By: Ben Raby
WASHINGTON- About an hour before John McEnroe took the court for tonight's World Team Tennis event at Kastles Stadium, the seven-time grand slam champion rolled into a hotel ball room looking more like a little kid than a father of five.
McEnroe arrived wearing a tennis bag strapped on his back (picture a school bag), and an over-sized red baseball cap. He may as well have been walking to the school bus for the first day of kindergarten. But once McEnroe settled into the room to meet with reporters, he removed the baseball cap, revealing a head of thining and greying hair. The 49-year-old did in fact look the part after all, and he spoke like it too.
"The difficult part is bouncing back day after day," McEnroe said of playing competetive tennis 29 years after his first grand slam win. He even suggested his eighth season of World Team Tennis may be his last.
"I'm not going to say I'm absolutely not going to play any team tennis or any events," McEnroe said, "but I'm certainly going to take a good hard look and give myself an easier time and a better chance to have my body respond."
McEnroe confirmed that he is the second oldest player in the league behind only Martina Navratilova. "I think she's got 15 or 20 years on me," he said.
The former world number-one is in DC for the New York Sportimes (7-1) match against the Washington Kastles (4-3). McEnroe will play singles against the Kastles' Scott Oudsema. McEnroe's seventh and final grand slam singles title came nearly two years before Oudsema was even born. He will also team up with Brian Wilson in doubles action against Oudsema and Justin Gimelstob.
Like Serena Williams a week ago, McEnroe comes to Washington still thinking about Wimbledon. "It made for an incredible spectacle," McEnroe said of the Men's Final between Federer and Nadal. "I don't want to say I expect, but I would certainly hope that this will be a big boost for the men's game. The two guys were on the cover of Sports Illustrated and that says something."
WASHINGTON- About an hour before John McEnroe took the court for tonight's World Team Tennis event at Kastles Stadium, the seven-time grand slam champion rolled into a hotel ball room looking more like a little kid than a father of five.
McEnroe arrived wearing a tennis bag strapped on his back (picture a school bag), and an over-sized red baseball cap. He may as well have been walking to the school bus for the first day of kindergarten. But once McEnroe settled into the room to meet with reporters, he removed the baseball cap, revealing a head of thining and greying hair. The 49-year-old did in fact look the part after all, and he spoke like it too.
"The difficult part is bouncing back day after day," McEnroe said of playing competetive tennis 29 years after his first grand slam win. He even suggested his eighth season of World Team Tennis may be his last.
"I'm not going to say I'm absolutely not going to play any team tennis or any events," McEnroe said, "but I'm certainly going to take a good hard look and give myself an easier time and a better chance to have my body respond."
McEnroe confirmed that he is the second oldest player in the league behind only Martina Navratilova. "I think she's got 15 or 20 years on me," he said.
The former world number-one is in DC for the New York Sportimes (7-1) match against the Washington Kastles (4-3). McEnroe will play singles against the Kastles' Scott Oudsema. McEnroe's seventh and final grand slam singles title came nearly two years before Oudsema was even born. He will also team up with Brian Wilson in doubles action against Oudsema and Justin Gimelstob.
Like Serena Williams a week ago, McEnroe comes to Washington still thinking about Wimbledon. "It made for an incredible spectacle," McEnroe said of the Men's Final between Federer and Nadal. "I don't want to say I expect, but I would certainly hope that this will be a big boost for the men's game. The two guys were on the cover of Sports Illustrated and that says something."
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