McEnroe loses Rios grudge match

[sypl]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6162937.stm

McEnroe loses Rios grudge match

John McEnroe failed to overcome a 17-year age gap as he lost to Marcelo Rios in the quarter-finals of the Masters at the Royal Albert Hall.

McEnroe, 47, had suggested Rios was too young to even play in the event before the 30-year-old beat him 6-3 6-2.

The American veteran said afterwards: "He says he can't play on the tour but I didn't see too much evidence of that.

"Marcelo's a great player. I wasn't playing bad and had some chances but it was a tough draw to play Marcelo."

With a tough schedule of three matches in less than 48 hours, McEnroe also admitted his playing days could be numbered.

"At this stage the door unlocking its way to further pastures beyond tennis is getting a little bit wider," he added.

Before the match, McEnroe questioned playing Rios, accusing the tour organisers of "*******ising the whole thing" by scrapping the original age limit of 35.

But Rios, two years younger than Britain's Tim Henman who still plays on the main ATP tour, insisted: "I would love to come back but my body refuses to play the whole year.

"That's the reason I'm not playing but I'd still love to come to places like this and play guys like John McEnroe and Goran Ivanisevic."

 

[heycal]

Why in the world would they label this a "grudge match"? If anything, it's the opposite of one.

 

[arnz]

I wonder in what other sports could you call 30 years old a "senior tour?:

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

yea? its all media hype.

If they were to play 10 matches, Rios wins 10 easily, everytime.

 

[dman72]

Age limit should be 37 at the least for a "senior" tour.

 

[Jack the Hack]

I wonder in what other sports could you call 30 years old a "senior tour?:

No kidding.

The old age limit for this tour used to be 35, and that seems reasonable.

Irregardless, McEnroe's b!tching about Rios' age seems like sour grapes considering that Mac himself came back to the regular tour and played some doubles events this year (winning in San Jose no less).

 

[Grimjack]

No doubt Rios completely outclasses Mac, as he should, since he's still in his athletic prime, while Mac is well past his. And I agree completely with whoever said labelling this a "grudge match" is abusrd, since Mac can't ever really hope to compete with a 30-yr-old, recent world #1.

What I don't get is why Rios doesn't show appropriate shame for even being in these events, much less winning them. The guy seriously must have no pride at all. I mean, I get that it's not his fault that the organizers have set the bar so low in terms of entry requirements. But you'd think most players would be too ashamed to say, "hey, good deal, count me in," at 30.

Must be a cultural thing.

 

[Mick]

a 6-3, 6-2 is not too bad of a loss though, considering the age difference. That is, unless Rios didn't play to the best of his ability and gave McEnroe some games.

 

[austro]

Didn't look like Rios had to try all that hard...

Agree that the age limit should be higher. All they require is that a player have not played on the tour during the last two years.

But isn't there another tour for the over 45s?

 

[sypl]

Now if they just gave Rios some wildcards to big tournaments maybe he wouldn't take part in these old mens' events anymore!

 

[superman1]

McEnroe's still pretty damn good (he could waste anyone on this board) so I'm sure Rios played at 100%. They are always playing to their full capability in the senior's tour. Mac played an extremely close match against Ivanisevic recently.

 

[Rabbit]

30 years old and on the Seniors tour? I think Bob Dylan put it best when he said "Money doesn't talk, money screams."

 

[Jet Rink]

No doubt Rios completely outclasses Mac, as he should, since he's still in his athletic prime, while Mac is well past his. And I agree completely with whoever said labelling this a "grudge match" is abusrd, since Mac can't ever really hope to compete with a 30-yr-old, recent world #1.

What I don't get is why Rios doesn't show appropriate shame for even being in these events, much less winning them. The guy seriously must have no pride at all. I mean, I get that it's not his fault that the organizers have set the bar so low in terms of entry requirements. But you'd think most players would be too ashamed to say, "hey, good deal, count me in," at 30.

Must be a cultural thing.

THIS - is the post of the day. Well said, Grimjack. You are a voice of reason.

Jet

 

[peluzon]

Must be a cultural thing.

what are you thinking when you talk about cultural thing ??

 

[18x20]

I guess we'll have to get Andre in one of the 'Old Man' tournaments to dispatch Rios. I'm sure Steffi will keep her man in tennis-playing shape.

 

[austro]

If you look at the record of the seniors tour and the pre-match interviews, it becomes quickly apparent why they called this a grudge match...

 

[AJK1]

Lets see how Rios plays at 47

 

[slice bh compliment]

...Must be a cultural thing.

You are kidding, right?