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

[BreakPoint]

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

I guess it doesn't count. If you read the articles about McEnroe and Hingis coming back to the pro tours, neither mention that they've been playing WTT. The newspaper article I read about Hingis' comeback mentioned that she hadn't played tennis for 4 years and that she only played one match early this year in February in Thailand. I guess the press doesn't consider WTT real tennis.

 

[BreakPoint]

Should'nt this thread read:

McEnroe invited to play in one ATP event in 2006?

Should'nt all the reports read like this?

Pistol

No, because the title of the linked SAP Open article is "John McEnroe Returns to ATP Circuit"

Also, in the other linked BBC article, McEnroe said he didn't rule out playing in the Grand Slams.

 

[tykrum]

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.

Yeah he could be top 100 if he only needed to play one match a week to get there. I've seen him kick the crap out of Mardy Fish two years ago when Mardy was hovering in the top 20 area. But his body wouldn't be able to hold up an enitre season to get any type of consistent high level results I think.

 

[pound cat]

Besides playing in ATP again, I think what MacEnroe would like most would be if Stanford (he can't stop talking about it even though he spent only a year there and it's unclear whether he passed or just played tennis) were to give him an honourary degree ....TD maybe (doctor of tennis) LOL

 

[andfor]

I guess it doesn't count. If you read the articles about McEnroe and Hingis coming back to the pro tours, neither mention that they've been playing WTT. The newspaper article I read about Hingis' comeback mentioned that she hadn't played tennis for 4 years and that she only played one match early this year in February in Thailand. I guess the press doesn't consider WTT real tennis.

Shows the knowledge of those who right these stories.

 

[Lleytonmania]

Hi again guyz, wasn't here for a long time......Johnny Mac wants to return????? My god, this is crazy. I think it isn't a good idea...how old is he now?

 

[GrassCourtFan]

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.

I don't think he'd be top 100 singles - you'd need pretty good endurance to even get that high. And he'd have to be able to recover after matches quickly.

Talent and skill alone can't get him even into the top 100, don't think...

In doubles, he can be top 100, maybe even top 50. I don't see him being TMC quality though - again, speed, recovery, endurance not quite that of the younger players.

But hey, if Navratilova can......

 

[dmastous]

Hi again guyz, wasn't here for a long time......Johnny Mac wants to return????? My god, this is crazy. I think it isn't a good idea...how old is he now?

I think he's 47 yrs old.

 

[HenmanFan]

McEnroe's return to ATP doubles will spawn his return to ATP singles and ultimately. . . .DUN DUN DAHHH------The French Open singles title he never won!!! Watch out Rafa, watch out.

Just kidding, by the way, just kidding. I do think doubles will be broadcast much more if McEnroe plays on a consistent basis. I know I'd watch a lot more doubles if I could see Big Mac play against the Bryan Bros.

 

[Deuce]

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?

John McEnroe has always had a huge ego, and has always both loved and sought out the spotlight.

Ergo, that he is doing this primarily to keep his name in the headlines is extremely plausible.

He was a great tennis player. Presently, he is a media wh*re who loves nothing more than a TV camera. Commentating on matches wasn't enough for him - so he went and got his own 'game show' ('The Chair'). That, naturally, didn't last long. Needing even more attention and spotlight, he went and got himself a 'talk show'. Naturally, that didn't last very long, either. His desperate need to be in the spotlight was becoming comical. This doubles thing is just another in the long line of things he does to gain attention and satisfy his massive ego.

Connors' ego matches that of McEnroe, but at least Connors was able to pull himself out of the spotlight. There were several years where Connors lived in relative anonymity; where we heard nothing at all about Connors. McEnroe, I'm afraid, will never be able to accomplish this.

When McEnroe was in his prime as a player, he would relentlessly criticize the phoniness and pretense of all things superficial and 'Hollywood' - and now, he has become the very epitome of that which he always claimed to despise.

 

[andfor]

John McEnroe has always had a huge ego, and has always both loved and sought out the spotlight.

Ergo, that he is doing this primarily to keep his name in the headlines is extremely plausible.

He was a great tennis player. Presently, he is a media wh*re who loves nothing more than a TV camera. Commentating on matches wasn't enough for him - so he went and got his own 'game show' ('The Chair'). That, naturally, didn't last long. Needing even more attention and spotlight, he went and got himself a 'talk show'. Naturally, that didn't last very long, either. His desperate need to be in the spotlight was becoming comical. This doubles thing is just another in the long line of things he does to gain attention and satisfy his massive ego.

Connors' ego matches that of McEnroe, but at least Connors was able to pull himself out of the spotlight. There were several years where Connors lived in relative anonymity; where we heard nothing at all about Connors. McEnroe, I'm afraid, will never be able to accomplish this.

When McEnroe was in his prime as a player, he would relentlessly criticize the phoniness and pretense of all things superficial and 'Hollywood' - and now, he has become the very epitome of that which he always claimed to despise.

Will anyone be suprised if McEnroe and Bjorkman win a few matches? I would be suprised if they lost first round. If they draw Bryan/Bryan well................

Of course McEnroe and Connors have huge egos. They were world number 1's for a long period of time each. Anyone who reaches that pinnacle has to have enormous self-confidence or ego. Call it what you will. Ego is not necessarily a bad word.

You seem to praise Connors for pulling himself out of public view versus McEnroe. Why? If you don't like McEnroe, OK. If you ask me Connors left the senior tour for a number of reasons. Like it folded in the states, injury and his diminished ability to win at the senior level to name a few. Along with that Connors has never shown an interest in broadcasting so when he leaves tennis he leaves the public eye. IMO. Plus his wife Patty..............enough said.

Sure both Connors and McEnroe are self promoters. I don't and don't see why anyone would have a problem with that. They don't exactly work for a company. The bottom line for me is both of these tennis greats bring gigantic interest (liked or not) to the game of tennis and have promoted it as well. Even if the promotional balance is lopsided in their behalf it's still a bottom line benefit to the overall game of tennis. I tune in to see them play and am sure many others do also. Overall that's a good thing. How could Connors or McEnroe not be good for tennis? I know, if they left the game altogether, that would not be good.

On a side note our city and the club I belong to is bringing a Samford Financial Seniors event to our city in 06. I can't wait and am in line for tickets.

 

[Yours!05]

Woodforde's opinion on McEnroe doubles plan

A Superbrat comeback? Woody's view
Nick Place at the Crikey sports desk writes:


John McEnroe has announced he's planning a doubles comeback in February, partnering highly-rated Swede Jonas Bjorkman in the San Jose Open. Some critics think he's just going through the motions, letting himself be a walking promo for a new scoring system on the doubles circuit, but Crikey asked one of Australia's doubles legends – and McEnroe's former doubles partner – Mark Woodforde, what he thought of the 46-year-old New Yorker's chances on the circuit. Woody had this to say:

I have different views on Mac playing the doubles in San Jose. It's a decent event to play because it doesn't always contain the top line doubles pairings in the field – a plus for him & JB (Bjorkman). It's also indoors – another big plus.

He's paired with one of the best around in doubles at the moment. JB owns a lethal return of serve which sets up Mac to do what he does best around the net – another plus.

Most of the guys he'll come up against have never hit with him, let alone played against him and so his aura will be overwhelming, most of the guys will probably sh*t themselves – that's a plus.

Mac says it's to draw attention to the doubles game – another big plus. Yet what if he & JB do well? Mac will expect to win the tournament and so it creates a media blitz, but what does it say for the depth of men's doubles then, if he does win?

A mid-40 year old, long time retired, no doubt the greatest doubles player in his time, returns to the professional ranks and beats guys/teams who play week in & week out. Is that good publicity for doubles or does it simply highlight the depth of doubles regressing further?

​

In his heyday, McEnroe won five single titles and eight doubles crowns at San Jose. Will he add to it? Or more importantly, will he and Martina Navratilova form the next all-conquering mixed doubles team?

 

[joe sch]

Rich Leach is still playing and one of the best doubles playes. Mac is not too much older than Rick and I believe he is still the best player in doubles, maybe the best ever !

 

[Fee]

Rick retired after the US Open last year. Last I heard he was home with his family, not answering the phone (kidding about the last part).

 

[snowpuppy]

whether mac is seeking attention or not, he is argueably one of the best double player ever. Nothing wrong with him testing out the waters when Martina Nav. has been doing it for awhile now.

 

[joe sch]

Rick retired after the US Open last year. Last I heard he was home with his family, not answering the phone (kidding about the last part).

Rick has been playing this year and has yet to really retire ...
Back to the Mac thread, I think this is a great move !
Maybe this is Johnny Mac's attempt to help save doubles ?
He bad mouthed doubles most recently and was not a supporter, but Im thinking he is having second thoughts plus he knows that he could still contend for some more dub slams. If Steffi did not pull on on him before beating Serena and retiring, I think they may have each had another dubs slam. Maybe he can ask Andre if he can play with Steffi Now that would be exciting, two old farts showing the new schoolers how dubs should be played ! (Martina Nav. has been doing this for decades)

 

[sureshs]

it should be interesting to see if mac blows up.

If he does, he should be punished exactly the way the younger players today are. He should not be allowed to get away with that kind of behavior today. The umpire must also prevent him from trying to intimidate linespersons. One warning, and the second time he should be penalized a point, then a game, then disqualified.

 

[NoBadMojo]

perhaps the doubles tour is adopting hawkeye or shotspot or whichever technology they have decided upon. that would pretty much elimnate mac's linecalling tirades, but i'm sure he would find other things to be a jerk about. but i can see him, in his arrogance, disputing the shotspot as well.
I remember when cyclops was used early on and was pretty flawed for a while (insects would set it off and such), that players would argue that it wasnt working right, and they were sometimes right..but sometimes not and players like Mac just used it as a chance to argue and to create gamesmanship and psychologcal advantages. obviously things are more refined now technologywise.
I do remember something funny Nastase did when he actually approached the cyclops device and had a this long conversation w. the machine (one sided of course)

 

[Fee]

Rick has been playing this year and has yet to really retire ...

I should clarify that. Rick retired after the 2005 USOpen (since I consider the 2005 season over I wrote 'last year' by mistake). He has not played since his last match there (mixed doubles I believe).


There isn't a 'doubles tour' yet, so they can't use shotspot for their matches unless the ATP is using it for all matches. JMac will have the same linespeople and chair umpires as everyone else playing in San Jose.

 

[NoBadMojo]

i think using shotspot or equivalent for doubles would be the next step to using it on the regular singles Tour..but then again, that would require more/different electronics perhaps, so not such a good idea....just thinking out loud here..and do i presume the use of shotspot eliminates cyclops alltogether?

 

[Fee]

Gotcha. I'm not sure if cyclops would be eliminated. Perhaps it would be kept as a backup?

 

[The Pusher Terminator]

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?

Hey Sampras retired beating Agassi and win the US open. He could and can still play...he simply chooses not to play. There is a difference.