 Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 06 Jun 2007 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 06 Jun 2007 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 06 Jun 2007 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 06 Jun 2007 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 06 Jun 2007 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 06 Jun 2007 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 06 Jun 2007 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 06 Jun 2007 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 06 Jun 2007 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 06 Jun 2007 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 06 Jun 2007 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 06 Jun 2007 |
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| 06 Jun 2007 - Paris, France | |
| ITF honours McEnroe, Federer and Henin |
The tennis family gathered at the Pavillon d’Armenonville in Paris for the World Champions Dinner to celebrate the achievements of the 2006 ITF World Champions on Tuesday 5 June. The ITF’s highest accolade, the Philippe Chatrier Award was presented to the legendary John McEnroe.
Former British Davis Cup player and current television commentator Andrew Castle hosted the evening with ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti who presented the awards - trophies designed by internationally-recognised sculptor Laurence Broderick, to the World Champions.
ITF Champions for 2006 were singles champions Roger Federer (SUI) and Justine Henin (BEL), doubles champions Bob & Mike Bryan (USA) and Lisa Raymond (USA) and Samantha Stosur (AUS), junior champions Thiemo de Bakker (NED) and
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS), wheelchair champions Robin Ammerlaan (NED) and Esther Vergeer (NED), who collected her trophy for a record seventh year.
One of the greatest tennis players of all time, McEnroe was remembered as both naturally-gifted and controversial. He burst onto the scene in 1977, when he reached the semifinals at his first Wimbledon as an 18-year-old qualifier. During his career, he amassed 155 singles and doubles titles, including seven Grand Slam singles and nine Grand Slam doubles championships.
The pinnacle of his career came in 1984, where he turned in a still unattainable 82-3 win-loss record and won a career-high 13 singles titles. En route to his third Wimbledon crown, he gave one of the most devastatingly ruthless displays ever seen on Centre Court in the final against fellow American Jimmy Connors, destroying the former champion 61 61 62 in 80 minutes.
Throughout his career, McEnroe was always available to play for his country, representing the United States in Davis Cup for 12 years. He remains the US leader in total years played, ties played, singles matches won and total matches won. He is also a former Davis Cup Captain.
McEnroe retired in 1992 after winning the Wimbledon doubles title with Michael Stich and still remains a worldwide name both on and off court. While still competing on the Blackrock ATP Tour of Champions, the Champions Tour and in World Team Tennis, he is also acclaimed for his contributions both as a commentator and fierce ambassador for the sport.
For years McEnroe has been heavily involved with the City Parks Foundation in New York City, generously supporting this organisation that offers free tennis programmes to thousands of New Yorkers of all ages and abilities. In 1990, former tennis player Andrea Jaeger approached McEnroe to help establish the Little Star Foundation, a charity that provides a recreational retreat for children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. He also serves on the Executive Committee of Riverkeeper, the non-profit organisation that among other things, strives to protect the New York City drinking water supply and works toward preserving the environmental health of the Hudson River.
McEnroe was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999.
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