(CNN) -- As his successful but often spiky career can testify, John McEnroe has never been one for convention.
The seven-time major winner has been an omnipresent force in American and world tennis since he burst onto the scene in 1977 by making the semifinal at Wimbledon as an 18-year-old amateur.
Now McEnroe has launched his own tennis academy in New York, aiming to give back to the city that harnessed his love for the game, and he's outlined a philosophy to reinvigorate U.S. tennis that is directly at odds with his brother.
Patrick McEnroe is head of the United States Tennis Association's scheme to develop elite players and very much a pupil of the school that says budding young stars should live and breathe the game.
John, however, thinks tennis overload can do more harm than good. He thinks it is vital for a child's development as a player to continue to live at home and enjoy other sports, like any other regular kid.
CNN
