"I was embarrassed to return to work after the tournament," a US Open staff member slams McEnroe after an inappropriate comment on American television
John McEnroe is a tennis legend with a strong personality. The American, a former world number one, is known for speaking his mind. Now 66 years old, McEnroe works as a commentator for American television.
During the US Open, he commentated on many matches for the ESPN channel, including the men's quarterfinal match between Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz.
However, during this match, McEnroe made some off-topic comments, and after an elderly woman, who was part of the US Open staff, was spotted on screen, the left-handed winner of seven Grand Slam tournaments couldn't resist making a few remarks about her.
He stood out with comments such as: "Thanks, grandma" or "She's in good shape for someone her age." After being identified, the woman in question, named Susan Perkins, responded to McEnroe's mockery in an exclusive interview with the media outlet Sportskeeda.
"I would like to tell John McEnroe that his comments felt condescending and hurtful rather than humorous. I was simply doing my job by delivering a restrung racket to a player.
His job is to comment on the players, not on other people working on the court. It's one thing to joke, but stereotyping someone based on their age is another.
I have worked at the US Open for years and have spent all that time supporting this sport with pride and professionalism, but these comments made me feel invisible and ridiculed. I love tennis and I give up my two weeks of vacation in August to work there.
I loved every minute of this experience until this year. After McEnroe's comments, I didn't even want to go on the court anymore, afraid that he might make other derogatory remarks about me.
I kept looking toward the ESPN booth. Moreover, I am a professional woman who works as a therapist during the year. I was embarrassed to return to work after the tournament, worried about what people would say after hearing what had been said about me on the court.
It greatly affected my ability to do my job, both on and off the court," she elaborated in recent hours, according to statements collected by Tennis Up To Date.
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