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" Nadal and Roger Federer have great respect for each other. I think Novak Djokovic gets under those two guys' skin a little bit, and maybe they don't want to admit it, and I think that's, in a way, healthy. "

John McEnroe

Great

Healthy

Respect

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" The only thing 'championship' about Wimbledon is its prestige. "

" I can barely remember what I was like 36 years ago when I was 21 years old. "

John McEnroe

Years

Remember

" I can tell you from experience that when you get that pent-up and crazed, it can be distracting. "

" You have to keep persevering. An actor goes to a lot of auditions and doesn't get the part. "

" I just remember watching Federer the first year he won Wimbledon. He was struggling with his back problem. I remember it vividly. It looked like there was a chance he was not going to finish. He had that look in his eye. Then, somehow, he found the wherewithal to dig a little deeper, and suddenly he wins the thing, and he's a different player. "

" I'll let the racket do the talking. "

" I got a lot of publicity, but it steamrolled. Event organizers weren't used to that kind of behavior, so later, they tightened the rules. "

" I didn't get along with most of the players I played against, but the one guy I did get along with was my greatest rival, so it can be done. "

" I'm sure a lot of players say it, but winning is almost so you don't lose. The thrill of winning is not as great as the pain of losing. "

" The important thing is to learn a lesson every time you lose. Life is a learning process and you have to try to learn what's best for you. Let me tell you, life is not fun when you're banging your head against a brick wall all the time. "

" What I've realised is that you can run miles, jump on a bike, lift weights, and all that other garbage, but the bottom line is that you get in tennis shape by playing tennis. You build the right muscles, and I don't believe people can do it as successfully any other way. "

" It seems like the richer you are, the more chance you have of paying less tax. "

" If you watch a guy go out on court and have a meltdown, you're not going to think, 'Oh my God, now I'm screwed.' Or you're not going to think, 'The umpire's going to give him calls because he's just told him he's an idiot or the pits of the world.' "

" When I was 25, if you'd have said I was going to be a commentator, that would seem like, 'Oh, my God. That's a huge step down.' "

John McEnroe

You

Step

" To be involved in a senior tournament back in the States is very satisfying. "

" I've seen tennis clubs close in Manhattan and garages put up in their place, and I'd sure like to be part of reversing that trend. "

John McEnroe

Seen

Trend

" When I walk out there on court, I become a maniac... Something comes over me, man. "

" If you yell at your box, I'm not really sure it's something where it should be a penalty. It seems like you hurt yourself. "

John McEnroe

Box

Hurt

" This taught me a lesson, but I'm not quite sure what it is. "

John McEnroe

Sure

Quite

" I used to take pride if my kids were playing basketball, and I'd be there, and I wouldn't say anything. People were obviously expecting me to yell and scream at the ref and at them and everything. I wouldn't say anything. "

" What I think is frustrating for Americans is that it feels like more was going to change with Obama. "

John McEnroe

Think

Going

" There's a certain beauty and majesty to Wimbledon. The elegance, the way the grass looks on TV. "

" I am someone who gets pretty worked up. "

John McEnroe

Who

" I did a terrible job of composing myself. I was a spoiled brat from Long Island who benefitted from the energy of New York. "

" The sting of losing is bad. "

" It means a lot to be back in New York. Particularly since one of the last senior event scheduled in the States was supposed to be here in New York. We were supposed to play in Central Park right after 9-11 and when 9-11 happened obviously things changed. "

" Tennis was a white, upper-class sport, and I wanted it to be treated like other sports were. "

" I had a harsh lesson in 1996, when I lost four times to Andres Gomez on clay. "

" I was always taught that you needed to be intense and never lose your focus. "

" I had a similar year back in 1984 when I felt like I couldn't lose. "