. John won one more major in 1984 (US Open) and that was it for his career. He was 25.
@Nick410s A quick correction: He also won the 1984 Wimbledon a month after the Lendel defeat in probably the most dominating performance ever, beating Connors in straight sets with 3 total unforced errors.
@jmlbloom OK that's true. He won Wimbledon and the US that year. But after his 1984 season he never won another major singles title. He has mentioned several times that this match was a huge defeat for him psychologically. I think fellow commentators know not to bring it up to him when he's doing commentary at the French.
You can say what you want... but no one in the world and in history of this sport can be put on the same level. He had talent, personality, fantasy, touch... Forget about the rest of players. Mac is unique. And I enjoy much more watching one of his old matches than any other match nowadays with Federer or something like that.
um...he didn't waste his talent. He is the owner of 77 (SEVENTY SEVEN) ATP singles titles, of which I think 7 are Grand Slam titles. that, in addition to NINETY-TWO doubles titles. don't forget 1984 when he compiled a 82-3 match record for the year.
umm..it's turdferguson with his typical riposte sent with love. look, turdy-boy, mcenroe did waste his enormous talent and anybody who knows anything about tennis will tell you so. mcenroe treated his body like a city dumpster. he squandered what was probably the greatest native talent the tennis world has ever seen. the stats you cite would be wonderful for any professional on the atp save one with such a prodigious gift.
you're a fuckin idiot! you must have been on drugs during the 70's and 80's cause you didn't observe anything. he didn't waste his talent. he was a fuckin winner. he has the most atp tournament wins in singles and doubles combined! he won 7 grand slams. he has the greatest win/loss record, still undefeated in 1984. he plays tennis today on a regular basis and keeps fit. he owned the seniors tour for a few years. so piss of kid
such bravado...no one can share an opinion without being castigated and pigeonholed as a drug-addled poseur? i'm a huge, huge, huge mcenroe fan, but the guy didn't respect what majestic gift nature bestowed on him.
mac's win loss record in the early 80s is mightily impressive in both singles and doubles; however, he left the game (mid-career) and when he returned his game was never the same. he had lost his competitive edge and remained a shadow of his former self the rest of his career. he lacked the incredible discipline of a lendl or wilander and these lesser player's exploited that weakness. he lost the french open to lendl in '84 because he ran out of gas. mac should have swept the slam events in '84.
No audio?
MrJoe13100 2 days ago
what always struck me with mcenroe is that he was a true natural. he didn't have to work the way others did to get where he was so young. watch "fire and ice". i was shocked that he didn't really train the way others did. he was truly born at a champion level. i don't know anyone else playing who didn't work like hell. he just plays because he's good at it. THAT'S a genius. name one other tennis player like that. i can't. borg admits he isn't.
winterlongone 1 week ago
skip to 1:30 for the tennis
Bobby61189 3 months ago
nobody worked the angles like mac. He moved forward to cut angles and create angles plus with his abbreviated back swing he could wait for his opponent to comitt before choosing where too hit his shot.Nobody plays like him because its too hard too master. Without Tatum, lendl could have been submitted with this style of play.
cindygirlification 5 months ago
il migliore di tutti e di tutti i tempi --- grazie per il bel tennis John !
Forlando73 8 months ago
Thomas Edison + tennis racquet = JOHN McENROE
Happy 52nd Birthday, Mac>>>Feb.16,1959
nikemac84 1 year ago
The sad thing is that McEnroe's tennis ability declined so rapidly and noticeably after his brilliant 1984 season. His on-court behavior towards tennis officials was, of course, appalling. If the administrators of tennis had suspended him for a full year early in his career, and if he had worked on his physical conditioning more instead of playing doubles he probably would have won more major singles titles.
7Lukibi99Tore7 1 year ago
Annoying to always see him go to the net, did he also score points behind the baseline??
Obelisk1990 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Is there more clips of Mac playing earlier rounds, not just Lendl, Connnors, and Borg. He must of made the others look REALLY stupid!
dura1mater 1 year ago
Is there more clips of Mac playing earlier rounds, not just Lendl, Connnors, and Borg. He must of made the others look RALLY stupid!
dura1mater 1 year ago 2
I fell in love with this sport when i saw him playing.
In '84 Mac was simply too strong.
84supermac 1 year ago
hello i'm a theater director
and i wrote a play about jmcenroe
could you please help me !
i'm looking for videos
and maybe you can send me some !
it would be a great help
i can send you first a USB flashcard
and you could send me back!
tell me if it's possible and thank you so much
grouplil@yahoo.fr
solarveillesurtoi 1 year ago
@solarveillesurtoi
i had the same idea for the rennaissance theatre in berlin. get in touch, info@quickstring.de. i´m also working as an actor. or call me, i got hypnotised about your posting!! +49 (0) 30 25564300
cheers mate, best. jens
toratorator 1 year ago
Simply brilliant... 4:02
Jikk 1 year ago
Ah MAC !!!
alllman2000 2 years ago
a real tennis genius: the best ever
gimichi 2 years ago 2
Roger is a great player, no doubt probably the best ever. But his volley skills are greatly exaggerate. I can name so many players with better volleying skills than Roger. He does not even break top 20 lists. I do not know where some people get this idea that his volleying skills are great. :-p
Anyone who actually follow tennis closely should know what makes Roger great is basically his reliable serve, forehand and footwork. He very rarely use volley as a change up, certainly not a weapon.
SVolleyGame 2 years ago
mmmm.. no.... his SKILLS are fantastic, technically perfect volleys, and smashes too.
he just isnt used to play volleys too much in offical matches, and becomes nervous often at the net and does stupid errors, but if he would try to play serve and volley, he would be the best attacker at the moment. only Edberg and McEnroe and maybe Sampras could do better, but he is also a defensive genious, he has too many weapons.. thats why he sometimes doesnt know which one to use.
pacodemic 2 years ago
his backhand had no spin, pure flick of the wrist ping pong style,
gabe228 2 years ago
McEnroe was never my favourite person, but there is no denying that he was a true and unique tennis genius. Federer will has never had and will volley like McEnroe. Tennis has had many great volleyer's (very few now including Federer) but none of them, with the possible exception of Laver, could consistently do the things McEnroe could at the net. It was a never to be seen again combination of fantastic timing uncanny reflexes and competitive desire.
paqumike53 2 years ago 2
pure genius
we miss him
jembozzo 2 years ago 2
most talented player ever in the game..ever.I am a huge fan of federer, but as for raw natural talent mac is beyond reproach. Federer's favourite player and who he aspired to play like since he was a kid.
jjayster 2 years ago
Roger has never said that Mac was his idol, he had other players as idol, mainly Becker, Edberg and also Sampras. Mac was already a bit older when Roger started to idolize.
I disagree, i think Fed is the greatest talent ever, i've seen many many videos of both, when they were young and older, there's almost no difference in raw talent but i gotta give Roger the egde because his raw talent is as great at the net (in his younger years) and slightly better from the baseline, so overall.
Elwink 2 years ago
Borg. Winning so many on grass and clay and even though he didn't win US Open he still made four finals. Thats like winning Indy and Nascar races. which is why Foyt is a legend.
prplhze2000 2 years ago
The game has changed and this makes it hard to compare. Mac often saying that Roger is the greatest talent the sport has seen and looking at how many people already said it from Roger's teenage years and on, are a good testament as well.
Of course Mac will not say he's the best talent, but him repeating it so often about Federer is interesting.
They also both show their raw talent differently, due to their characters on court.
Mac was an insane genius, Roger the most stable insane ever.
Elwink 2 years ago
McEnroe wasn't his favorite... He clearly states that Laver, Edberg/Becker and Sampras were his favorite many times.
AllGenreMusic 2 years ago
Federer is from another planet, MAC was unbelievable skilled in serve and volley and chip and charge, but what Federer did, will never be done again in this sport, noone takes the balls earlier, he is permanetly halfvolleying from the baseline, his serve, his speed, his antizipation, his returns, hes the most complete player ever and the by far technically best
He is the one that shows how it has to be done.
Hes almost never injured because his technic is perfect.
pacodemic 2 years ago
McEnroe is a genuis not that he win 7 grandslam titles in his era, but the way he hit the ball, his backhand hit like a beginner, no spin and flat, with less power compared to others, same as his forehand, but to such extent he was able to beat so many top rank players, look closely how funny and even ridiculously his style was. he is not a conventional but a gifted serve & volleyer, and probably the best ever have.
artamerican 2 years ago 2
Johnny Mac - when he was on, he was unbeatable. If he didn't let his temper get the best of him so many times, he would be up there with Sampras and Federer as the best of the best. Look at those angles and his precision. As far as I'm concerned, he is the best serve and volley player ever. He's like a magician at the net.
Great video - thanks for posting.
braducsb2 2 years ago
tennis doesn't have referees, genius. Umpire.
turdferguson2 2 years ago
the greatest man on earth!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Flandrija 2 years ago
There is no excuse to berate a referee. Ever. John macEnroe was an idiot.
biggori 2 years ago
how can you lowlife call mcenroe an idiot
you are a worm
rexkommher 2 years ago
Sure there is - if they are an "incompetent fool." Quoted by none other than Johnny Mac himself.
braducsb2 2 years ago
McEnroe is the best!!!
lin80ron 2 years ago 2
McEnroe had the very best hands at the net the game has ever seen. He is also the quickest to get to the net. His speed was incredible. It was 1984 when he hit his peak as a player but, unfortunately, he lost his fire as a player and was never the same.
Still maybe the most uniquely talented tennis player I have seen.
trevorh321 2 years ago
2:50 its one of the best aces ive ever seen
pablonbd 2 years ago
Ah,Mac...noone ever played the game like Mac...ever
SonofPs 2 years ago 3
he really is a legend:)
Loonax3 2 years ago 2
Mac is the best!GOAT for me!
SharkyssMachine 2 years ago
The best ever! You are the only one: pure Genius!
carde15 2 years ago 6
@carde15 No matter how good he was, and he was very good, he cannot be considered to be the best ever; fact. By numbers alone he doesnt come near Nadal or Federer. And he lacks the kinesthetic virtuosity of Federer and the ridiculous fitness and focus of Rafa.
adamwhair 4 months ago
I ve seen them all, from rosewall to federer..yet who will always stick to my mind? MCEnroe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lela04 2 years ago 3
nessuno come lui
ballasolacl12 2 years ago
right on!!!!!!!!!
fess04 2 years ago
What is the name of the song?
TheSpeedyspeed 2 years ago
Ain't no going back - Bob Dylan
Trey4Fun 2 years ago
despite his atitude and fouls John mcenore was the best at his time
Cooks28 2 years ago 5
what abouy borg?? i dont really know much as its before my time, but i have seen him play and he was epic
smallndeadly 2 years ago 2
Agreed.
Trey4Fun 2 years ago
Note Mac's unorthodox strokes, both forehand and backhand. Note his approaches and insane dashes to smother the net and then his un-coachable deft touches on the volley. Note also the Dunlop Maxply in one of the clips!!
sledge999 2 years ago
I have one of those
tull06 2 years ago
Appalling behabiour of Mac should have been punished; it certainly was disgraceful- but in those times there was no technology and important points totally depended on human eye!!!! AND often on prejudice (if u get my meaning)
YoSoyZuri 2 years ago
An excellent video!!! Great convination of real talent --- a Dylan & McEnrrow!! :))
GREAT ARTISTS!
YoSoyZuri 2 years ago
Comment removed
artamerican 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
He was the best ever!
TheGiw 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Strange title for this video.
What genius is there in being a loud-mouthed twat?
acorntechnique 2 years ago
Great combo of Bob Dylan, and John McEnroe...big fan of both. The only irony is that there are lots of clips of Mac versus Lendl in the 1984 French Open final. This was BY FAR, beyond any shadow of any doubt, the worst match of his career. He blew a 2 sets and a break lead versus Lendl to lose. Mac still regrets this match to this very day! It was the black sabbath of his career, and he won only one major title after it.
Nick410s 2 years ago
C'mon Nick, how can you say that this french open final in 1984 was Mac's worst match ? Please check those 2 first sets again and tell me who was able to ridiculize Lendl on clay like that. Of course he messed up in the last three sets (don't forget the physical exhaustion in the reasons that led to his defeat : this sunday final was the hottest day of the tournament), but Lendl kept on fighting and had him play time after time that one more shot that eventually burnt Mac's energy...
andyclass 1 year ago
@andyclass This is not the worst of McEnroe's career from a level of play standpoint. John played over 1000 ATP matches, and I'm sure he played worse in many of them. My point is that this immensely match harmed McEnroe's career from a psychological standpoint. He was up a set and a break on Lendl in the French Open final and then lost. McEnroe has admitted that that match still haunts him to this day. John won one more major in 1984 (US Open) and that was it for his career. He was 25.
Nick410s 1 year ago
@Nick410s A quick correction: He also won the 1984 Wimbledon a month after the Lendel defeat in probably the most dominating performance ever, beating Connors in straight sets with 3 total unforced errors.
jmlbloom 1 year ago
@jmlbloom OK that's true. He won Wimbledon and the US that year. But after his 1984 season he never won another major singles title. He has mentioned several times that this match was a huge defeat for him psychologically. I think fellow commentators know not to bring it up to him when he's doing commentary at the French.
Nick410s 1 year ago
Great video,wow John moved like a cat and those hands. Almost forgot how great he was.
Schrittwieser 2 years ago 2
its like he is flying over the court,with the invisible wings....like a little fairy:):):)Beautiful tennis
urungutang 2 years ago
I think the music is from Bob Dylan. Another left-handed genius ;)
Don't know the title, however.
74u 2 years ago
BIG MAC - rules Tennis - er war der BESTE. Der Song heißt Foot of Pride - von Bob Dylan - einfach nur geil
Acdenzi 2 years ago
Don't you mean 'BIG MOUTH' ??
acorntechnique 2 years ago
Thanks for posting. Nice video and a tribute to a legend. What was the music - I liked the song as well!
juliansmith1965 2 years ago
lejos el mejor y mas iluminado del mundo tenistico gracias mc ,por tu magia
MARCOSYMARTIN 3 years ago
i want more mac tennis (w/o the music)
can u upload some of these matches?
mephatboi 3 years ago
You can say what you want... but no one in the world and in history of this sport can be put on the same level. He had talent, personality, fantasy, touch... Forget about the rest of players. Mac is unique. And I enjoy much more watching one of his old matches than any other match nowadays with Federer or something like that.
AlStAmPlEr 3 years ago
ahhhhh, the memories of the genius. biggest waste of talent ever.
angryniggah 3 years ago
um...he didn't waste his talent. He is the owner of 77 (SEVENTY SEVEN) ATP singles titles, of which I think 7 are Grand Slam titles. that, in addition to NINETY-TWO doubles titles. don't forget 1984 when he compiled a 82-3 match record for the year.
turdferguson2 3 years ago
umm..it's turdferguson with his typical riposte sent with love. look, turdy-boy, mcenroe did waste his enormous talent and anybody who knows anything about tennis will tell you so. mcenroe treated his body like a city dumpster. he squandered what was probably the greatest native talent the tennis world has ever seen. the stats you cite would be wonderful for any professional on the atp save one with such a prodigious gift.
angryniggah 3 years ago
Agreed.McEnroe could've been the best player ever easily if he hadn't wasted that enormous talent of his.
juandi2570 2 years ago 3
amen, brother.
angryniggah 2 years ago
McEnroe could've been the best ever but he wasted his talent on women, hollywood,etc.
juandi2570 2 years ago 3
if he wasn't the greatest, he was -no doubt- in the list of top five...
Orazioflacco78 2 years ago 2
yeah, i agree.
juandi2570 2 years ago
Absolutely, agreed.
leada12 2 years ago
you're a fuckin idiot! you must have been on drugs during the 70's and 80's cause you didn't observe anything. he didn't waste his talent. he was a fuckin winner. he has the most atp tournament wins in singles and doubles combined! he won 7 grand slams. he has the greatest win/loss record, still undefeated in 1984. he plays tennis today on a regular basis and keeps fit. he owned the seniors tour for a few years. so piss of kid
bjornsiborgsi 3 years ago 2
such bravado...no one can share an opinion without being castigated and pigeonholed as a drug-addled poseur? i'm a huge, huge, huge mcenroe fan, but the guy didn't respect what majestic gift nature bestowed on him.
go bite a pillow!
angryniggah 3 years ago
mac's win loss record in the early 80s is mightily impressive in both singles and doubles; however, he left the game (mid-career) and when he returned his game was never the same. he had lost his competitive edge and remained a shadow of his former self the rest of his career. he lacked the incredible discipline of a lendl or wilander and these lesser player's exploited that weakness. he lost the french open to lendl in '84 because he ran out of gas. mac should have swept the slam events in '84.
angryniggah 3 years ago
Thanks for posting this, you must be his number two fan.
123abctennis 3 years ago
thanks for the video. really wanna see how they play long time ago. I need to learn all this. jhehe. I love serve and volley its my style.
supertrex2 3 years ago