US Open: John and Patrick McEnroe - Deal and pocket
Two brothers who accompany a tennis match competently, relaxed and at the same time snappy? But, yes: John and Patrick McEnroe have been doing this for years.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Sep 03, 2022, 11:37 am
Two autobiographies on John McEnroe are on the market, You Cannot Be Serious from 2003 and But Seriously from 2017. All of the New Yorker's great successes are sufficiently illuminated, and there is little to say about the relationship between John, who has won seven Grand Slam titles in singles, and his less successful brother Patrick. The latter wrote exactly once on the ATP tour, it was in Sydney in 1995. After all, Patrick made it into the top 30 in the world and was accompanied on his way by Günter Bresnik as a coach, among others.
When it comes to media presence, however, the McEnroe brothers are on an equal footing. Patrick has his own podcast "Holding Court" (on the other hand: who doesn't have their own podcast?), and like John he is a commentator and expert at ESPN. Yes: The borders are fluid on the TV station broadcasting the US Open. It matches the classic commentator-expert split. But it also happens that Patrick and John McEnroe are accompanied by two people who both left their mark on one of the professional tours (like Alex Antonitsch and Markus Zoecke at Eurosport until a few years ago).
How it works? gorgeous.
McEnroe and McEnroe also take breaks
Good: If you watch the match between Carlos Alcaraz and Federico Coria with the McEnroe brothers on the microphone, you can't hope that the counting in the tie-break will be discussed again in exhaustive depth. Basic knowledge is required, whoever has decided to play tennis at ESPN gets the full load. Funny, laconic, sometimes bordering on arrogant - but who, if not Johnny Mac, can dare to throw spikes when a player shows little or no emotion in a volley?
Excessive patriotism is alien to John and Patrick (although the American men didn't really give them much reason either), good tennis is much more appreciated. Oh, what: tennis in general. The voices are now similar (or have they always been?), it never gets boring, also because the two take a worthwhile break. Especially when the ball is in play.
In addition, the older McEnroe also knows how to take it, for example from Rennae Stubbs, who also joined Serena Williams' team during this US Open as an advisor. During the morning moderation in the outdoor studio, this results in a rather animated verbal baseline duel, in case of doubt without a winner. The fact that John still occasionally makes donations to Eurosport shows how in demand the perspective of the now 63-year-old legend is.
When John and Patrick McEnroe have completed their duties in New York City, they will continue to London after a short break. Because there the world selection under the leadership of John will try to defeat the Europeans for the first time in the Laver Cup. Patrick will be on board as co-captain.
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