John McEnroe to return to the ATP Tour! Not kidding!!

[BreakPoint]

Check this out!! John McEnroe will return to the ATP Tour and play in his first ATP event in 13 years at the SAP Open!

And, yes, before you ask, I AM serious!!!!!

http://www.sapopentennis.com/tennis/news/feature_stories/news.asp?news_id=100

 

[Grinder]

Yep, he's teaming up with Jonas Bjorkman.

 

[dmastous]

Hey if Martina can play doubles into her 50s, why can't McEnroe?

 

[breakfast_of_champions]

it should be interesting to see if mac blows up.

 

[AAAA]

For a moment I thought singles then I read the article.....

 

[Virtuous]

Well this should heighten interest in doubles

 

[wings56]

I don't think Johhny Mac will have any problems considering the way he performed in WTT

 

[Sixpointone]

This is very interesting. I hope it will be aired on The Tennis Channel as I'd really like to see McEnroe and Bjorkman plays doubles

 

[156MPHserve]

Perhaps the achievement of Martina Navratilova has had its effect on John McEnroe as well =)

 

[AAAA]

perhaps the much younger players joining the seniors tour are challenging his coveted position of top dog status in singles and stealing his limelight.

 

[Grigollif1]

I would no be surprised if Johnny Mac made the MC cups in doubles. That guy beats Courier, Muster and Ivasenic in the Senior tour the majority of times, I believe.. and he almost beat in WTT Andy Roddick back in 2002 and Todd Martin the other day who just came out of retirement. I strongly believe that if he played singles he could well be inside the top 100. Not further because of the Endurance now, required in men's tennis.

 

[joe1987]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/4484632.stm

 

[Dan007]

How old is McEnroe now?

 

[BreakPoint]

He'll be 47 the day after he plays his first match at the SAP Open, as stated in the article.

 

[FedererUberAlles]

I would like to see Martina/Mcenroe mixed doubles.

 

[BreakPoint]

I would love to see McEnroe team up with Navratilova and win next year's Wimbledon mixed doubles. Now wouldn't that be a treat!

BTW, if McEnroe can come back at 47, what's the matter with Sampras and Rafter?

 

[DX_Psycho]

ooh. i was debating whether or not to go to SAP open but i guess I will now. I thought you meant singles though. That would have been a sight.

 

[Dan007]

BTW, if McEnroe can come back at 47, what's the matter with Sampras and Rafter?[/QUOTE]

Because McEnroe has been playing lot of tennis since he retired but Sampras and Rafter has not been playing after they retired. But I'm sure they can also do that If they have played lot of tennis on the senior tour.

 

[Grigollif1]

The chair empires and lines people must be praying right now for the Hawck eye technology to come soon, other wise get ready for.....YOU CAN NOT BE SERIOUS!

 

[AJK1]

I have it on good authority that McEnroe is playing so well, he could still be top 100 in singles. I tend to believe it. He has never stopped playing for any length of time, and beats most of the Seniors players that are younger than him on a regular basis.

 

[Yours!05]

Well this should heighten interest in doubles

Could even be the salvation, if others follow him .

 

[dtmmfam]

this is awesome. i look forward to the sap open every year. i just wish more of the european players particpated.

 

[Fee]

Have you seen the names on the website so far? Robredo, J. Johansson, and others are coming. Its the Monday after Davis Cup, so that complicates things a little bit, but I think it will be an interesting field this year (and hopefully, they won't waste a WC on Donald Young again).

 

[Deuce]

Quite obviously, McEnroe is such a huge fan of the new doubles rules that the new format has brought him right out of retirement.

Either that, or he's playing because he can never get enough media attention, and now that his 2 TV shows are dead, and there's no Major to do commentary on for a while, he's got to find a TV camera somewhere.

 

[alienhamster]

Quite obviously, McEnroe is such a huge fan of the new doubles rules - so much so that the new format has brought him right out of retirement.

Either that, or he's playing because he can never get enough media attention, and now that his 2 TV shows are dead, and there's no Major to do commentary on for a while, he's got to find a TV camera somewhere.

Kinda agree with Deuce's cynical take here. McEnroe will probably not take this too seriously (i.e., he really cannot be serious). He'll ham it up and get a nice appearance fee.

But no big deal, really. Should be fun to watch.

 

[BreakPoint]

Kinda agree with Deuce's cynical take here. McEnroe will probably not take this too seriously (i.e., he really cannot be serious). He'll ham it up and get a nice appearance fee.

But no big deal, really. Should be fun to watch.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. In that second link to the BBC article above, McEnroe is quoted as saying:

"We are coming to play San Jose for one reason - to win," said McEnroe. "Jonas and I are not doing this just for fun."

McEnroe has not ruled out a possible return to doubles competition at the Grand Slams although he admitted his work as a commentator could make that difficult.

 

[Prince_of_Tennis]

Man I want to buy a package but i'll be missing out the saturday semifinal because of work argh!!!! This is gonna fun hopefully a good turn out on players

 

[urban]

Maybe he will get the alltime ATP record for doubles wins. For a long time Tom Okker had it with 78 i think, with McEnroe tied or one behind (i am not shure). I think, Woodbridge broke it this year. But Mac is still close.

 

[OnyxZ28]

DAMNIT! Right after I move out of the Bay Area, no less.

 

[Docalex007]

This is awesome. Can't wait to see how this one plays out.

 

[gokou703]

oh yeah..buying tickets right now....

 

[AndrewD]

Maybe he will get the alltime ATP record for doubles wins. For a long time Tom Okker had it with 78 i think, with McEnroe tied or one behind (i am not shure). I think, Woodbridge broke it this year. But Mac is still close.

Id take a good guess that that's the reason he's playing. Forget about throwing some charity the way of the doubles players, he wants to beat the record and probably sees the new doubles format as an easier way to do it than under genuine match conditions.

 

[Ronaldo]

Doubles specialists and the tournaments need to kiss his feet if it creates more interest.

 

[pound cat]

Notice Mac came back when they've cut the length of the doubles matches. Martina played the hard way...best out of 3, full length games. Always knew that guy was smart.

 

[joe sch]

The best doubles team was always Johnny Mac && xxxxx so lets see if this still holds in Mac's retirement

 

[spirit]

A trend

First Navratolova, now Johnny Mac playing doubles on the tour. Is this a trend, playing doubles after your singles career is over? Might be, the population is getting older - the baby boomers, more and more seniors - including all us tennis players. I know I am playing a lot more doubles than singles these days, where it used to be the other way around. With more of us recreational players getting older the fan base for older pros playing doubles may be on the verge of a growth spurt. And this, more than any change in format or scoring in doubles may be the real savior for pro tennis doubles.

I'm all for it. Who else can we get to come out to play pro doubles? Name a few that you would like to see out there. What would be some ideal teams? What about Patrick Rafter? Who would be a good partner for him? What about Monica Seles? Could she make the transition to doubles specialist? And might it not be better for Martina Hingus to concentrate on doubles in her comeback?

 

[Rabbit]

I would like to see Martina/Mcenroe mixed doubles.

Yep, particularly at Wimbledon. I think it would be great, but I'd be willing to bet Martina ain't gonna dump Paes for Mac. I also think it's great that McEnroe is coming back to play doubles. I hope he is successful and well behaved. This could be viewed as a well needed shot in the arm for doubles, or living proof that the doubles guys need to go away because a 47-year old can compete.

 

[joe sch]

First Navratolova, now Johnny Mac playing doubles on the tour. Is this a trend, playing doubles after your singles career is over?

It will Not be a future trend because todays stars can Not play doubles
Also, Rick Leach is living proof that good doubles players can go on and on ...

 

[callitout]

A good doubles pair for Wimbledon '06 would be J Mcenroe and Pete Sampras.

 

[Grigollif1]

Quite obviously, McEnroe is such a huge fan of the new doubles rules that the new format has brought him right out of retirement.

Either that, or he's playing because he can never get enough media attention, and now that his 2 TV shows are dead, and there's no Major to do commentary on for a while, he's got to find a TV camera somewhere.

What is the problem? Your comment sounds a bite negative. The Guy is still an active awsome tennis player, the new tennis format will help him a lot he is obviously feeling like he has a good chance to do well so what is the problem with that? I think most people feel that he has a very good chance of doing well in the tournament, not only to just to get attention or marketing, if that's what you are saying.....

Attention I'm sure we all want at some level... isn;t that a fact?

 

[charlesgso]

Sampras can't play doubles

He telegraphs his shots too much and his movement is very suspect. Also he's not a team player. His Davis Cup record is abysmal.

 

[scotus]

How about Stefan Edberg? A doubles player par excellence, he retired without sustaining any serious injury. He should be good to go, not to mention that his cool temperament should balance out Mac's volcanic temper.

 

[IvanYentl]

He telegraphs his shots too much and his movement is very suspect. Also he's not a team player. His Davis Cup record is abysmal.

While harsh, this statement, especially the part about his movement, is something to consider. I'm trying to imagine Mac lunging at, and getting a racquet on, some of those deadly crosscourt shots while he's stranded in no man's land. Of course, his experience and ability to manage points should keep him in the right spot at the right time, but we have to consider the possibility that his reaction time at 47 may be a liability when he's facing the younger bombers.

That said, I can't wait for the comeback. He's my idol.

 

[erik-the-red]

He telegraphs his shots too much and his movement is very suspect. Also he's not a team player. His Davis Cup record is abysmal.

Sampras? He was a serve and volleyer; you already know his record in singles for major titles.

You can't win that many titles with his style of play and not have at least decent movement. I agree with J.Mac that Sampras's movement was always serially underrated.

And his Davis Cup record is abysmal? How about he's responsible for the last time the U.S. has won the Davis Cup in 1995? He beat Chesnokov and Kafelnikov in singles, and teamed up with T. Martin to win the doubles rubber.

 

[North]

I would like to see Martina/Mcenroe mixed doubles.

I saw Martina/McEnroe mixed doubles recently at a benefit. They beat Hingis/Courier. Even though the emphasis was, I think, to play "for fun", it looked like they all really wanted to win and within the 1st few points, the pace and level of playing stepped up a lot to where they were all really going for every point. Martina and Mac played with much more touch and placement and great court sense. Even when they didn't talk before a point, and during the points themselves, it looked like each knew exactly what the other was going to do - this definitely happens with regular doubles partners but I don't think they'd ever been doubles partners before. I was surprised that Hingis did not really play the kind of all-court game she does in singles - she seemed a little out of place in the doubles that night.

 

[andfor]

BTW, if McEnroe can come back at 47, what's the matter with Sampras and Rafter?

Because McEnroe has been playing lot of tennis since he retired but Sampras and Rafter has not been playing after they retired. But I'm sure they can also do that If they have played lot of tennis on the senior tour.

Rafter did play WTT this year, unless that does not count as playing tennis.

 

[simi]

I would like to see Martina/Mcenroe mixed doubles.

I would love to see this too, but I somehow doubt it will happen. Mac was pretty pissed when Graf withdrew during their Wimbledon run the other year. They could have won the tournament. At least Navratalova won't have singles as a distraction. By the way, Martina is not "in her 50s". She's close, but not quite there yet.

 

[araghava]

I would love to see this too, but I somehow doubt it will happen. Mac was pretty pissed when Graf withdrew during their Wimbledon run the other year. They could have won the tournament. At least Navratalova won't have singles as a distraction. By the way, Martina is not "in her 50s". She's close, but not quite there yet.

Actually i remember an interview with Martina where she said that she asked Mac to play mixed at wimbledon with her. He turned her down. She sounded pissed because he then went and played with Graf.

 

[pistolpeege]

Should'nt this thread read:

McEnroe invited to play in one ATP event in 2006?

Should'nt all the reports read like this?

Pistol

 

[BreakPoint]

Who else can we get to come out to play pro doubles? Name a few that you would like to see out there. What would be some ideal teams? What about Patrick Rafter? Who would be a good partner for him?

How about Patrick Rafter teamed up with Pete Sampras? I'm salivating just at the thought of it.