Wimbledon officials deny John McEnroe's request for Centre Court appearance

14 July 2023 , 21:03

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During a light-hearted moment, tennis legends John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg engaged in playful banter about participating in a TV stunt that involved practicing on Wimbledon's esteemed Centre Court. The clever exchange between the two icons showcased their evident rapport and enjoyment of one another after their previous rivalries.

Renowned for their multiple face-offs in the 1970s and 1980s, including the 1980 and 1981 Wimbledon finals, Borg, 67, secured five consecutive championship trophies, while McEnroe, 64, claimed the title three times.

Despite their past rivalry, the two tennis greats have since developed a strong friendship while serving as team captains at the Laver Cup. Unfortunately, the All England Club declined a request for a ceremonial hit on the esteemed 15,000-seater court at the SW19 grounds, according to McEnroe.

Due to recent grass reseeding, it was deemed unsuitable to recreate the 1980 final with retired players. Consequently, the duo decided to simulate smashing a racket and made their way to Court 6 in an effort to play off being told no.

The acknowledgment occurred during the men's semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner on ESPN's series "McEnroe's Places." Broadcaster Chris Fowler expressed anticipation for the latest episode.

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Although both participants are considered some of the sport's greatest figures, it would have been highly unusual for an exhibition event to occur during the 14-day Championships.

Fowler said, "I look forward to this, the latest episode from the McEnroe's Places series on ESPN Plus. Mr. Borg, reminiscing."

Wimbledon officials deny John McEnroe's request for Centre Court appearance

Bjorn Borg, Captain of Team Europe and John McEnroe, Captain of Team World

McEnroe answered, "We did it here. That was a lot of fun."

Fowler questioned, "Right here on Centre Court?"

McEnroe explained, "No, no, no. No practice on Centre Court."

Fowler asked, "You made the request?"

McEnroe answered, "Of course, we made the request. ‘How about Court 6’, they said. Not quite the same, but beggars can't be choosers.”

Tournament organizers believed that additional play outside matches could further damage the grass surface leading up to the finals weekend. Wimbledon's strict guidelines highlight rules implemented for all to follow, regardless of their legendary status within the sport of the competition.

The baseline area of the grass court already exhibited signs of wear, appearing bare and patchy. This condition can be attributed to the modern game's longer matches compared to 15-20 years ago when the serve-and-volley tactic was prevalent. The increased duration of matches puts additional strain on the grass surface, leading to noticeable degradation.

In a shift from tradition, Wimbledon introduced a new policy in 2022 that allowed top tennis players to practice on Centre Court on the day preceding the tournament. However, Novak Djokovic, a prominent player aged 36, voiced his discontentment with this alteration, stating, "Even though it was nice for us to get a chance in the last couple of years to practice on Centre Court before the tournament starts, I have to say I'm not a fan of that."