John McEnroe and Wimbledon chiefs' row after he was refused membership

Daily Mirror

08-07-2025

John McEnroe was a divisive figure in tennis at the height of his playing days, which led to him getting on the wrong side of Wimbledon bosses after refusing a special invitation
Former tennis terror John McEnroe was denied honorary membership to the All England Club after he famously ditched Wimbledon's Champion's Dinner to rock out instead. Bursting onto the scene in the late 1970s and early '80s, McEnroe quickly became as renowned for his outspoken ways as his prowess on the court.
He first made waves at Wimbledon in 1977, reaching the semi-finals at just 18 years old and establishing himself as a rebel in a sport steeped in tradition. His volatile nature was almost his undoing in 1981 when his confrontations with officials nearly saw him ejected from the tournament.
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The young American amassed hefty fines for his tirades against umpires, branding them "the absolute pits of the world" and "incompetent fools." However, no line was quite as iconic as the infamous "You cannot be serious" tirade during his first-round victory over Tom Gullikson in '81.
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McEnroe, 66, had a tumultuous relationship with the Wimbledon hierarchy, who struggled to embrace his intense character and love of tennis. And yet the American still managed to halt Bjorn Borg's 41-match winning streak at SW19.
However, in a move that further strained his relationship with the establishment, he chose to skip the prestigious Champion's Dinner, held at the illustrious Savoy Hotel. That's after McEnroe, who was sad Nick Kyrgios didn't return for broadcasting duties at SW19, opted instead for a night out with a certain rock band.
The now-adored BBC commentator, who concluded his career with three Wimbledon titles and four US Open titles, chose to celebrate with The Pretenders instead. That's after he took umbrage with the All England Club's traditional and formal approach.
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In her 2024 book, Wimbledon: A Personal History, Sue Barker wrote: "His love-hate relationship with the All England Club in the early part of his career was fascinating to watch: John versus the Wimbledon committee, with neither prepared to back down."
There were times when his rebellious nature backfired on him, however, such as not attending the Champions' Dinner in 1981. For that rebuff, the Club refused him an honorary membership.
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This resulted in a delay in him receiving his special membership to the club. McEnroe won Wimbledon's singles three times in the space of four editions between 1981 and 1984, not to mention five doubles crowns between 1979 and 1992.
"I wanted to spend [the night] with my family and friends and the people who had supported me," he once said on ESPN Classic's SportsCentury series. "Not a bunch of stiffs who were 70 to 80 years old, telling you that you're acting like a jerk."
When questioned about his son's absence from the Wimbledon celebration, John McEnroe Sr responded: "He was out celebrating somewhere else. Don't ask me where."
In hindsight, McEnroe himself mentioned: "A week later they called my parents to tell me I was not going to be granted membership at the club. Big f*****g deal."
In a change of heart, however, the All England Club extended an olive branch just a year later by granting him honorary membership and awarding him the trophies he had been denied. He proceeded to win Wimbledon again the following year in 1983.