London, June 30 (IANS) Tennis great John McEnroe has launched ATP’s commemorative coffee table book ‘No.1’ celebrating all year-end ATP World Tour No.1s over the past 40 years.
“I first became World No.1 at Memphis in March 1980. I got goosebumps thinking that I was ranked ahead of Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors. I didn’t think I quite deserved it yet. I thought I had more work to do. It was inspiring to hit that mark but it made me want to improve myself,” McEnroe was quoted as saying on atpworldtour.com here Saturday.
“It took the better part of a year and a half when I was finally able to beat Bjorn in 1981 at Wimbledon and the US Open. So finally, I could say ‘I am the best player in the world’. That is the most amazing feeling a player can get. I was one of the guys who valued being No.1 more important at the end of the year, than how many majors I had. I am proud to see my name amongst those players.”
“When you win a Wimbledon you feel like you can fly, when you win a US Open you feel on top of the world. When you are first World No.1, you look down your nose at your rivals,” said the American, a four-time year-end ATP World Tour No.1 in 1981-1984.
