By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, October 26, 2023

Hall of Famer John McEnroe is in the construction business.

The former world No. 1 in singles and doubles is committed to building champions in New York City.

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McEnroe recently hosted Head, his racquet sponsor, on a visit to the John McEnroe Tennis Academy on Randall's Island where McEnroe shared his coaching approach.



New Yorker McEnroe is invested in what he calls a vital mission: Developing a New York City tennis champion—and successful junior and college players—heading his Johnny Mac Tennis Project.

The Johnny Mac Tennis Project (JMTP), a non-profit founded by John McEnroe and others, strives to improve young lives by removing the racial, economic and social barriers to success through tennis. The program is run through the John McEnroe Tennis Academy on Randall’s Island in New York City.



A glass trophy case on the second floor features some of McEnroe’s most prized trophies, ranging from his Orange Bowl trophy to his US Open trophy, reminders of the journey from Douglaston, Queens to Randall’s Island. The man who grew up playing basketball and soccer in addition to tennis took an unconventional route to the history.

Ask McEnroe about that and he’ll tell you he would have imploded if his parents shipped him off to a Florida tennis academy.

The Hall of Famer believes what some see as a non-traditional path is actually the wisest way forward for many kids most comfortable living at home with their families, developing friendships and perhaps even playing team sports.

“I don’t think I would have made it if my parents sent me to a Bollettieri or some other academy in Florida,” McEnroe told Tennis Now. “I’m a big believer in going to school, developing friendships to nurture these young players so they can handle the pressures that can come from tennis as we seen now with mental health issues.

“I played other sports besides tennis growing up and that helped me. Some kids are home-schooled. The point is tennis is an individual sport and we’re trying to approach it individually in the program and do what’s best for each kid because every situation is different.”

Photo credit: Sportime/John McEnroe Tennis Academy