McEnroe back on the court in Newport after default
2:20 PM Fri, Aug 15, 2008 | Permalink
Email
 |
 |
Projo 7 to 7 News BlogTaking the news pulse of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, by Providence Journal and projo.com staff, from 7 to 7, every business day |
|
Get the 7 to 7 on your mobile at www.projo.com. Twitter: projo | RSS | Email alerts
« 'Flotilla' will protest LNG in Mt. Hope Bay, lawmaker says |
Main
| FBI uses fingerprints to identify mystery man »
NEWPORT -- Tennis legend John McEnroe is playing against Karel Novacek this afternoon, one day after news reports that he'd been tossed from his opening Hall of Fame Champions Cup match for "audible obscenities," gesturing obscenely to the crowd and arguing with a chair umpire. Because the cup is a round-robin competition, rather than a single-elimination one, McEnroe can continue to play his scheduled matches. He was not eliminated from the cup after defaulting in yesterday's match, according to Kat Anderson, director of communications at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, where the cup is being held. McEnroe, infamous for his hot temper, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999. He is scheduled tomorrow to play Pat Cash. On Sunday, starting at noon, there is a third-place match followed by the championship match. Yesterday, the Associated Press reported, McEnroe won 6-3 to open the competition, against MaliVai Washington. The seven-time Grand Slam champion was trailing 4-2 in the second set when the problems started. While arguing a line call, McEnroe was given a code violation warning for uttering an obscenity. When he kept up his tirade against chair umpire Ray Brodeur, he drew two abuse of official penalties. As the argument progressed, fans at the International Hall of Fame court started yelling at McEnroe, telling him to resume play. McEnroe responded with his obscene gesture and was thrown out. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney and the Associated Press "I guess 1992 in New Haven was the last time I played John. Has anything changed? I guess he has one of those explosive personalities, you could say," Washington said. "There are a lot of things I can deal with -- disputed line calls, stoppage in play. I have an issue when my opponent starts berating people, fans and umpires. I said something to the official. As players, we are in control of the match. Officials are in charge of the integrity of the game." Biography information about McEnroe on the Tennis Hall of Fame Web site says he "stands as perhaps the most skilled -- and controversial -- of all players. Brilliant in doubles and singles, he was distinguished by shotmaking artistry, competitive fire and a volatile temper." McEnroe, who became a professional tennis player in 1977, won four U.S. Open and three Wimbledon singles. 
|
Tags 
New comments
New photos
New posts
Projo blogs
Archives
Leave a comment
Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.