JOHN MCENROE once sparked a Wimbledon brawl by storming out of a post-match press conference.
The shocking incident occurred en route to his 1981 triumph at the All England Club.
McEnroe had just beaten Rod Frawley in the last four to set up a blockbuster final against Bjorn Borg.
The press room was packed full of journalists itching to quiz the American and there was chaos due to overcrowding.
McEnroe, 22 at the time, had already developed a reputation for being a fiery character with his on court outbursts.
And he furiously kicked off after being asked by The Mirror’s James Whittaker if he had split up with his tennis star girlfriend Stacey Margolin amid false rumours he had cheated.
McEnroe was used to ranting at line judges but this time launched an attack on the press before storming out the room.
Yet the drama had only just begun as the reporters then turned on each other.
Arguments erupted over whether the question was appropriate, with British journalists furiously debating their US counterparts.
But The Mirror’s Nigel Clarke and RKO Radio’s Charlie Steiner got physical as tempers flared.
Clarke jumped onto a chair and tried to punch Steiner.
There was then wrestling on the floor as colleagues had to separate them with papers and chairs flying.
Both were sent to the Wimbledon chairman’s office for a dressing down like naughty school boys.
Clarke and Steiner crossed paths 15 years later at a boxing event and apparently had a “good laugh” about their SW19 punch-up.
McEnroe beat Borg in a thrilling four-set final to win Wimbledon for the first time.
He went on to lift the trophy another two times and he now works as a pundit for the BBC.
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