A surprising 2015 U.S. Open encounter
John McEnroe’s connection to Donald Trump took an unexpected turn at the 2015 U.S. Open, when the tennis legend decided to approach Trump despite a warning from his wife and daughter. What made the encounter even more unusual was a letter that Trump believed had been written by McEnroe, when it was actually from his father, who shared the same name.
Years later, McEnroe’s account of the moment resurfaced alongside Trump’s return to the U.S. Open, bringing renewed attention to the unusual encounter. The episode offers a curious look at tennis, politics and a case of mistaken identity that McEnroe later felt compelled to explain.
McEnroe was already a US Open legend
By 2015, McEnroe was established as one of American tennis’s most accomplished players. He won 4 U.S. Open singles titles, taking championships in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1984.
He also won 3 Wimbledon singles titles and 9 Grand Slam men’s doubles titles. His 7 Grand Slam singles championships placed him among the leading American champions of the Open Era.
Trump had a long history at Flushing Meadows
Trump had attended the U.S. Open repeatedly before his 2015 encounter with McEnroe. He was a familiar figure at Flushing Meadows, where he watched matches from prominent spectator areas.
In 2015, Trump attended with Melania Trump during the tournament’s second week. Photographs from September 8 show Trump greeting McEnroe while watching Serena Williams play Venus Williams in the quarterfinals.
McEnroe said his family warned him
McEnroe later told The Times that his wife and daughter advised him not to approach Trump. He recalled that they warned a public greeting could hurt his reputation because of Trump’s reputation and public image.
McEnroe nevertheless walked over to say hello, and television cameras captured the interaction. His account makes clear that he knew about their warning before deciding to cross over from the commentary area.
The letter created the central misunderstanding
The unusual part of the encounter involved a letter sent to Trump during his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. McEnroe explained that the writer was his father, also named John McEnroe.
Trump apparently believed the letter had come from the tennis player rather than his father. When McEnroe approached him at the U.S. Open, Trump thanked him and said he had displayed the letter in his office.
The greeting was captured on television
McEnroe later recalled that cameras caught him greeting Trump and described the encounter as an embrace. The moment became notable because Trump appeared to believe McEnroe had written the supportive letter.
McEnroe subsequently explained that he had not written the letter himself. He also said he did not want people visiting Trump’s office to assume the tennis champion was a political supporter because of the letter.
McEnroe clarified the relationship afterward
McEnroe’s later comments distinguished between knowing Trump and supporting him politically. He said he had known Trump over the years, but the 2015 greeting did not mean he had written the campaign letter.
His explanation addressed the mistaken identity created by their shared name. The letter came from his father, while the person who greeted Trump at the U.S. Open was the tennis champion.
His political history included opposition to Trump
McEnroe later said he voted for Hillary Clinton rather than Trump in the 2016 presidential election. That statement indicated that the 2015 greeting should not be treated as evidence that he supported Trump’s campaign.
McEnroe has also discussed political issues during tennis broadcasts. His comments have included criticism of politicians’ involvement in sports, including remarks about Novak Djokovic’s inability to compete at the 2022 Australian Open and U.S. Open.
Interesting fact: John McEnroe spent 170 weeks as world No. 1 and finished the year at No. 1 for four straight seasons from 1981 through 1984.
Trump had previously proposed a tennis spectacle
The relationship between Trump and McEnroe also included a 2000 proposal involving a high-profile exhibition. Trump offered $1 million for McEnroe to play either Serena Williams or Venus Williams in a proposed battle-of-the-sexes match.
Neither Williams sister accepted the proposal, and the match never took place. McEnroe later recalled the episode while discussing Trump and questioned Trump’s description of him as a “dear friend.”
Trump returned to the US Open in 2025
Trump’s 2025 U.S. Open appearance renewed attention on his earlier connection with McEnroe. In September 2025, Trump attended the men’s singles final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, his first visit to the tournament since 2015.
His appearance made him the first sitting U.S. president to attend a U.S. Open final since Bill Clinton in 2000. The USTA implemented additional security measures and asked broadcasters not to showcase disruptions or reactions to the president’s attendance.
McEnroe commented on Trump’s 2025 appearance
During the 2025 men’s final, McEnroe was part of ESPN’s broadcast team alongside Chris Fowler and his brother Patrick McEnroe. When cameras showed Trump in the stadium, McEnroe briefly acknowledged the moment.
McEnroe noted that Trump, like John and Patrick McEnroe, had Queens roots. He said, “Not every day that happens,” after ESPN showed Trump during the match between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Interesting fact: McEnroe was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and continued competing in doubles long after his main singles career
McEnroe remained part of US Open coverage in 2026
McEnroe continued his role as a tennis analyst during the 2026 U.S. Open. ESPN’s official commentator lineup included John McEnroe and his younger brother Patrick, continuing their involvement with major tennis broadcasts.
The 2026 tournament ended on September 13, with Alexander Zverev defeating Ben Shelton in the men’s final. McEnroe’s presence in the broadcast booth continued his long association with the U.S. Open.
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The old encounter remains a documented episode
The 2015 greeting is being revisited because recent coverage has highlighted McEnroe’s account of ignoring his family’s warning. The facts are that he approached Trump, the interaction was captured on television, and the letter mentioned came from his father.
The episode does not establish a political endorsement by McEnroe. His explanation identifies a mistaken identity involving two people named John McEnroe and separates the greeting from his political views.
In other news, Suzy Kolber says ESPN gave her no public acknowledgment after decades at the network.
What do you think about John McEnroe’s decision to greet Donald Trump despite his family’s warning? Share your thoughts in the comments, and like the slideshow if you found the story interesting.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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