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Friday, March 29, 2024

“Connors, Nastase and I like patients in a psychiatric hospital”

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John McEnroe, after quitting tennis, started working as a commentator and again he proved to be absolutely up to the situation. During an interview he gave to UOL Deporte, John explained: “It is much easier to be a commentator than to play, even if the rewards are much greater when you win Wimbledon or the US Open, but you also suffer from the pressure and stress that you put on yourself and the expectations that come from the ‘external and everything that happens.

We let ourselves be taken by the moment and when we realize: Why didn’t I enjoy it more?” At that moment I realize that I didn’t do well while playing, I never stopped to ask myself: am I a better person than I was a year ago? Having children helped me to be more patient, for example, because I didn’t have much patience when I was playing!” About what he learned: “I appreciate more the simple things in life, those that are more important than victory or defeat.

I am proud that people have improved their opinion of me. It was slow, gradual, I had my ups and downs, but I worked hard and paid off. The fact that so many people have been able to see that evolution, that experience, I think is fantastic.”

About the bad boys of that tennis era

On his period of rebellion: “I don’t look back, I don’t read things from the past, it would be funny to be called Super Brat now, at 63 year-old. But I also know that if I hadn’t won so many games, so many Grand Slams, so many tournaments in general, nothing I did would have mattered to them.

If I was number 200 in the world they would cancel me, so I take the positives. Many actions were my fault, I will not say that it was all the fault of others, I take my share of responsibility. Now I like to think I’ve learned from all this, to have used those lemons to make lemonade.”

About bad boys of all ages: “The boys are terrible now, even if you have to consider each case individually. Djokovic was an accident, just like Shapovalov, he was stupid. If you hit the ball with this frustration, you can only find problems.

Zverev lost his mind, I don’t know what went through his mind when he slammed his racket into the referee’s chair. In my day, Connors, Nastase and I were worse off, we looked like patients in a psychiatric hospital, they made the rules tougher for us.

This makes me happy, I’m not saying that those of now shouldn’t be punished, but I really think it’s better for players to show their emotions. We need more than this, but we need them to do it well.”

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