30 August 2023 , 08:00
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Tennis legend John McEnroe and Rafael Nadal became embroiled in a fierce row at last year's US Open after the Spaniard did not take too kindly to comments made by the American.
During the 2022 US Open, the 64-year-old claimed the 22-time Grand Slam champion received special treatment. He claimed he's given longer in between points than other players.
Nadal gave an angry response as he told reporters: "I think it's a joke. I went through a lot of warnings through my tennis career and never for breaking a racket or for doing a mess on court. But yes I have for the time clock.
"The problem for players like me who are sweating a lot, you know when you go to pick up the towel you will be in trouble with the time, so I'm not going very often. I am following the rules. If I am having more than 25 seconds I receive a warning every single time. If not, check the clock.
“I don't think I'm receiving different treatment at all. I don't understand why John can say that on the TV but I am going to have a chat with him later.”
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In response, McEnroe was furious with the reporter who he believed had taken what he said out of proportion. "Why did they throw me under the bus?” he said.
"We haven’t had that talk. But let me just add that he didn’t let me finish, whoever that dumb journalist was. Rafael Nadal is entitled to do whatever the hell he wants. That’s part of why you get as good as you are. You’ve got to deal with that - and it’s not up to him.
“We all know that he’s been doing this for the past 10 or 15 years. There’s nothing new to that. It’s not his call - it’s the umpire’s. By the way I think it’s BS anyway, that thing. No one pays attention to that. It should be automatic if you’re actually going to do it, right.
“When do they turn it on? When do they do it? Is it at the end of the point, is it when they get to the towel, is it when the crowd comes down? Now Nadal thinks I said that his legacy has been stained because he takes too much time. Jiminy Cricket.”
John McEnroe hit back at Nadal's comments and claimed they were blown out of proportion (Stephane Cardinale/Getty Images)Nadal made it to the US Open fourth round last year, where he was defeated by Francis Tiafoe in four sets. The tournament came as the Spaniard’s wife Xisca Perello was due to give birth to the couple’s first child.
Since then Nadal won just two matches and last played in January at the Australian Open. He had hip surgery in June to treat a problem with his left psoas muscle. The 37-year-old is expected to be out for several months and bids to return for the 2024 season, which may he be his last.
“I'm going to try to make my last year not just a party,” he said in a press conference. “I'm going to try to compete at the highest level, give myself the option to try to compete and win tournaments on this clay tour. The reality is that we'll have to wait for that.”