"None of your damn business; it's private life, you guys ruin it": When John McEnroe lambasted British reporters for fixating on his then-girlfriend
John McEnroe once lashed out at the British media for encroaching on his personal life. The American's frustration boiled over in a heated outburst after he was asked about his then-girlfriend during his campaign at the 1981 Wimbledon Championships.
That year, McEnroe entered the grasscourt Major as the second seed, claiming a 7-6(5), 7-5, 6-3 win over Tom Gullikson. During the match, the American famously lost his cool after his serve was called out by the umpire, shouting out the iconic line, "You cannot be serious." He received a $1,500 fine for his contentious conduct and was intensely scrutinized by the British media.
John McEnroe went on to beat Raul Ramirez, Robert Lutz, and Stanley Smith to reach the quarterfinals at SW19. He continued his impressive run with a 6-1, 7-5, 6-1 win over Johan Kriek, advancing to the semifinals.
During his post-match press conference, McEnroe was pressed to comment on rumors that he and his girlfriend, fellow tennis player Stacy Margolin, had ended their relationship. Reports had emerged that Margolin had plans to leave London but was delayed by an air traffic controllers' strike.
"John, have you and Stacy split up?" James Whittaker from the London Daily Star asked.
The American made it clear that he didn't want to discuss the issue, with an official stepping in to urge reporters to stick to tennis questions. However, when reporters insisted that the public was interested in his life beyond tennis, John McEnroe yelled at them for "ruining" his privacy.
"It's none of your damn business. That's why it's private life. You guys ruin it," McEnroe yelled (via the New York Times).
Fed up with the persistent inquiries, McEnroe stormed out of the press room. The situation escalated as American reporters, who were upset about the premature end to the press conference, clashed with British journalists, accusing them of crossing the line. The confrontation reportedly turned physical, with journalists even exchanging blows.
John McEnroe, meanwhile, continued to display exemplary form at Wimbledon, beating Rod Frawley 7-6(2), 6-4, 7-5 in the semifinals, and claiming a 4-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(4), 6-4 win over Bjorn Borg in the final to clinch his maiden title at the grasscourt Major.
John McEnroe on how British tabloids treated players: "It's really a shame what they do over here, they have no sense of caring for you"
John McEnroe ran into similar problems at the 1984 Wimbledon Championships. The American lambasted the British media for their treatment of players, bemoaning that they showed no care for athletes as human beings.
"It's really a shame what they do over here. They have no sense of caring for you as a human being, and that's kind of sad," McEnroe said.
McEnroe also explained that he boycotted his press conference from being televised because the media was "distorting" his words without providing the necessary context.
"I'm trying to go out and play tennis. I decided to let my racket do the talking. They're distorting what I say without showing the whole interview," he added.
John McEnroe's woes with the British media persisted when he returned as the defending champion at the 1985 edition of the grasscourt Major. The American revealed that his then-girlfriend Tatum O'Neal was forced to stay away from Wimbledon due to the tabloids spreading rumors about their engagement and wedding.