John McEnroe Quotes

Tennis is an individual sport, and I am quite a self-conscious person.

I do play tennis, but I don't really like competition. I'm supposed to be so intense, but I hate competition.

Playing tennis, I didn't tie in my self-worth into winning or losing matches.

I was 'Little Ty,' 'Little Tyrone.' I always got this negative feedback from the game of basketball.

That competitive nature comes out when I feel like I'm playing bad and when things aren't going right.

Coaches know that a parent publicly scolding his kid after a race will not help the athlete perform better.

I guess more players lick themselves that are ever licked by an opposing team. The first thing any man has to know is how to handle himself.

I'm always amazed when a pitcher becomes angry at a hitter for hitting a home run off him. When I strike out, I don't get angry at the pitcher, I get angry at myself. I would think that if a pitcher threw up a home run ball, he should be angry at himself.

Sometimes in the past when I played something might make me lose focus, or I would go home after a game where I thought I could have played better and I would let it hang over my head for a long time when it shouldn't.

Comparison is a disease. I never felt any competition, since I never compared myself to others. I only focus on my work. I never feel pressurised and do films in my style. Also, I'm very active since childhood, and that gives me the edge to always put my best.

I certainly don't lose any sleep if I lose a tennis match.

When I got to match point in the final I was afraid I'd be a little nervous, but I just said, You have to stay focused, just think about what you have to do.

I've never really been aware of what is said about me, whether it's positive or negative. I ignore it. I've always had the mind-set: 'No one can challenge me better than myself.'

If you can keep playing tennis when somebody is shooting a gun down the street, that's concentration.

You can't listen to every little thing that's bad or good said about you. I always used that - whenever I heard it, I used it as fuel to motivate me, man. That's how I was raised, whenever I came up.

To play with pressure is always a good thing. I like to play with pressure.

I don't like giving up hits and stuff, but I try not to show it. I don't want the hitter to see that something bothers me.

It's tough when you get beat. You have to be able to come back mentally. Sometimes the offense is going to win, but you have to be able to be level-headed and not get too upset when they do catch the ball.

Something I worked very hard on, especially last year, was being more outgoing on the court: recognising good points I'd played and trusting myself and my skills on the court. The fist pumps weren't necessarily to let my opponent know I was here, more to let myself know that I'm here.

I put a lot of pressure on myself.

I used to be short-tempered on the field when it came to winning or losing.

I get quite stroppy if I lose - but I've developed skills with a mind coach to help deal with the highs and lows of tennis at this level.

I have a lot of expectations on myself. That's important.

I'm always thinking about the private battle, even in the field. I'm always trying to be better than the other person I'm against.

If you play football and fans are booing or saying negative stuff, it makes me play better.