'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Thanksgiving is a time for reflection, and John McEnroe's son Kevin has laid bare his thoughts surrounding his struggles with addiction in a vulnerable post. Kevin McEnroe is the tennis pro's eldest son with his first wife, Academy Award winner Tatum O'Neal.
Kevin struggled with substance abuse during his youth, and was even arrested for buying drugs in July 2014. He has turned his life around since then, becoming a successful author. However, the road to sobriety wasn't easy, and he has detailed his inner thoughts in his latest post on Substack.
Following one of his stints in rehab, McEnroe was invited to a Thanksgiving dinner with his family. Despite their eagerness to bond with him, his inner thoughts concocted a different tale. He felt unwanted and ashamed because of his struggles.
Trending
"My feelings told me nobody wanted me around, and I didn’t want to be judged. My feelings expressly said your dad doesn’t like you. Maybe he loves you, but he doesn’t understand you, and you sort of make him sick. My feelings said your sisters would be better off without you, and your step-mom wished you didn’t make them so scared, but truthfully you just couldn’t hide it. Truthfully I just can’t, so I left," McEnroe wrote.
McEnroe also wondered about how he made his entire family sick with worry because of his issues. He felt that he let his father down with his repeated trips to rehab.
"I really didn’t want to go to my dad's. Won’t there be drinking there? That isn’t safe. And I think my sisters still hate me, or are just mad at how much I made them worry. How much time was spent on me. And Patty’s still mad, about that too. And my dad’s disappointed, and he should be. His son’s been to treatment three times and what does he have to show for it? He’s unwillingly sober, and he hasn’t gotten enough pats on the back to feel like it’s a worthwhile venture," he continued.
Staying sober is a lifelong battle, and with the support of his family, McEnroe is thriving these days. He wrote his debut novel, Our Town, during his stint at the Betty Ford Center in Palm Springs, California a decade ago. The book eventually led to his parents being back on friendly terms.
Kevin McEnroe's novel led to a thaw in John McEnroe and Tatum O'Neal's relationship
John McEnroe and Tatum O'Neal were married from 1986 to 1994. They had three children during this period, including Kevin. The divorce wasn't completely amicable, partly due to O'Neal's struggles with addiction.
The two weren't on friendly terms after their separation. However, they came together to support their son during the launch of his novel, Our Town, in 2015. They reconnected once again, and have stayed on friendly terms since then.
After battling his own demons, Kevin McEnroe is leading his best life as well. He recently tied the knot with Fern Cozine in June 2025. The couple got engaged in November 2023, and got married in front of family and friends this year.
