mcenroe on raducanu match

[Raul_SJ]

Youre right that Wimbledon has a lot to answer for, but pretty much all the big events do, along with many of the smaller events.

Not singling out Wimbledon. The wild card needs to be abolished in London, Paris, NYC and Melbourne.

In the end, the organisers were vindicated in the specific case of Raducanu because she took her wildcard and made a big run at the event. She played way better than her ranking suggested and played superb tennis up until the match against Tomljanovic.

That is more of a reflection on the state of the WTA. You can choose most any low-ranked player and they will have a decent chance of an upset. It does not legitimize the WC process.

She had never even faced a Top 100 player prior to Wimbledon so it is absurd that she qualifies for a tournament consisting almost exclusively of the world's Top 100 players.

A struggling #200 player should not be bypassed in favor of a #500 player that happens to hail from the right country. We believe that players must qualify based upon their merits -- on their ranking.

 

[Forehanderer]

John McEnroe slammed for comments over Emma Raducanu withdrawal | John McEnroe | The Guardian

is this just an article making something out of nothing? i didnt see the match only the article, and i dont
see where he said anything that could be deemed as offensive?? all he said was she couldnt handle the
situation i dont get it

What do you expect from today's woke culture. He may have misunderstood her condition but he was sympathizing with her. Since when did doctors begin to criticize a former tennis player on his poor take. Don't they have a better job to do - that is cure patients - especially at these crazy times. Or maybe he is free after all dancing on tik tok

 

[Subway Tennis]

Not singling out Wimbledon. The wild card needs to be abolished in London, Paris, NYC and Melbourne.



That is more of a reflection on the state of the WTA. A low-ranked player has a decent chance of going deep. It does not legitimize the WC process. A struggling #200 player should not be bypassed for a #500 player. We believe that players must be admitted based on their ranking merits.

To be honest, I love the wildcard system. Without it, we might never have had something like Ivanisevic's 2001 Wimbledon run.

In essence wildcards are a great chance for very talented young players to get accelerated into the system (particularly now with COVID rankings stunting them).

They are also a way for tournaments to squeeze the last moments of greatness out of fading superstar players who may have been unable to maintain their ranking through injury but still be capable of major winning levels of tennis.

But I agree with you that the system needs an overhaul. We don't want untalented domestic players clogging draws, or the US Open and Australian Open doing under the table wildcard agreements between federations. Or management / talent agencies getting creative with the WCs.

 

[Tshooter]

Not singling out Wimbledon. The wild card needs to be abolished in London, Paris, NYC and Melbourne.…A struggling #200 player should not be bypassed in favor of a #500 player that happens to hail from the right country. We believe that players must qualify based upon their merits -- on their ranking.

“We“ may believe it but that’s not how WCs work. And ”we” (i.e., you) made it clear in your earlier posts that you‘re a stickler for rules especially form at the expense of the spirit of the rule. However, I’m more concerned how you‘ll pass the diagnostic portion of your board recertification exams than I am about WCs.

 

[Tshooter]

To be honest, I love the wildcard system. Without it, we might never have had something like Ivanisevic's 2001 Wimbledon run.

In essence wildcards are a great chance for very talented young players to get accelerated into the system (particularly now with COVID rankings stunting them).

They are also a way for tournaments to squeeze the last moments of greatness out of fading superstar players who may have been unable to maintain their ranking through injury but still be capable of major winning levels of tennis.

But I agree with you that the system needs an overhaul. We don't want untalented domestic players clogging draws, or the US Open and Australian Open doing under the table wildcard agreements between federations. Or management / talent agencies getting creative with the WCs.

What if FEDR wants a WC in 10 years. Yes. If Sampras wanted a WC. Yes. If JMac.Yes. Etc…

It’s an entertainment product as Shapo, I think it was, just noted after his recent win.

I think it’s the USO/FO/AO (not sure if W is part) that have the deal; it isn’t under the table. They give out one reciprocal WC to each other. It’s not a secret.

USO used to do the open to anyone tourney for a qualies WC. That was pretty cool. I remember Bode Miller played one year. And Redfoo played. Dr. Raul wants to take the fun out of tennis. He’s all business.

 

[Subway Tennis]

What if FEDR wants a WC in 10 years. Yes. If Sampras wanted a WC. Yes. If JMac.Yes. Etc…

It’s an entertainment product as Shapo, I think it was, just noted after his recent win.

I think it’s the USO/FO/AO (not sure if W is part) that have the deal; it isn’t under the table. They give out one reciprocal WC to each other. It’s not a secret.

USO used to do the open to anyone tourney for a qualies WC. That was pretty cool. I remember Bode Miller played one year. And Redfoo played. Dr. Raul wants to take the fun out of tennis. He’s all business.

Fair point. I'm characterising the wildcard agreements between federations a bit unfairly.

Overall I think they're a very good thing.

And yes, the US Open qualifying tournament is great fun. I didn't actually know they got rid of it

 

[Raul_SJ]

We don't want untalented domestic players clogging draws,

So how does this work. Emma was born and raised in Canada. Presumably she has changed U.K. If she were not a U.K. citizen, Wimbledon would not have had an interest in her? The whole thing is silly. Wild Cards should not be used for low ranked domestic players when there are hundreds of international players ranked above them.

 

[ScottleeSV]

The organisers didn't do Raducanu any favours putting her on last and making her wait all day. When the Zverev match dragged on, it did occur to me that the delayed start would affect the youngster much worse than Tomjlanovic. Honestly, why not just put her on early in the afternoon and let her carry on playing under the radar? It's not like she was playing Barty or one of the top seeds. The British organisers never do their own any favours.

That said, I thought she still played really well. Tomjlanovic just barely seemed to miss a ball. It's not like Raducanu came out and had a horror show. She could have easily won the first set but for the width of a line.

The acid test will be how she gets on from here. Will she go from strength to strength and become a regular fixture in big tournaments, or will she struggle on the hard courts and disappear into ITF tournys for 2 or 3 years (occasionally popping up to win a match at Wimbledon). Time will tell.

 

[Tshooter]

Fair point. I'm characterising the wildcard agreements between federations a bit unfairly.

Overall I think they're a very good thing.

And yes, the US Open qualifying tournament is great fun. I didn't actually know they got rid of it

I overall think they are very good too but acknowledge some abuses. Requiring a WC for a family member as a condition to playing probably tips into extortion.

They didn’t get rid of qualies. And yes, qualies is great. Qualies are the next 100 or so world’s best so I don’t think Redfoo is ever getting in.

I was referring to — as I mentioned — the open to anyone tournament they had for a few years the winner of which received a wild card into the qualifying tournament. Dr. Raul was probably not a fan.

 

[Raul_SJ]

Without it, we might never have had something like Ivanisevic's 2001 Wimbledon run.

This has been addressed.

The only exceptions would be already established players who have been injured

So what exactly is the problem of basically restricting Wimbledon to the roughly Top 128 players in the world who are healthy and eligible to play.

Do people not want to see the very best.

Don't see where a #500 player (who has not even won a Qualifier and who has never faced a Top 100 player, let alone beaten a Top 100 player) fits into the picture.

 

[Latetothegame]

And there's no way those ladies would have played in the AO/FO/USO if they weren't Australian/French/American.

That's how wildcards have always worked. They are given to local talent whose ranking wouldn't have given them direct entry to the tournament

One of the reasons they give WC to young local talent, is to allow them the opertunity to earn first round prize money.

 

[Tshooter]

So how does this work. Emma was born and raised in Canada. Presumably she has changed U.K. If she were not a U.K. citizen, Wimbledon would not have had an interest in her? The whole thing is silly. Wild Cards should not be used for low ranked domestic players when there are hundreds of international players ranked above them.

Dr. Raul has become a globalist. What it tells us ?

The crowd was loving the Emma run so the WC concept and this specific WC was more than vindicated.

 

[Tshooter]

So how does this work. Emma was born and raised in Canada. Presumably she has changed U.K. If she were not a U.K. citizen, Wimbledon would not have had an interest in her? The whole thing is silly. Wild Cards should not be used for low ranked domestic players when there are hundreds of international players ranked above them.

Dr., pretend you‘re at the office and keep it fact based. She moved to England at age two. I’m relying on Wikipedia (citing The Times, July 5, 2021 article) but I think it was also mentioned by a commentator during a broadcast (and commentators would have something like that feed from a research person off-camera) but don’t shoot me on that one if I’m mistaken.

 

[Raul_SJ]

Dr. Raul has become a globalist. What it tells us ?

The crowd was loving the Emma run so the WC concept and this specific WC more than vindicated.

The crowd was loving the Kyrgios run too. Is Nick okay now? Does Ajla choose to question Nick like she questioned Jelena?

Maybe the Queen needs to rub Nick's tummy and make it all better.

 

[bertrevert]

Surely the WC is like a lottery ticket.

If GS were to mechanically only take the top 128, and for anyone dropout, then take 129 and 130 and so on, then any player outside that cutoff would forever know: no GS.

Whereas the WC system hold out a little taste of hope. I imagine a lot of players play on the fumes of hope. Hope through quallies, hope through WC, hope through LL, or hoping for withdrawals/injuries.

A lottery ticket into the main draw softens the Darwinian reality.

Players are people, people need hope.

 

[Subway Tennis]

This has been addressed.



So what exactly is the problem of basically restricting Wimbledon to the roughly Top 128 players in the world who are healthy and eligible to play.

Do people not want to see the very best.

Don't see where a #500 player (who has not even won a Qualifier and who has never faced a Top 100 player, let alone beaten a Top 100 player) fits into the picture.

I think you've come up with a very equitable solution allowing the tradition of the Wildcard to stay!

 

[Subway Tennis]

I overall think they are very good too but acknowledge some abuses. Requiring a WC for a family member as a condition to playing probably tips into extortion.

They didn’t get rid of qualies. And yes, qualies is great. Qualies are the next 100 or so world’s best so I don’t think Redfoo is ever getting in.

I was referring to — as I mentioned — the open to anyone tournament they had for a few years the winner of which received a wild card into the qualifying tournament. Dr. Raul was probably not a fan.

Agree. In regard to the open to anyone event, am I correct in remembering that Redfoo was actually quite good?

 

[Tshooter]

Agree. In regard to the open to anyone event, am I correct in remembering that Redfoo was actually quite good?

I think he was supposed to be a pretty decent player but he got killed in R1 of the sectional event. Not that sexy.

Redfoo loses in U.S. Open qualifying

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4YbvP_Rh1c Redfoo's U.S. Open singles dream is over. The 37-year-old former LMFAO party rocker lost his opening match at the

www.si.com

 

[sredna42]

Didn't Lleyton Hewitt get a kickstart to his career with a wildcard to adelaide?

 

[ibbi]

Yes, I'm sure there's wayyyyyyyyyyy more to it that the ignorant non-medical doctor former tennis player is totally oblivious too. How dare he.

 

[celito]

Dumb old man says dumb things. Hardly surprising given his past.

Is there a problem with being old ?

 

[Adv. Edberg]

And how the hell does Ajila know that Jelena is "lying" about her injury but that Emma has a legitimate injury?

Ajla's behaviour was disgraceful but it is about what you would expect from someone who was stupid enough to date Kyrgios.

Can't wait until Ashley Bartley destroys her in the next round!

Why? Alja was completely correct to call her out. We all know what really went on there.

 

[NicoMK]

I read the article and I see nothing wrong in what he said and how he said it, sorry. People love criticizing for anything since everything isn't said in the most mellow-is / diplomatic / gentle / (hypocritical) / neutral manner. That's the world we live in. Poor us.

 

[Raul_SJ]

Why? Alja was completely correct to call her out. We all know what really went on there.

Does Alja have some supernatural powers that enable her to divine that Jelena was faking and Emma was not? Yes, Emma eventually went into the locker room and retired but that is beside the point.

The point is the circumstances of the medical request were very similar. Both down 3-0 or whatever it was and about to lose the set and the match... And then a MTO out of the blue.

People say Jelena had no signs of injury leading up to MTO. There were also no signs that the healthy 18 year old had an injury. In all likelihood she was just nervous. Exactly as our favourite Mac said. Mac is a GOAT. He knows.

“I feel bad for Emma, obviously,” said McEnroe. “It appears it just got a little bit too much, as is understandable, particularly with what we’ve been talking about this over the last six weeks with Osaka not even here.​

​

“How much can players handle? It makes you look at the guys that have been around and the girls for so long – how well they can handle it. Hopefully she’ll learn from this experience.”​

​

McEnroe also suggested the late start had contributed to Raducanu’s situation. “I don’t think it helped that the previous match went as long as it did because it made her think about it more,” he added. “That’s a lot to take on, especially when you’ve never been there before.”​

 

[Adv. Edberg]

Does Alja have some supernatural powers that enable her to divine that Jelena was faking and Emma was not? Yes, Emma eventually went into the locker room and retired but that is beside the point.

The point is the circumstances of the medical request were very similar. Both down 3-0 or whatever it was and about to lose the set and the match... And then a MTO out of the blue.

People say Jelena had no signs of injury leading up to MTO. There were also no signs that the healthy 18 year old had an injury. In all likelihood she was just nervous. Exactly as our favourite Mac said. Mac is a GOAT. He knows.

“I feel bad for Emma, obviously,” said McEnroe. “It appears it just got a little bit too much, as is understandable, particularly with what we’ve been talking about this over the last six weeks with Osaka not even here.​

​

“How much can players handle? It makes you look at the guys that have been around and the girls for so long – how well they can handle it. Hopefully she’ll learn from this experience.”​

​

McEnroe also suggested the late start had contributed to Raducanu’s situation. “I don’t think it helped that the previous match went as long as it did because it made her think about it more,” he added. “That’s a lot to take on, especially when you’ve never been there before.”​

Ostapenko lost a few games in a row and was losing the match. Then at 0-4 without having asked for trainer, without waiting for the change over she just sits down and then goes over time with the MTO. It's cheating.

 

[NonP]

Came across an article about this brouhaha on my Android earlier. I can see why Mac's remark would rub some people the wrong way, but....

I remember Sampras hyperventilating as he got near the finish line at 93 Wimbledon. Said he was feeling the pressure afterwards. I guess we can’t acknowledge nerves can physically affect performance without upsetting someone

Yeah this was just somewhat infelicitous phrasing from Mac. The official reason for Emma's retirement was "breathing difficulties," which could well have been psychosomatic. Hardly unfair for a paid pundit with plenty of firsthand experience to point that out.

Anyhoo I was impressed with this kid's game, and though I'd prefer a little more variety a la Bianca's she's obviously got plenty of room for improvement. Throw in her marketable looks and the delirious support of the British public for good measure, and she's got a bright future ahead so long as she doesn't let success get to her head (which probably will be a nonissue as she seems like a well-grounded kid).

 

[Deleted member 771911]

It's a newspaper article designed to get people reading it.

 

[ttwreader]

As I posted in the Women's Wimbledon thread, I watched the match and Emma played very well until the 10th game when Tomljanovic lead 5-4 and Emma served. Emma got the issue after a long rally which she lost. She looked exhausted, hard to breathe... hard to handle the following points and lost the set as well as the first 3 games of the second set. Maybe she is too young and lack of match play, lack to fitness and endurance...

 

[Jokervich]

She was not injured. She said today that she's fine. Injuries don't heal that quickly.

It was difficulty breathing (as someone else said). A mixture of nerves + lack of stamina to keep up with her opponent.

 

[Gary Duane]

Dumb old man says dumb things. Hardly surprising given his past.

Age has nothing to do with it. Mac has had a big mouth his entire life. You are never too young or too old to start saying stupid things. His brother annoys me more. Every time I hear "HELLO!!" I wish someone would cut off his mike.

 

[big ted]

“I feel bad for Emma, obviously,” said McEnroe. “It appears it just got a little bit too much, as is understandable, particularly with what we’ve been talking about this over the last six weeks with Osaka not even here.

“How much can players handle? It makes you look at the guys that have been around and the girls for so long – how well they can handle it. Hopefully she’ll learn from this experience.”

i still dont get how this is offensive?

 

[Mustard]

I think she had a panic attack soon after losing the first set. It all suddenly got too much. I think the change of conditions didn't help with this neither, i.e. night and closed roof.

 

[Mustard]

“I feel bad for Emma, obviously,” said McEnroe. “It appears it just got a little bit too much, as is understandable, particularly with what we’ve been talking about this over the last six weeks with Osaka not even here.

“How much can players handle? It makes you look at the guys that have been around and the girls for so long – how well they can handle it. Hopefully she’ll learn from this experience.”

i still dont get how this is offensive?

It's controversial to some people because he is openly speaking of another person's weakness. The fact he's a 62-year-old man talking about an 18-year-old woman is another. This sort of straight talk used to be appreciated once, but now a lot of people take offence.

 

[Spencer Gore]

It's an article from The Guardian. It should be ignored. Papers like The Guardian and Daily Mail just print highly biased and slanted articles to try and generate clicks. They are trash.

 

[cha cha]

“I feel bad for Emma, obviously,” said McEnroe. “It appears it just got a little bit too much, as is understandable, particularly with what we’ve been talking about this over the last six weeks with Osaka not even here.

“How much can players handle? It makes you look at the guys that have been around and the girls for so long – how well they can handle it. Hopefully she’ll learn from this experience.”

i still dont get how this is offensive?

Since this is obviously your first time on social media, I will explain.
It was John McEnroe. He was irritating forty years ago and he talked down to Serena a couple of years back.
We are the internet. When John speaks, we get offended. That is why we exist.

 

[bjsnider]

The description of her medical issue only makes me accept McEnroe's conclusion more.

 

[HBK4life]

If it was a panic attack I feel for her. I had one while working out. It wasn’t fun. I thought I was finished.

 

[big ted]

It's controversial to some people because he is openly speaking of another person's weakness. The fact he's a 62-year-old man talking about an 18-year-old woman is another. This sort of straight talk used to be appreciated once, but now a lot of people take offence.

i think maybe ur right about that it was mcenroe. if the same words came out of the mouth of the right person they might even be praised for bringing this subject to light

 

[Lleytonstation]

JO is a very bad actor. I’m surprised she fooled you. I‘m sure your in-person diagnostic skills are significantly better.

Ajila should win the Laureus Sportsperson of the Year award for having the courage to call out the cheat. There is a lot of pressure just to play along.

How to handle it going forward. You can have the MTO and the hammer or you can get back on the court. You can't have both. End of MTO abuse.

Spoiler

But that would be mental abuse. Poor kids.

 

[supermullet]

This entire thread reeks of white knighting and political correctness.

 

[DRII]

Maybe they gave the wild card too soon. The blessing as well as the curse of the 4 GS countries who give wild cards to their rising tennis stars must be opened to players of other countries too.

What are you talking about?

She performed amazingly well to get to the quarters! Her game is also pretty to look at, classic counter puncher with a sweet backhand.

 

[pedro94]

It's controversial to some people because he is openly speaking of another person's weakness. The fact he's a 62-year-old man talking about an 18-year-old woman is another. This sort of straight talk used to be appreciated once, but now a lot of people take offence.

i think maybe ur right about that it was mcenroe. if the same words came out of the mouth of the right person they might even be praised for bringing this subject to light

Absolutely correct!
McEnroe was spot on with his opinion on Emma's retirement. And yes it was his opinion because he said quote: "I feel bad for Emma, obviously. It appears it just got a little bit too much".
There's absolutely nothing wrong with what he said but today's woke mob will stop at nothing. If it was a 62-year-old woman saying the exact same thing no one would be crying about it. This is how the world works these days sadly..

 

[Xavier G]

John McEnroe was basically correct in what he said, imo. Remember, he has experience himself of being an 18 year old qualifier and actually playing in the Wimbledon semi-finals in 1977, unlike everyone here or on social media who are criticizing him.

He was spot on in his observations. It did appear that the situation she was in affected Raducanu, like the moment got to her, but whether she had any kind of injury at all, I don't know. It looked to me like some sort of panic attack incident. People get them from time to time. She is young and not experienced in big match settings. I personally had never even heard of Emma before Wimbledon and the media frenzy surrounding her. That frenzy is something she'll have to get used, if she wins a Wimby match or two, lol! In fact, the sports media are partly to blame for what happened to her.They build them up to be knocked down, players are just products and commodities to the media.

Anyway, what do the BBC employ Mac for? To give color analysis on tennis matches. He's there to give his opinions, after actually having the experience of playing in Slams and being an ATG.

 

[Deleted member 783101]

 

[Vlad_C]

Maybe some of you guys live out there in the free world, and can't even understand what this "controversy" is all about.
As someone who lives in communist Canada, and is also constatly exposed to US insanity, let me try to show you how the crazies view this controversy, by attempting to translate this whole situation in "newspeak":

Johnny Mac is a cis straight white male and therefore he is automatically part of the oppression (of everyone else). He was obviously exercising his white privilege. His comments against this poor Asian womxn were insensitive, offensive, chauvinistic, and, no doubt, racist. Johnny Mac is a bad, bad man and needs to be cancelled immediately.

 

[HelenCH]

Maybe they gave the wild card too soon. The blessing as well as the curse of the 4 GS countries who give wild cards to their rising tennis stars must be opened to players of other countries too.

Why too soon if she clearly justified it by her performance? She lasted in the draw longer than Muguruza and Andreescu. If she got knocked out in the first round you could have a point. Wild cards given to domestic players is how many of them can make a breakthrough. I just don't understand how giving a wild card to Raducanu is "too soon" whereas giving it to a foreign player wouldn't be too soon.

 

[ttbrowne]

Turns out Johnny Mac was right. She even admitted it.
Some people can't handle the truth and truth was she panicked and froze up.

 

[tennis24x7]

Why too soon if she clearly justified it by her performance? She lasted in the draw longer than Muguruza and Andreescu. If she got knocked out in the first round you could have a point. Wild cards given to domestic players is how many of them can make a breakthrough. I just don't understand how giving a wild card to Raducanu is "too soon" whereas giving it to a foreign player wouldn't be too soon.

Yes but someone to have to lose the golden opportunity against Tomlajonic because of a panic attack? She is 18 maybe another British 18 year old could be given, people younger than her have gone on to semis and finals

 

[HelenCH]

Yes but someone to have to lose the golden opportunity against Tomlajonic because of a panic attack? She is 18 maybe another British 18 year old could be given, people younger than her have gone on to semis and finals

Maybe, maybe not. It happened to be her though, not another one. Any 18 year old can freeze if it's their first time playing at that level. Who has gone to the finals while being younger than her and also never having faced an opponent from the top 100 previously? Why are people talking like she let them down or stole someone's rightful place under the sun? That sure will help all the young tennis players who will one day play the big event for the first time...

 

[Tshooter]

…Wild Cards should not be used for low ranked domestic players when there are hundreds of international players ranked above them.

Raul’s deft eye for talent. Excellent keyboard call on Emma. Two months later she comes out of qualies and wins the USO w/o dropping a set in one of the most extraordinary USO runs ever.