Aleksandar Kovacevic reveals John McEnroe memory: ‘One of the coolest experiences of my life’ | ATP Tour

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Kovacevic reveals McEnroe memory: ‘One of the coolest experiences of my life’

Kovacevic will face another ATP No. 1 Club, Djokovic, Indian Wells

March 09, 2026

Aleksandar Kovacevic will step into Stadium 1 on Monday at the BNP Paribas Open to face the player he has looked up to all his life: Novak Djokovic. When he was seven, the American was courtside to watch Serbian Gael Monfils play at the US Open, and even snapped a photo with the future No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings.

The pair clash for the first time in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series at Roland Garros in 2023, but their meeting at Flushing Meadows in 2005 remains a key moment in Kovacevic’s tennis journey. Djokovic isn’t the only legend the New York native met as a child.

Aleksandar Kovacevic first saw Novak Djokovic play in 2005 and met the Serbian in 2021.” style=”width:100%;” src=”

Kovacevic was one of the first kids to receive a scholarship to the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, on Randall’s Island. When ‘Kova’ was 11, he attended a tryout, encouraged by coach Gilad Bloom, and began a long-term relationship with the inimitable McEnroe.

At the World TeamTennis match at McEnroe’s academy in 2010, Kovacevic stepped onto the court to face the home hero. After the 11-year-old won the first point, McEnroe rushed the net for the second, and Kovacevic ripped a one-handed shot for the winner on the second par, captured in a video that has since garnered thousands of views.

“I think it was the first time I met him and I was really young at the time,” Kovacevic said. “I remember the racquet was about the size of me.”

Kovacevic would later relocate as a teenager to continue his development, eventually playing college tennis at the University of Illinois. But he spent his formative years at McEnroe’s school.

“It was very nice to see that he was very involved with the children, even at that time,” Kovacevic said. “I feel that champions are at the forefront of any sport—it doesn’t necessarily have to be tennis—but many of the sport’s former greats put their names on institutions of higher education or their names behind many careers.

“That was the best thing for me about John, that he would go out there and beat us, be very involved, coach us all the time on the court, even though I was nobody. I was a 14-year-old, 15-year-old tennis player.”

One memory of McEnroe sticks with the American, who rose to World No. 54, and it has nothing to do with tennis.

“I was out of shoes. I didn’t have any shoes at the time, and he said, ‘Oh, I have a pair at my house in New York. Come and get them’. I was like, ‘Really?’ “Kovacevic remembers. “So I ended up going to his place on 84th Street, he came into his place, gave me a pair of shoes, and wished me luck.

It wasn’t just that McEnroe had given him the shoes, but that someone so important in the history of the sport was watching him. Throughout Kovecevic’s tenure at the JMTA, McEnroe often jumped onto the court to compete with the underdogs.

“He doesn’t want to lose either. Even with the kids, he won’t let them slip,” said Kovacevic. “It was always good when he came out, because you can see as a player when someone takes you for granted and he wouldn’t do that.”

There are many people who have made an impact throughout Kovacevic’s journey to the ATP Tour, like Bloom. But McEnroe remains an important part of the American way and is still in touch with the Top-100 player today.

“He’s very good. “I hope he’s proud of that. The little kid he gave a scholarship to long ago turned out to be good at this game.”