ESPN\u2019s Patrick McEnroe<\/strong> and actress Melissa Errico<\/strong>\u2019s decades-long marriage all started with a spark at the elementary school water fountain.<\/span><\/p>\n McEnroe, 59, and Errico, 55, were both students at Buckley Day Country School on Long Island, where McEnroe was best friends with Errico\u2019s brother, Michael<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe had this younger sister,\u201d McEnroe recalled in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly<\/i>. \u201cWhen you\u2019re in eighth grade and the younger sister is in fourth grade, that\u2019s a pretty big age gap. But I always sort of had this little crush on her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He continued, \u201cWe had a moment that we both remember by the water fountain. We were both walking through school and we had this little moment, this little connection.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Errico, who recently made her London concert hall debut with her acclaimed show Sondheim in the City Live!<\/i>, recalled the interaction as if it was yesterday.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe were in front of the water fountain by the science room,\u201d Errico told Us. \u201cThe school was quiet. We looked at each other and there was this long pause. When we re-met in our 20s, we both remembered the moment by the water fountain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n McEnroe, who now works as a commentator for ESPN after a lengthy professional tennis career, revealed how he and Errico eventually connected later in life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After being forced to take some time away from tennis after having shoulder surgery in his late 20s, McEnroe went to see Errico\u2019s brother Michael, a musician, play at a club in New York City.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n McEnroe was excited to see his friend perform, but there was also another thought in the back of mind. \u201cI\u2019m looking around to see if I can find Melissa,\u201d McEnroe explained.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After searching and browsing faces inside the club, McEnroe noticed Errico leaving and asked her for a serendipitous, impromptu date.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe went out and had dinner and a drink together at The Corner Bistro,\u201d McEnroe said. \u201cWe had nothing in common. Melissa knew nothing about tennis. I knew nothing about the theater.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He added, \u201cBut here we are almost 30 years later and I\u2019m an expert on Stephen Sondheim.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n McEnroe and Errico got married in December 1998 and have since welcomed three daughters: Victoria<\/strong>, 19, and twins Diana<\/strong> and Juliette<\/strong>, 16.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite their seemingly different backgrounds, Errico explained she and her husband are far more alike than an outsider might think.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re very similar in a lot of ways, the athlete and the performer,\u201d Errico said. \u201cWe\u2019re used to setbacks. We\u2019re used to every day being back to zero. You\u2019re going to lose a lot. You\u2019re going to lose more than you win.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n McEnroe called getting comfortable with losing \u201cpart of the business.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been very lucky, as we tell our three teenage daughters, that we were able to follow our passions and turn them into careers,\u201d McEnroe said. \u201cWe still continue to evolve in different ways.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He added, \u201cI love her more than ever.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Inside](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Inside-the-Lifelong-Love-Affair-of-ESPN-s-Patrick-McEnroe-and-Actress-Melissa-Errico-2.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
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