"Almost impossible to get the approval you want, I had to grapple with him" - When John McEnroe's son Kevin shed light on his relationship with legend
John McEnroe's son Kevin once shed light on his relationship with the American tennis legend. Kevin discussed the struggle of seeking his father's approval, while also acknowledging McEnroe's unwavering support.
McEnroe married Oscar-winning actress Tatum O'Neal in 1984, and they had three children together, Kevin, Sean, and Emily. Although the pair initially shared custody of their children after divorcing in 1994, the former World No. 1 was later awarded full custody due to O'Neal's drug addiction, which she eventually overcame.
Growing up in the shadow of his famous parents, Kevin has spoken about the challenges he encountered in establishing his own identity. He described the feeling of "dying to be his own person" after solely being recognized as the son of John McEnroe or Tatum O'Neal.
In a 2015 interview with People, Kevin opened up about his bond with the seven-time Grand Slam champion, disclosing that, as was typical of father-son relationships, winning McEnroe's approval felt "almost impossible."
Nevertheless, Kevin acknowledged that the former World No. 1 had always been there for him and took pride in his accomplishments. He also recounted a pivotal conversation he had with John McEnroe during his time in rehab after getting arrested for drug possession, when his father expressed confidence in his ability to succeed.
"He has always been there for me. There's something about fathers and sons – it's almost impossible to get the approval you want. I had to grapple with him for approval. I respect his work ethic and he is proud of me," John McEnroe's son said.
"When I was in rehab he said, 'We always knew you were going to be a success,' and that meant a lot to me. It took me a lot of ups and downs to figure that out," he added.
John McEnroe's son Kevin on stepmother Patty Smyth: "She tried to make the best out of a very difficult situation"
During the same interview, John McEnroe's son Kevin opened up about his bond with his stepmother Patty Smyth, whom the former World No. 1 married in 1997. He disclosed that Smyth was a constant source of support for him and his siblings when their mother, Tatum O'Neal, was battling her drug addiction.
Kevin also admitted that their family endured difficult moments due to Smyth and O'Neal's "contentious" relationship. Nevertheless, he credited his stepmother for making the best out of a very challenging situation.
"I think it's been hard for her to feel as though she wasn't actually our mother but also to be there for us and be a mother to us when our mother wasn't able to do so. They're very different women but she was consistently there for us," Kevin said.
"There were moments that were hard because her and my mom – that was probably the most contentious of the relationships, which is sort of understandable but I think she tried to make the best out of a very difficult situation," he added.
John McEnroe and his wife Patty Smyth have two daughters, Anna and Ava. The seven-time Grand Slam champion is also involved in parenting Ruby, Smyth's daughter from a previous marriage.