JOHN McEnroe is on the mic to cover Wimbledon tennis, but not everyone is happy about it.
Washington Post columnist Sally Jenkins is among the most vocal against McEnroe’s commentary.
John McEnroe is being slammed for his Wimbledon commentary[/caption]
Columnist Sally Jenkins believes that its time for a new wave of broadcasters to take over[/caption]
A rising group of tennis announcers are starting to make a name for themselves this summer, but many of the seasoned announcers remain in the game.
Among those is McEnroe, who Jenkins has a particular bone to pick with.
In her words, McEnroe and his brother, Patrick, “have given the (Wimbledon) viewer about as much information as a couple of air compressors, complete with the irritating hissing.”
Jenkins cited multiple moments at major competitions where she outlined the McEnroes’ as disinterested and unprepared.
Among those moments was at the French Open, where John McEnroe’s studio cohosts were upset with him showing up late for the broadcast.
Another moment came when McEnroe called a Grigor Dimitrov serve the “biggest serve he ever hit” even though a faster one was hit in the same tournament.
In 2023, McEnroe was baffled that Chinese player Juncheng Shang went by Jerry, before being told they lived in Florida.
“When each retired, he knew the games and habits of his opponents and how to find all the angles against them,” Jenkins wrote.
“Those days are over.”
Jenkins believes that McEnroe’s disinterest in preparing for the new wave of talent in tennis has him lagging behind new announcers.
“There is a raft of truly talented voices out there who apply themselves and enhance the audiovisual medium with real insight,” she wrote.
For TNT’s first broadcast of the French Open, Brian Anderson and Andre Agassi were widely praised for their work.
Mike Monaco also got high arks from viewers at ESPN.
Meanwhile, the McEnroes get air time on ESPN, TNT, BBC, NBC, and the Tennis Channel.
Many fans have come to agree with Jenkins’ analysis of the McEnroes as well, and shared their thoughts on social media.
Fans have called out McEnroe for his lackluster commentary at Wimbledon[/caption]
“Going from John McEnroe’s commentary to Andre Agassi’s commentary is such a genuinely wonderful experience that everyone should experience,” one fan said.
“When is tennis media going to move on from John McEnroe… he’s one of the worst commentators out there,” another fan said.
“Giving John McEnroe a microphone was the worst thing Wimbledon have ever done,” a third fan said.
“I can’t stand John McEnroe ugh,” a fourth fan said.
“Wimbledon better never invite john mcenroe to commentate ever again I’m so serious,” a fifth fan said.
