When it comes to American tennis greats, few names resonate as strongly as John McEnroe. The left-handed legend earned his place among the sport’s elite during an era dominated by stars like Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, and Guillermo Vilas.
Renowned for his extraordinary talent and fiery temperament, “Big Mac” reached the ATP World No. 1 ranking in March 1980. Over the next five years, he alternated at the top spot with Borg, Connors, and Ivan Lendl.
McEnroe, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, has remained an influential figure in tennis long after his playing days. Until 2024, he served as the captain of Team World in the Laver Cup, and he continues to appear at major tournaments as a commentator and post-match interviewer.
A vocal admirer of Novak Djokovic, McEnroe recently spoke with Tennis World about the Serbian star’s most remarkable accomplishment. “It all depends on a player’s ambitions and priorities, but for me, the most important thing is who finishes the year as No. 1,” McEnroe explained.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates winning match point with against Holger Rune of Denmark in a 2024 Wimbledon match. (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
“For me, it was always about finishing the season as No. 1. My 12 months were better than anyone else’s,” he added. “I would look at the world rankings and think, ‘Oh my God, there’s no one ahead of me.’ I never expected that growing up. It surprised even me that my name was above Connors and Borg”.
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Who trails Novak Djokovic in this elite ranking?
Unsurprisingly, Novak Djokovic holds the record for most years finished as ATP World No. 1, with eight. Following him is Pete Sampras with six, while Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Jimmy Connors each have five. McEnroe and Ivan Lendl share fourth place, both finishing No. 1 four times.
Notably, McEnroe achieved this feat in consecutive years from 1981 to 1984. For Djokovic, his No. 1 finishes came in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2023, cementing his legacy as one of the all-time greats.
McEnroe’s take on the greatest player of all time
“I have no doubts in saying Novak Djokovic is the best tennis player I’ve ever seen on a tennis court,” McEnroe declared in an earlier interview. “Rafael Nadal is the fiercest competitor, while Roger Federer is the most elegant of them all“.
“Novak also has a winning record against those two,” McEnroe continued. “He is slightly ahead of those two, but in a weird way, I hope they all end up on the same number so we can have this discussion for the next 10 years, and it will just be a matter of opinion. No one would be wrong”.
While McEnroe’s respect for all three players is evident, his wish for a Grand Slam tie is now impossible. With Federer and Nadal retired, Djokovic remains the only active member of the Big Three, continuing his quest to extend his historic record.
