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Tennis legend John McEnroe Has six talented children in Kevin, Sean, Emily, Ruby, Ava and Anna.
Open era title record holder had three children with his first wife, Oscar Award-Winning actress Tatum O’Neal. The couple welcomed three children together: Kevin, Sean and Emily.
After sharing from Tatum in 1994 John married Grammy-Nominated rock singer Patty Smyth 1997. John became a stepfather to Patty’s daughter Ruby, while the couple also welcomed their children Anna and Ava.
Despite his success in court, John ruled his children away from tennis: his son Kevin became a writer, while Emily is an actress. Both Anna and Ava have been in careers in teams.
“One of the reasons I really drove my children away from tennis is” because I didn’t want them to live up to kind of, “you have to be better than John McEnroe,” and besides it, “There are Mcenroe’s children, how does he act?” “He told me In depth with Graham BensingeR -Podcast in May 2018. “I wanted to try to get the kids to get a fire in my stomach for what they wanted.”
Here’s everything to know about John McEnroe’s six children: Kevin, Sean, Emily, Ruby, Anna and Ava.
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In 1986, John and Tatum welcomed their first child, Kevin.
Kevin has since become a successful writer and money 2015 novel Our city. The book is a fictional version of life and is fighting for his grandmother, actress Joanna Moore, with both fame and addiction.
In June 2015, Kevin talked to people about how he got the idea for the book.
“My writing professor told me to write from the opposite sex point of view, and I wrote in my grandmother’s voice,” Kevin said. “Although I only met my grandmother twice, I knew she was considered a precautionary story, like this kind of mess. Since then I wanted to learn more about her.”
The book was personal to Kevin, because he himself struggled with substance abuse problems. In July 2014, he was arrested for purchasing coke, oxycodone and morphine tablets on a New York City corner. (The cocaine turned out to be baking powder, and the allegations were eventually dismissed.)
Kevin finished the book while he was at Betty Ford Center in Palm Springs, California, where he stayed for two months. During that time John visited him.
“When I was in rehabilitation, (my dad) said,” We always knew you would be a success, “and that meant a lot to me,” Kevin told People. “It took me many ups and downs to figure it out.”
The book even helped bring their parents, John and Tatum, back together After their disputed split. 2015 they participated in a reading of Our cityThe where they connect, again, Told Tatum Amount In February 2025.
“There is respect now,” she added.
Chane Yeh /Patrick McMullan /Getty
In 1987, John and Tatum welcomed their second child, Sean.
Sean has since grown up to become a photographer. When he discussed his first exhibition of solo photography in 2016, Sean People talked about how Art was helpful When his family underwent challenging times.
“When he was growing up, Met was my sanctuary,” Sean said. “When things were difficult and there were many of the times when I was growing up, I would find myself walking there and I always thought it was comforting and soothing to imagine in the landscape.”
After an earthquake 2015 in Nepal, Ideell Citta saw part of Sean’s work and asked him to follow them to photograph the aftermath. In 2016, Sean showed the pictures of Hollywood’s Lam Gallery, where he raised money for the organization.
“The purpose of the show is to deepen people in what it is like to live in Nepal where they poorly need money for infrastructure after massive damage to homes and companies,” Sean told People. “I want to use what is in my power to help the people I met and if my name helps, it’s amazing.”
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Wireimage
In 1991, John and Tatum had their daughter Emily.
Emily has taken after Tatum and conducted an acting career. Her first major role came 2024 Futra days alongside Rosanna Arquette. She also had a remarkable look during the last season of Cage your enthusiasmAfter her father guest played in the show 17 years earlier.
Despite her parents’ performance, she is motivated to carve her own way.
“My parents have been the best at their career. My dad was number one on tennis and my mom won an Oscar, so it put tremendous pressure on us,” she told People 2015. “I think it also gives my siblings and me a huge run to burn our own track.”
Patty Smyth/Instagram
When John married Patty, he became a stepfather to her daughter Ruby, whom he met when she was 9 years old.
“She went into a situation where there were already other children and then she was the only one … It wasn’t my blood child,” John told In depth with graham gasoli In May 2018. “You must in some way try to think about it, how hopefully I can try to treat her as much as possible the same as any other children. How should she see it? How should I deal with it?”
Ruby received his master’s degree in high school education and teaching from Bard College 2019, Per Her LinkedIn. She has also worked as a child care provider and was even a production assistant for the Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments Wimbledon and Roland Garros.
Rindoff Petroff/Mouth/Getty
John and Patty welcomed the daughters Anna in 1995 and Ava in 1999.
John and Patty’s youngest children are both legal careers. When Anna graduated from Fordham University School of Law 2022, Patty published a touching message to her on Instagram.
“Our beautiful Anna, graduation Law School yesterday! What a proud moment for all the Smyths and McEnroes,” Patty wrote on Instagram. “We love you so much. Go out there and help make this world a better place. ❤body.”
Anna is now a legal strategist at Dubin Research and Consulting in NYC, per her LinkedIn.
Ava is leaving the New York University’s School of Law, according to her LinkedIn.
Emily McEnroe/Instagram
There is a lot of love in John’s family – all his children but his youngest, Ava, is married or engaged.
Sean was the first to get married, secretly tie the knot With Mrs. Niamh in a 2020 ceremony in Sedona, Ariz.
Later that year, November 12, 2021, Ruby Wed Michael Lees married. “It was a beautiful day for a beautiful couple. We are so proud. So much love for you both,” Posted Patty on Instagram. “I won’t cry it! ❤.”
At the same time, Anna married Brian Kerrigan in October 2024.
In March 2025, Emily revealed that she had engaged with her partner Tim Masterelli. “Forever & A Day @Timothyjmass 💒”, she wrote on Instagram.
Last June 2025 Wed Fern Cozine in a Napa, California, ceremony.
Craig Barritt/Getty
John founded the Johnny Smyth band, where he plays as a singer and guitarist. Over the years he has brought his children on stage.
During 2021 US Open At Citi Taste of Tennis Celebration, Ava went with John to sing some songs. Most recently, Emily came on stage with John to help close the ASU+GSV summit in April 2025.
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No stranger for competition sports, John has been discovered and took his children to a number Los Angeles Lakers Games over the years. During the early 2000s, John was often seen taking Kevin and Sean to sit at the court at the games.
During the early 2010s, John was discovered at games with Anna and Ava.