John and Patrick McEnroe at the 2009 US Open, via Wikipedia.
Who is John McEnroe?
A unique feat in tennis history, McEnroe held the world No. 1 ranking simultaneously in both singles and doubles, a distinction unmatched by any other male player. Although Stefan Edberg reached No. 1 in both categories at different times, McEnroe remains the sole player to achieve this remarkable feat concurrently. His remarkable career boasts 77 singles titles on the ATP Tour and 78 doubles titles, which remains the highest combined total for men in the Open Era. Additionally, he is the sole male player to secure over 70 titles in both men's singles and men's doubles. Furthermore, McEnroe clinched 25 singles titles on the ATP Champions tour.
In Grand Slam events, McEnroe secured seven Grand Slam singles titles, with four victories at the US Open and three at Wimbledon. He also dominated in men's doubles with nine Grand Slam titles, including five at Wimbledon and four at the US Open, along with one Grand Slam mixed doubles title at the French Open. His incredible singles match record of 82–3 in 1984 remains the best single-season win rate in the Open Era.
McEnroe's prowess extended to year-end tournaments, where he claimed eight singles titles and seven doubles titles, both of which are records. Three of his singles year-end championships were at the Masters Grand Prix (the ATP year-end event), and the remaining five were at the World Championship Tennis (WCT) Finals, a competition that concluded in 1989. Since 2000, the sole year-end men's singles event has been the ATP Finals, formerly known as the Masters Grand Prix. He received the ATP Player of the Year and ITF World Champion titles three times each, in 1981, 1983, and 1984.
Notably, McEnroe played a pivotal role in securing five Davis Cup titles for the United States and later served as team captain. Even in retirement, he remained active, often participating in senior events on the ATP Champions Tour. Additionally, he has forged a successful career as a television commentator during major tournaments.
American tennis player John McEnroe at the 1979 ABN Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, via Wikipedia.
An art-loving tennis player
For years, McEnroe was known for his numerous victories and his unmistakable on-court temperament. His confrontations with umpires, shouting matches, and vigorous racket swings all contributed to his reputation as a tennis star with a fiery demeanor. Now, at the age of 62, he claims to have mellowed considerably. Along with this newfound temperament, we've witnessed the tennis legend delving deeper into his creative side.
Despite being renowned as one of the most iconic figures in American tennis history, John McEnroe may not strike many as an art enthusiast. However, this perception changes once you get a glimpse of his remarkable art collection. Throughout McEnroe's illustrious career, he amassed a predominantly contemporary art collection, featuring pieces by artists such as Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol, and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
In 1994, the tennis player embarked on a new endeavor by establishing the John McEnroe art gallery, where he dealt in renowned artists' works like Renoir and Picasso. While this might appear to be a post-retirement pursuit, McEnroe's connection to art can be traced back to earlier times. McEnroe's introduction to valuable art happened at a young age: during his time at Stanford, he formed a close friendship with Norton Simon's grandson, Doug. He recalls visiting the family residence, where he had the opportunity to be surrounded by works of Matisse and Picasso. During his formative years, he encountered Basquiat before the artist achieved ultimate celebrity status. However, McEnroe wasn't entirely convinced by the artist's work, going so far as to assert that he "wouldn't spend a thousand dollars" on one of his pieces.
McEnroe's storytelling style is candid and unfiltered, much like his demeanor on the tennis court. His straightforward language is surprisingly charming. He recalls his initial reaction to seeing a Lichtenstein painting, describing it as "absolutely terrible."
John McEnroe's initial impression of Warhol was equally tumultuous; he apparently found the artist rather bothersome—until he decided to bid for the chance to have a portrait painted by him. McEnroe won the bid, and in 2008, the portrait fetched an astonishing $440,000 at Sotheby's. Along his artistic journey, McEnroe crossed paths with Larry Salander, a New York dealer who was later accused of embezzling $125 million worth of art—a complex situation in which even Robert De Niro found himself entangled.
Yet McEnroe's influence extended beyond the realm of art. He became known for his distinctive fashion sense, often sporting a youthful take on preppy attire on the tennis court. His trademark included headbands, Nike canvas shoes, and outfits that bear a striking resemblance to what modern hipster enthusiasts now consider vintage.
And last but certainly not least is McEnroe's connection to music. In 2015, he took the stage to cover Nirvana in the Hamptons. In 2016, he played the guitar with strings fashioned from tennis rackets for charity. Although this might seem relatively recent, photographs from the '80s show the tennis player learning to play the guitar alongside Vitas Gerulaitis and Aerosmith at the MTV studios.
Excerpt of a Dunlop advertisement showing John McEnroe, who was sponsored by the company, via Wikipedia.
Bradford Painting Inspired by Charles Manson
In a 2018 auction, Phillips offered a significant 32-foot-long painting by Mark Bradford with an estimated value of £6-8 million ($6.8-9 million). This artwork was consigned for sale by none other than tennis star John McEnroe.
Titled "Helter Skelter I" (2007), the painting evokes the urban landscape of Los Angeles, the artist's hometown, and was first showcased at the New Museum as part of the 2008 exhibition "Collage: The Unmonumental Picture." Since then, Bradford's fame has grown significantly, with a total of 20 of his works selling at auction for over $1 million each, as reported by the artnet Price Database.
The title of the artwork references Charles Manson's vision of a potential racial war between blacks and whites. In the painting, one can observe a complex network of lines sprawling across the canvas surface, creating an effect reminiscent of cracks in the earth. These lines are accompanied by fragments of enigmatic texts. Bradford's sophisticated "décollage" technique, involving cutting and tearing away the original imagery, is fully evident in this work.
This artwork was created during the same period as Bradford's series of silver abstractions, which made their debut during his solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum in 2007. This series represents a profound evolution in Bradford's artistic practice, characterized by a significant departure from his previous grid-based work, as stated in a Phillips press release.
Selena Mattei
