McEnroe Says ATP Needs to Utilize Former Greats to Liven the GamePosted on May 7, 2004  Former world No. 1 John McEnroe, participating in a Senior Tour event this week in Rome, says the ATP is dropping the ball by not utilizing former greats who are still active and can still pull in crowds on the regular tour."I don't see the sport of tennis using their older players in the way that golf does, for example," said the 45-year-old three-time Wimbledon champion. "Arnold Palmer is 75 years old, or something like that, and he is still welcomed with open arms. You know, it's still 'Arnie is the greatest'. It's a tradition people like. And yet, if, God forbid, I went up there and said I'd like a wildcard at Wimbledon, the ATP would be up in arms because I'd be taking the spotlight away from the number 115th guy in the world who could still get in by qualifying." McEnroe stressed that not all senior players could compete at the regular tour level. "Now admittedly there is a physical difference and most (older) players wouldn't do it unless they honestly believed they could do it," McEnroe said. "They (the ATP) have these outlets available and they should use them. I think that tennis should think a lot more seriously about it...I wasn't necessarily referring to myself (about wanting a wildcard), although I still think I can play." |
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