JOHN MCENROE

As a teenager, I was passionate about sports. Tennis was the obvious one, but I love what you call football and we call soccer. I played high-school soccer for four years, I played basketball so my world, my friendships, was through sport. I was shy growing up. A lot of people wouldn’t think that, from the person I became or how I acted on the tennis court, but I was pretty shy. I couldn’t understand like why kids would be so mean to each other, it didn’t make sense to me. Being good at sport was an important way for me to be able to exist in school.

I thought people didn’t understand me – I’m a good guy, you know? I’m a good friend. My first girlfriend or two got it, which was huge, because you’re at that awkward stage. That’s a tough time. But thank