Racquets and tantrums

Garry Richardson meets tennis star John McEnroe

The former bad boy of tennis, John McEnroe has spoken about how anger management and family life have helped to transform him.

In an interview with Garry Richardson for BBC HARDtalk, the seven Grand Slams winner famed for his tantrums on court as well as his genius with a racquet told how maturity and his role as a parent had made him want to discover where he was heading in life.

"As you become a parent your priorities change and as you get older you look at things a little bit differently," he said.

"If it takes going to see a psychiatrist or anger management guy or psychologist or whoever the hell it takes I'm willing to try to do that."

Click here to watch the full interview

Popularity

John McEnroe claims he was a shy child

John McEnroe is one of the most memorable tennis champions of modern times having won 77 Singles Titles.

He has recently reinvented himself as one of the sport's most popular figures and commentators and as the doting father of six children.

The tennis champion however went on in the interview to call tennis a "frustrating game" and explained what drove him to his notorious outbursts on court as a player.

"I would call it total intensity and competition as opposed to total rage. Total rage is a far different situation," he said.

"A shy child"

McEnroe who became just as famous for his colourful private life as his sporting achievements also commented on his first marriage to Oscar winning actress Tatum O'Neal claiming that the marriage broke up because "we were in over our heads".

He also spoke about his childhood and parents claiming he was a "shy" and "obedient" child with "competitive and driven" parents.

But he revealed that he has a secret desire to become a politician in the future.

When asked however whether we are looking at the next President of the USA, he replied, "you cannot be serious".