John McEnroe's Secrets Revealed
Tennis legend John McEnroe, in a promo photo for Eurosport, 2015. Photo courtesy of Eurosport under CC BY 3.0.
On the court, John McEnroe was untouchable. Volatile. Brilliant. A legend. But inside the homes of Manhattan's elite, behind million-dollar doors, and beyond the roar of Wimbledon crowds, his world looked very different. For his children — especially Emily McEnroe — it wasn't trophies and triumphs. It was noise, distance, addiction, and the kind of love that doesn't always look like a fairytale.
A Family Split by Fame
John McEnroe married Oscar-winner Tatum O'Neal in 1986. The two had three children: Kevin, Sean, and Emily. Their marriage, marked by Tatum's struggles with addiction and John's rising fame, ended in divorce in 1994. John ultimately gained custody of the children — a decision that would shape Emily's childhood profoundly.
Though Emily spent weekends with her mother, most of her life was rooted in her father's world: a bustling Manhattan home, a rotating cast of siblings, and the looming pressure of famous parents.
"All the money in the world doesn't matter if you are sitting in a mansion being unhappy," Emily has shared, as reported by Hello! Magazine — a raw line that cuts straight through the illusion of privilege.
'You Gotta Be Better Than John McEnroe'
It's no secret that none of John's six children went into professional tennis. That wasn't an accident.
"One of the reasons why I really pushed my kids away from tennis is because I didn't want them to have to live up to sort of, 'You gotta be better than John McEnroe,'" he said on the "In Depth with Graham Bensinger" podcast, as reported by The Express.
For Emily, who showed promise with a racket, the pressure was immediate and relentless. She reportedly quit tennis after being mocked by classmates who assumed she'd be a prodigy. Later, she avoided acting for years — afraid of the inevitable comparisons to her mother, who won an Oscar at 10.
"Even when Mum had problems, she was always there for me," Emily said of Tatum, as reported by Hello! Magazine. "Sometimes she feels more like my big sister than my mum."
From Chaos to Connection
Emily describes the McEnroe household as loud, vivid, and occasionally explosive.
"We've had our fights like all families, but we're there for each other," she said, according to Hello! Magazine. "You had to be loud to be noticed."
In addition to her full siblings, Emily grew up with Anna and Ava — daughters from John's second marriage to Patty Smyth — and Ruby, Smyth's daughter from a previous relationship. It was a blended, buzzing household where affection was present, even if peace was sometimes not.
And amid the chaos, there was John — driving carpool, making breakfast, showing up despite everything else.
"He did that week in, week out, no matter how busy his life was," Emily recalled, according to Hello! Magazine.
The Next McEnroes
While their father still lights up the Wimbledon commentary box each summer, John's children have made their mark far from center court.
Kevin is a published author whose work leans on personal and family history. Sean, a photographer, has been open about overcoming childhood trauma and credits his wife with helping him through a breakdown. Anna and Ava both studied law and are pursuing professional careers with minimal fanfare. Ruby, John's stepdaughter, holds a master's degree in education.
Emily, meanwhile, is stepping into the spotlight — carefully.
After years of self-doubt, she's now working as a voiceover artist and actor. She also co-hosts a podcast with her mother called "Tatum Verbatim," where the two candidly explore everything from addiction to healing.
"I've been in the shadows," Emily said, according to Hello! Magazine. "But now I want to do something myself. One thing Dad always drummed into me was discipline."
A Champion's Legacy — And a Survivor's Story
At 66, John McEnroe still commands attention — not with tantrums, but with wisdom. As he offers sharp commentary from the BBC's Wimbledon desk, he's also the backbone of a sprawling, complicated family.
American tennis player John McEnroe at the 1979 ABN Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam. Photo courtesy of Anefo / Croes, R.C. under CC0 1.0.
But it's Emily's voice — raw, honest, and steady — that brings the story full circle.
"People read about a scandal but forget it's about real people with real feelings," she reflected, as reported by Hello! Magazine reported.
Behind the iconic temper and headlines was a father who made breakfast, a mother who kept showing up, and a daughter finding her way through the noise.
Not all legends are made on the court.
References: Wimbledon star John McEnroe's 'fights' at family home with 5 kids amid divorce | John McEnroe's reason for 'pushing' his six kids away from tennis
