Everything about her sons and daughters

The legend of tennis John McENROE has six talented children in Kevin, Sean, Emily, Ruby, Ava and Anna.

The holder of the record of the title of the open era had three children with his first wife, the awarded actress of the Oscars Tatum O’Neal. The couple welcomed three children together: Kevin, Sean and Emily.

After separating from Tatum in 1994, John married the nominated rock singer to the Grammys, Patty Smyth, in 1997. John became a stepfather of Patty’s daughter, Ruby, while the couple also welcomed their children Anna and Ava.

Despite his success in the field, John distant his children from tennis: his son Kevin became an author, while Emily is an actress. Anna and Ava continued their career in law.

“One of the reasons why I really pushed my children from tennis is” because I didn’t want them to be up to it: “You must be better than John McENROE”, and in addition to the fact that everything is: “There is MCENROE’s kid, how does he act?” “He said to In depth with Graham BensingeR Podcast in May 2018. “I wanted to try that children have a fire in their belly for whatever they wanted.”

Here is all that to know about the six children of John McENROE: Kevin, Sean, Emily, Ruby, Anna and Ava.

Kevin is an author

In 1986, John and Tatum welcomed their first child, Kevin.

Kevin has since become a successful author, writing the 2015 novel Our city. The book is a fictitious version of the life and difficulties of her maternal grandmother, actress Joanna Moore, with fame and dependence.

In June 2015, Kevin spoke with people of the way he had the idea of ​​the book.

“My writing teacher told me to write from the point of view of the opposite sex, and I wrote in my grandmother’s voice,” said Kevin. “Even if I only met my grandmother twice, I knew she was considered a edifying story, like this kind of mess. From that moment, I wanted to know more about her.”

The book was personal to Kevin, when he was fighting with the dependence problems himself. In July 2014, he was arrested for buying coke, oxycodone and morphine tablets in a corner of New York Street. (Cocaine turned out to be baking soda and the charges were finally rejected.)

Kevin finished the book while he was at Betty Ford Center in Palm Springs, California, where he stayed two months. Meanwhile, John visited him.

“When I was in a detoxification treatment, [my dad] said, “We have always known that you were going to be a success”, and that meant a lot for me, “Kevin told people.” It took me a lot of ups and downs to understand this. “”

The book even helped bring his parents back, John and Tatum, back after their controversial separation. In 2015, they attended a reading of Our citywhere they reconnected, Tatum said Variety in February 2025.

“There is now respect,” she added.

Sean is a photographer

In 1987, John and Tatum welcomed their second child, Sean.

Sean has since grown up to become a photographer. While discussing his first exhibition of solo photographs in 2016, Sean explained to people how art was useful when his family went through difficult times.

“Growing up, the Met was my sanctuary,” said Sean. “When things were difficult and there were many of those moments when I grew up, I found myself wandering over there and I have always found comforting and soothing to imagine myself in the landscapes.”

After a 2015 earthquake in Nepal, the non -profit CITTA saw part of Sean’s work and asked him to accompany them to photograph the consequences. In 2016, Sean displayed the photos at the Lam Gallery in Hollywood, where he collected funds for the organization.

“The goal of the show is to dive people into what it is to live in Nepal where they really need money for infrastructure after massive damage to houses and businesses,” Sean told people. “I want to use what is in my power to help the people I have met and if my name helps, then it’s great.”

Emily is an actress

In 1991, John and Tatum had their daughter Emily.

Emily took after Tatum and cried an acting career. Its first major role came in 2024 Netrais Alongside Rosanna Arquette. She also had a notable appearance during the last season of Attach your enthusiasmAfter his father played on the program 17 years earlier.

Despite the achievements of her parents, she is motivated to cut her own path.

“My parents were the best in their careers. My father was number one in tennis and my mother won an Oscar, which put us in huge pressure,” she told people in 2015. “I think it also gives my brothers and sisters and me a huge journey to go bankrupt our own track.”

Ruby has her master’s degree in teaching

When John married Patty, he became a stepfather of his daughter Ruby, whom he met at the age of 9.

“She entered a situation where there were already other children and then she was the only one … who was not my blood kid,” said John In depth with Graham Benserger In May 2018. “You have to try to think about it, how I hope I can try it to treat it as much as possible in the same way as all the other children. How will she see it? How will I face it?”

Ruby obtained her master’s degree in secondary education and teaching at Bard College in 2019, according to his LinkedIn. She also worked as a daycare supplier and was even a production assistant for Tennis tournaments from the Grand Chelem Wimbledon and Roland Garros.

Anna and Ava are in the legal field

John and Patty welcomed Anna girls in 1995 and Ava in 1999.

The youngest children of John and Patty both pursue legal careers. When Anna graduated from the Fordham University School of Law in 2022, Patty published a touching message on Instagram.

“Our beautiful Anna, a graduate of the Faculty of Law yesterday! What proud moments for all the Smyth and McEnroes,” wrote Patty on Instagram. “We love you so much. Get out and help make this world a better place. ❤️❤️💕🌈🌈.”

Anna is now a litigation strategist at Dubin Research and Consulting in New York, according to her LinkedIn.

Ava, attended the School of Law from New York University, according to his LinkedIn.

Five of John’s children are married or committed

There is a lot of love in John’s family – all his children, but his youngest, Ava, are married or committed.

Sean was the first to marry, secretly linking the knot with his wife Niamh during a ceremony in 2020 in Sedona, Ariz.

Later this year on November 12, 2021, Ruby married Michael Lees. “It was a beautiful day for a beautiful couple. We are so proud. So much love for both of you,” Patty posted on Instagram. “I’m not going to cry! ❤️❤️🙏🏼❤️🍀🍀.”

Meanwhile, Anna married Brian Kerrigan in October 2024.

In March 2025, Emily revealed that she had engaged to her partner Tim Massarelli. “Forever and a day @timothyjmass 💒,” she wrote on Instagram.

More recently in June 2025, Kevin married Fern Cozine in a ceremony in Napa, California.

John sang with his children

John founded Johnny Smyth Band, where he performs as a singer and guitarist. Over the years, he brought his children on stage.

During the United States Open in 2021 at the Citi Taste of Tennis celebration, Ava joined John to sing some songs. More recently, Emily came on stage with John to help close the ASU + GSV summit in April 2025.

John goes to Los Angeles Lakers matches with his children

No stranger to competition sports, John was seen took his children to a number of Los Angeles Lakers games over the years. In the early 2000s, John was often seen taking Kevin and Sean to sit on the field at the games.

In the early 2010s, John was spotted in matches with Anna and Ava.