Showing posts with label John McEnroe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John McEnroe. Show all posts

Wednesday, 5 July 2017

McEnroe Cannot be Serious


John McEnroe surprised BBC Wimbledon viewers when he compared Novak Djokovic with troubled golfer Tiger Woods.

Speaking about Djokovic's period of poor form, McEnroe compared the former Wimbledon champion with Woods, who in the past has had a high-profile divorce, been arrested, and suffered problems with prescription medication.

McEnroe claimed Djokovic "had some off-court issues with the family," adding: "That's going to throw you."

"If you're distracted you're not the same player," he said.

"When he [Woods] had the issues with his wife and then he seemed to go completely off the rails and has never been even close to being the same player.

"So we're starting to say: 'Wait a minute, is this possible with him [Djokovic]?'"

Former world number one Djokovic has suffered with his form in the last year - after completing a career Grand Slam last year, he started to lose matches and momentum.

He is married to Jelena, 31. They have a son together and she is expecting their second child. 

In 2009, Woods crashed his SUV into a tree and a fire hydrant outside his Florida home. Just months later he was divorced after reports of extra-martial affairs surfaced.

McEnroe added: "I think there's a big difference, one is the age, but two the health. I think this (Djokovic's form) isn't a physical thing, this is more a mental thing."

The commentator also sparked controversy recently when he said that 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams would be ranked around 700 if she competed in the men's game.




Tuesday, 5 January 2016

Where are they Now - Matt Doyle



Matt Doyle, was part of the Irish Davis Cup squad from 1982, the year he led them to the European Zone A Championships to when he finished 8 years after playing in 17 Davis Cup ties.

In Ireland' only appearance in the World Group in 1984, Doyle kept Irish hopes alive versus Italy in the first round by winning the fourth rubber over Claudio Panatta, in an away tie on clay. However Corrado Barazzutti was in top form and easily dispatched Sean Sorensen - father of Louk - in the deciding fifth match, 0-6, 3-6, 3-6. – after Doyle had also lost to Barazzutti in straight sets in the opening rubber. 

The loss though set up a memorable tie versus the United States with the winner to remain in the World Group for the following year. 

In a match played at RDS Arena to accommodate the 6,000 spectators as the match featured World No. 1 John McEnroe.

As expected McEnroe dominated his two singles matches, as well as the doubles rubber with Peter Fleming, in straight sets. Doyle stayed close in the first set versus McEnroe losing 7-9 in the end, before going down in the second and third sets 3-6 and 3-6. Doyle did get the only consolation win, levelling the tie at one apiece in defeating Eliot Teltscher in the second rubber, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. 

Doyle had a career singles Davis Cup match win-loss record of 19 and 10 and a doubles record of 8 and 7.  He formed a very successful partnership with Sean Sorensen

Regarded as very intelligent, Doyle earned an economics degree at Yale and admitted during his playing days that one of the biggest sacrifices of being a tennis pro was having to give up his
daily perusal of the Wall Street Journal. 

Having started playing tennis at age five, Doyle reached the No. 1 ranking in California's 14-and-under age group and when he grew tired of tennis, Matt took up basketball. But a Yale, he
discovered his lack of jumping ability would curtail his progress, so it
was time for a new sport - golf. 

He played No. 1 for the Yale golf team, but personnel changes in the programme caused him to return to tennis. 

Late in his career knee operations hampered Matt's mobility and he retired, but remained active in the sport: for a number of years afterwards serving as ATP president from August, 1985 to August, 1987. 

Despite playing for the Irish Davis Cup team as early as 1981, Doyle did not become a naturalised Irish citizen until 1985 and is judged officially to have represented the U.S. on the tour, especially when he reached the last 16 at the US Open at Flushing Meadow in 1982 - where he lost to John McEnroe 3-6, 4-6, 4-6 

Doyle was the manager of Mats Wilander when the Swede reached his peak in 1988. 


After his retirement he set up a coaching school at the K Club and worked as a commentator  for RTE when they covered Wimbledon. In 2006 he was also involved in the broadcast  of the Ryder Cup from Straffan.


These days he lives in Kildare and plays golf regularly at the K Club

Fact file
DOB: January 13th, 958) 
Birthplace: Redwood City, CA 
Height:6'4" (193 cm) 
Weight:190 lbs (86 kg) 
Plays: Right-handed 

Honours
SINGLES CAREER TITLES (1): 
1983 (1) Cologne (Indoor/Carpet) 

DOUBLES CAREER FINALIST (1): 
1982 (1) Metz (w/Siegler, Indoor/Hard) 



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Tuesday, 17 July 2012