As an occasional hell-raiser on court and a part-time musician off court, John McEnroe is adeptly tuned into the sounds of his passion.
The mercurial McEnroe has made noise barking at umpires, but says the sound of silence is essential for elite players while the ball is in play.
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McEnroe says the sound of the ball off the strings provided clues to the speed and spin of an opponent's shot.
"A lot of players, myself included, think it is important to get the sound and little better idea of what their opponent's gonna be doing," McEnroe says in this new video for his racquet brand, Head. "So one of the reasons why I like it to be quiet during the point and loud after is to be able to hear the sound, pick it up, and maybe give you a better chance to hit a better shot."
McEnroe joined forces with Maria Sharapova at World TeamTennis' Smash hits in Vegas last night. The pair defeated Andy Roddick and Martina Navratilova.
Photo credit: Camerawork USA