04/19/24
August 29, 2010
McEnroe: Women Should Play Fewer Tournaments: John McEnroe said women aren't cut out to play as many tournaments as they're being asked to play. "There should be less events for women," McEnroe said in a conference call before the U.S. Open, which starts Monday. "You need an actual meltdown on court or someone to quit the game altogether before they realize you need to change the schedule."
If we're using on-court meltdowns as a measuring stick, McEnroe's career should have been cut in half.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 08:55 AM on August 30, 2010
He has something of a point, although I don't think it's strictly a gender thing. The Grand Slam schedule is pretty brutal and goes on for a very long time. If it were up to me, I'd move the Australian Open up to early April and trim the US Open series way down. That way, you've got a longer period of real honest-to-god downtime, the Australian Open isn't played in the middle of summer, and hopefully you get to the US Open with a less decimated field.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:57 AM on August 30, 2010
I agree, lbb. Tennis players, both former and current, have spoken out against the current grind and most people seem to agree. In this case, I reckon it is singling out the females that is rustling feathers.
posted by jmd82 at 01:30 PM on August 30, 2010
Is he trying to pull a Bobby Riggs here? I wonder which current female player will need to kick his ass on the court.
Also, Bobby Riggs totally looks like Arte Johnson. Just throwing that out there.
posted by Joey Michaels at 05:25 PM on August 30, 2010
Or wear fewer clothes. I think sheer tennis clothes for women is exactly the image John has in mind.