Starting in June, John McEnroe adds Wimbledon to his ESPN portfolio. Since 2009, he’s been working the U.S. Open for ESPN2. Now, he will work the Great Fortnight at SW19 for the Alleged Worldwide Leader. That completes the broadcasting Grand Slam for Johnny Mac this year as he worked the Australian Open for Fox Sports in Australia, he’ll do the French Open for Tennis Channel and NBC, Wimbledon for ESPN2 (not sure if he’ll continue with the BBC) and the U.S. Open for ESPN2 and CBS.
Under the new agreement with ESPN, he’ll continue to do analysis on the U.S. Open for the network.
Here’s the John McEnroe announcement.
John McEnroe Adds Wimbledon to His ESPN Repertoire
Multi-Year Deal includes Continuing to Work US Open
John McEnroe, whose Hall of Fame career was launched by reaching the Wimbledon semifinals in 1977 as an 18-year old amateur and who later played one of the sports’ iconic matches on the famed Centre Court, will add Wimbledon to his ESPN duties starting this summer. The seven-time Grand Slam title winner has worked the US Open for ESPN since 2009 and will continue to do so under the terms of this multi-year agreement.
McEnroe won 77 singles titles in his legendary career, highlighted by four US Open titles and three at Wimbledon. He also won 10 more major championships in doubles or mixed doubles. Although a loss, his five-set duel with Bjorn Borg in the 1980 Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Final – highlighted by McEnroe surviving an 18-16 fourth set tiebreak – is one of the most memorable events in tennis history. An avid Davis Cup participant, he led the U.S. to five championships. He also won the NCAA title while attending Stanford.
Well-known for his brash on-court behavior, McEnroe has earned a reputation for insightful and outspoken commentary on television. The frequent pairing with his brother Patrick on ESPN’s US Open telecasts has created a unique, lively and perceptive duo.
“We are thrilled to expand John’s role with ESPN to include the site of some of his greatest accomplishments, the grass courts of Wimbledon,” said John Wildhack, ESPN executive vice president, production. “His rare combination of insight, candor and personality behind the microphone mirrors the multi-talented player he was on the court.”
John McEnroe said, “I have enjoyed working the past three years with my ESPN teammates at the US Open and I am looking forward to expanding my role at Wimbledon, beginning with the new expanded schedule we have this year. Like ESPN, I am committed to working hard and giving my best to help our sport grow in the U.S. and around the world.”
Did You Know?
- John played in ESPN’s first tennis telecast, just one week after the network debuted 32+ years ago on September 7, 1979. It was a Davis Cup tie against Argentina in Memphis on September 14. ESPN’s Cliff Drysdale was on the call.
- John played in two memorable Davis Cup marathons on ESPN – the decisive quarterfinal victory over Sweden’s Mats Wilander in 1982 in St. Louis and a loss to Germany’s Boris Becker in 1987 in Hartford, Conn. Each match lasted over six hours.
- John’s younger brother Patrick has worked for ESPN since 1995. John defeated Patrick in the finals for his 77th and last singles title (Chicago, 1991, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4).
That will do it.
