---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't serve and volley until I got to…"
description: "\"I didn't serve and volley until I got to Wimbledon in '77.\" — John McEnroe"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91d/john-mcenroe-11362_got_i-didn-t-serve-and-volley-until-i-got-to_2057699.jpg"
---

#  I didn't serve and volley until I got to Wimbledon in '77.

![“I didn't serve and volley until I got to Wimbledon in '77.” quote by John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91d/john-mcenroe-11362_got_i-didn-t-serve-and-volley-until-i-got-to_2057699.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91d/john-mcenroe-11362_got_i-didn-t-serve-and-volley-until-i-got-to_2057699.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91d/john-mcenroe-11362_got_i-didn-t-serve-and-volley-until-i-got-to_2057699.jpg)

> “I didn't serve and volley until I got to Wimbledon in '77.”

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He only adopted a serve‑and‑volley style after competing at Wimbledon in 1977.

**In simple terms:** He learned a new tennis tactic at Wimbledon.

Key Takeaway

Adapt tactics when needed.

Themes

sports learning strategy career

Mood

determined nostalgic

Type

historical inspirational

When to use this quote

- tennis coaching
- career milestones
- training programs

Key Concepts

skill acquisition adaptability competition

Questions to Reflect On

- What prompted the shift in strategy?
- How did it affect his performance?

A Different Perspective

Changing style late can be risky and requires intense practice.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Tennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tennis/) [Wimbledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wimbledon/)

## Related quotes

> [I was always a believer in stamping on my opponent if I got him down, at Wimbledon or anywhere else. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-was-always-a-believer-in-stamping-on-my-opponent-if-i-got-him-down/)

[Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/)

> [I always liked serve-and-volley players and big athletes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-krajicek/i-always-liked-serve-and-volley-players-and-big-athletes/)

[Richard Krajicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-krajicek/)

> [If you want a player to serve and volley more, you need to teach them to do that more, how to move at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/if-you-want-a-player-to-serve-and-volley-more-you-need-to-teach-them/)

[Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/)

> [Well, I like to - the game of serve and volley, but it's very tough, you know, against the best players because they return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniela-hantuchova/well-i-like-to-the-game-of-serve-and-volley-but-it-s-very-tough-you/)

[Daniela Hantuchova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniela-hantuchova/)

> [I'm probably one of the only people who has voted for the speaker of the House but didn't serve in Congress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-mcsally/i-m-probably-one-of-the-only-people-who-has-voted-for-the-speaker-of/)

[Martha McSally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-mcsally/)

> [I'm from the Vietnam generation. I didn't serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-m-from-the-vietnam-generation-i-didn-t-serve/)

[Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/)

> [I didn't serve on a committee that dealt with foreign policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/i-didn-t-serve-on-a-committee-that-dealt-with-foreign-policy/)

[Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/)

> [You've got people who didn't serve with John Kerry saying they did serve with John Kerry in the boat. With George Bush, we can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/you-ve-got-people-who-didn-t-serve-with-john-kerry-saying-they-did/)

[Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/)

> [If you didn't have power, you had to have touch and serve and volley, which I found very exciting and that's why I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/if-you-didn-t-have-power-you-had-to-have-touch-and-serve-and-volley/)

[Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/)

> [If you want to be a tennis player, then mould yourself on Roger Federer. I won three Wimbledon titles and I wish I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/if-you-want-to-be-a-tennis-player-then-mould-yourself-on-roger/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [Borg's won Wimbledon four straight times and out there he has just lost an 18-16 tie breaker. You'd think maybe once he'd let up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/borg-s-won-wimbledon-four-straight-times-and-out-there-he-has-just/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [The 1980 Wimbledon final with Borg - that's the one I was most proud of to be part of. It's talked about as one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/the-1980-wimbledon-final-with-borg-that-s-the-one-i-was-most-proud-of/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [The only thing 'championship' about Wimbledon is its prestige.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/the-only-thing-championship-about-wimbledon-is-its-prestige/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [I actually went to Wimbledon, and David Attenborough was sat in the row in front of me, and I thought that was quite amazing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/i-actually-went-to-wimbledon-and-david-attenborough-was-sat-in-the/)

[Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/)

> [I can play on grass - when I won Junior Wimbledon, that was an unbelievable feeling, I could not believe that I had won…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grigor-dimitrov/i-can-play-on-grass-when-i-won-junior-wimbledon-that-was-an/)

[Grigor Dimitrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grigor-dimitrov/)

## More by John McEnroe

> [I haven't seen a professional player come out of New York in over 20 years since my brother Patrick came out. Blake spent a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/i-haven-t-seen-a-professional-player-come-out-of-new-york-in-over-20/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [Believe it or not, I was a pretty shy youngster growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/believe-it-or-not-i-was-a-pretty-shy-youngster-growing-up/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [The important thing is to learn a lesson every time you lose. Life is a learning process and you have to try to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/the-important-thing-is-to-learn-a-lesson-every-time-you-lose-life-is/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [The 1980 Wimbledon final with Borg - that's the one I was most proud of to be part of. It's talked about as one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/the-1980-wimbledon-final-with-borg-that-s-the-one-i-was-most-proud-of/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [I'd like to think I could have and should have won more, but that's not the point. And I was at the point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/i-d-like-to-think-i-could-have-and-should-have-won-more-but-that-s/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [The greatest compliment I ever got was when people called me an artist, and I understand that solo aspect of being an artist, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/the-greatest-compliment-i-ever-got-was-when-people-called-me-an/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [I'd like to be the commissioner of tennis, but do I want to get into politics? Sometimes I have delusions of grandeur that that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/i-d-like-to-be-the-commissioner-of-tennis-but-do-i-want-to-get-into/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [There's too much money and too many nice guys around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/there-s-too-much-money-and-too-many-nice-guys-around/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [No one cares about the Davis Cup. How many people know I won five Davis Cups and seven majors, but that I rarely played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/no-one-cares-about-the-davis-cup-how-many-people-know-i-won-five/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [I think it's the mark of a great player to be confident in tough situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/i-think-it-s-the-mark-of-a-great-player-to-be-confident-in-tough/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [As they say in sports, the older you get, the better you used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/as-they-say-in-sports-the-older-you-get-the-better-you-used-to-be/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [The good part of having six kids is, there's always one who wants to hug you and say, 'Daddy, I love you.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/the-good-part-of-having-six-kids-is-there-s-always-one-who-wants-to/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [Well I think that's probably one of a few, where I grew up in the City of New York, it's got a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/well-i-think-that-s-probably-one-of-a-few-where-i-grew-up-in-the-city/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [To be involved in a senior tournament back in the States is very satisfying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/to-be-involved-in-a-senior-tournament-back-in-the-states-is-very/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

> [Let's hope his nerves will run through his veins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/let-s-hope-his-nerves-will-run-through-his-veins/)

[John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

[Explore all 60 John McEnroe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/)

## More Got quotes

> [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/)

[Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/)

> [I've got three kids, so there's not much downtime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-froning-jr/i-ve-got-three-kids-so-there-s-not-much-downtime/)

[Rich Froning Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-froning-jr/)

> [I had an idea for a technologically advanced luxury watch. I got involved in digital art and neon painting and put on shows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-moroder/i-had-an-idea-for-a-technologically-advanced-luxury-watch-i-got/)

[Giorgio Moroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-moroder/)

> [Susan B. Anthony must be turning in her grave if she knew that millions of women who have the right to vote are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/susan-b-anthony-must-be-turning-in-her-grave-if-she-knew-that/)

[Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/)

> [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/)

[Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/)

> [We got orders to strike the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. We had a task force with the Enterprise. We had two or three cruisers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-ross/we-got-orders-to-strike-the-marshall-and-gilbert-islands-we-had-a/)

[Barney Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-ross/)

> [I don't think you should ever say, 'This is the last time'. Music isn't like that. You'll be sitting there not wishing to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-daltrey/i-don-t-think-you-should-ever-say-this-is-the-last-time-music-isn-t/)

[Roger Daltrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-daltrey/)

> [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/)

[Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/)

> [I have my meals delivered... you know what I like? Chicken and rice... But the problem with being a defensive lineman is, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/i-have-my-meals-delivered-you-know-what-i-like-chicken-and-rice-but/)

[Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/)

> [When I was a sophomore at USC, I was a socialist, pretty much to the left. But not when I left the university. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/when-i-was-a-sophomore-at-usc-i-was-a-socialist-pretty-much-to-the/)

[John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/)

> [My mother worked in the white world, but I lived almost exclusively in a black world. I don't think I had ever seen a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/my-mother-worked-in-the-white-world-but-i-lived-almost-exclusively-in/)

[Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/)

> [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/)

[Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/)

> [I'm perfectly flawed... I've got tons of flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-m-perfectly-flawed-i-ve-got-tons-of-flaws/)

[Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/)

> [I said to my agent, 'I want short, sharp, well-paid jobs because I haven't got time for anything else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-said-to-my-agent-i-want-short-sharp-well-paid-jobs-because-i-haven/)

[Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/)

> [How could you justify giving Holland twice the amount of money that you gave Belgium? Well, finally, I put it up to them. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-averell-harriman/how-could-you-justify-giving-holland-twice-the-amount-of-money-that/)

[W. Averell Harriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-averell-harriman/)

Browse all 6,932 Got quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I didn't serve and volley until I got to Wimbledon in '77.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John McEnroe"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/i-didn-t-serve-and-volley-until-i-got-to-wimbledon-in-77/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Got"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/i-didn-t-serve-and-volley-until-i-got-to-wimbledon-in-77/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91d/john-mcenroe-11362_got_i-didn-t-serve-and-volley-until-i-got-to_2057699.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91d/john-mcenroe-11362_got_i-didn-t-serve-and-volley-until-i-got-to_2057699.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91d/john-mcenroe-11362_got_i-didn-t-serve-and-volley-until-i-got-to_2057699.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I didn't serve and volley until I got to Wimbledon in '77.” — John McEnroe",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "John McEnroe",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I didn't serve and volley until...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/i-didn-t-serve-and-volley-until-i-got-to-wimbledon-in-77/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/i-didn-t-serve-and-volley-until-i-got-to-wimbledon-in-77/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
