are worried. lucy williamson, bbc news, paris. finally he was a superstar of the tennis world in the 70 s and 80 s a former world number one, and now is one of the bbc s main wimbledon commentators and pundits. john mcenroe has been reflecting on his life on and off the court, for a new film coming out this month. he was widely known as the bad boy of the tennis in his day for his outbursts which landed him in hot water. our correspondent laura scott has been to meet him. you have to develop an edge to be great at something. i have got that. and then, boom! there is something clearly wrong. are you doing your job, old man. how much bigger point could you screw up with, can you not see anything? could you screw up with, can you not seean hint? ., , , see anything? how do you sum up your tennis career? see anything? how do you sum up your tennis career? boy, see anything? how do you sum up your tennis career? boy, that see anything? how do you sum up your tennis career? boy, t
just said how would you like to go to ucla? i received a scholarship sight unseen. it took me all of three seconds to say yes. when arthur and i arrived at ucla california was the hot bed of tennis. if you wanted to expand the tennis career and become a top tennis player in the world california was the place to come. ucla was the perfect place for us. it was great. it was a coed dorm. a lot of the girls that lived in the dorm we all became friend. it was a very healthy social life. you mentioned the excitement about the first date with a white girl at ucla. yes.
a long time. that s because i can t recall that ever having happened. there was a picture of arthur ashe propped up in the hospital bed with a huge white bandage running right down his middle. will you tell us what happened? that obviously ended my tennis career. because i retired about 2 1/2 months right after that. and got on with the rest of my life. i had made my official announcement of retirement in march 80. the incoming president of the usta asked to see me at the u.s. open and told me that i was the one person they wanted to coach the american davis cup team. i knew that our team would be built around mcenroe. in his first news conference
from ucla. and the tennis coach called up and out of the clear blue sky just said how would you like to go to ucla? i received a scholarship sight unseen. it took me all of three seconds to say yes. when arthur and i arrived at ucla, california was the hotbed of tennis. if you really wanted to expand your tennis career and become a top tennis player in the world california was the place to come. ucla was the perfect place for us. living at sproul hall it was great. it was a coed dorm. a lot of the girls that lived in the dorm we all became friends. arthur was dating a couple of them. it was a very healthy social
there was a picture of arthur ashe propped up in the hospital bed with a huge white bandage running right down his middle. will you tell us what happened? that obviously ended my tennis career. because i retired about 2 1/2 months right after that. and got on with the rest of my life. i had made my official announcement of retirement in march 80. the incoming president of the usta asked to see me at the u.s. open and told me that i was the one person they wanted to coach the american davis cup team. i knew that our team would be built around mcenroe. in his first news conference here, mcenroe was joined by other members of the u.s. davis cup team. his attire provoked this introduction from team captain arthur ashe.