Tennis legend John McEnroe and his wife Patty Smyth have shared the secret to their nearly three-decade-long marriage, highlighting a golden rule that has kept their relationship strong. The three-time Wimbledon champion, who will return as a BBC commentator this summer, married singer-songwriter Patty Smyth in 1997 after his divorce from actress Tatum O'Neal. McEnroe, who turned 67 in February, was known for his fiery on-court behavior and has since become a respected analyst.
The Golden Rule: Keep Sex Alive and Stay Low-Key
In a 2020 interview with People, Smyth revealed the couple's golden rule: "You've got to keep the sex going!" She also emphasized the importance of maintaining a low profile despite their celebrity status. "For me, it was a superstition thing. I didn't want to be like, 'Hey, look at us, we're this happy couple.' I just thought if I kept it on the down-low, I had this gut feeling that we would stay together - if I threw it out to the world, that we wouldn't - because I've seen that happen so many times," she said.
Avoiding Reality TV Pitfalls
Smyth disclosed that the couple had preliminary discussions about a reality show around the year 2000 but ultimately decided against it. "That probably would have broken us up, I bet you," she added. She noted that previous relationships had ended due to a desire for novelty, but her marriage to McEnroe was different. "If you get to know somebody and get really intimate, it can get more exciting and just more of a real journey. That's a gift," she said.
McEnroe's Perspective on the Marriage
McEnroe has also spoken openly about his marriage, including during a 2018 appearance on In Depth with Graham Bensinger. "I was 35 years old when we started to go out and at that time I thought I don't want any more kids, I don't want to have another marriage. I just want to go out with some young girls who don't want to do anything but have a good time, and then Patty came along. It gave me a second lease on life and she doesn't get thanked enough," he said. He added, "She has allowed me to do my thing. She makes me more whole and a better person. I like to think we work as a team and we've made each other better, the sum of the two of us is better than individual parts."
Family Life and Wimbledon Return
McEnroe has two children with Smyth, who achieved a top-10 hit with her band Scandal in the 1980s, in addition to three children from his first marriage. The couple's enduring relationship has now lasted nearly 30 years. McEnroe will join a stellar BBC line-up for Wimbledon this summer, alongside Andre Agassi and Eugenie Bouchard, providing analysis from SW19.
