Wimbledon
Three-time Wimbledon champion and BBC commentator John McEnroe gives his view on this year’s players
The strawberries are picked, the cream is chilling and the Pimm’s is about to be poured, as the world’s top tennis stars arrive at Wimbledon for the start of the famous SW19 tournament. It’s hard to see past Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal for the men’s singles, but can British hope Kyle Edmund threaten them? As for the women’s singles, new mum Serena Williams could be back and last year’s champion Garbiñe Muguruza will be determined to retain her title. Can Britain’s Johanna
Konta do better than expected?
Q How does it feel to be back at Wimbledon? A There’s always a bit of a knot in the stomach when I’m commentating. I want people to understand what’s happening on the court, and be entertaining too. But I feel people are on my side and I want the tennis ultimately to speak for itself. Q Is it fun working with Tim Henman and Sue Barker? A What Sue does is a lot tougher than what I do. I respect that she’s been able to forge such a great career for herself, not just as a tennis player but also as a presenter. Tim has that wry sense of humour, and everyone brings out the best in each other. Q Andy Murray is hoping to play after a year out with a hip injury. Could he win? A It would be extremely unlikely. To take such a long time off for something as difficult as a hip issue, and then step up and win a tournament… You can practise as much as you want, but I don’t know how you can do that. Stranger things have happened – Roger Federer won after six months out. [At the time of going to press, Andy Murray hadn’t confirmed his return to Wimbledon.] Q What about British rising star Kyle Edmund? A Edmund is a potential Top 10 player. I don’t look at him in the way I looked at Murray, who I always thought was going to win majors. But he’s made some very nice progress and he should be proud of himself. However, he’ll have to improve to make it over the finish line. Q Does Johanna Konta stand a chance? A She doesn’t seem to be playing confidently. She seems to have lost her belief and without believing in yourself there’s no way you can do well. She needs to get some more wins under her belt and remind herself she was in the semis last year! Q Who would you put your money on this year? A Reigning champion Roger Federer – he’s positioned himself beautifully and proved he can still do it. Rafael Nadal is also very hungry. He’s not as comfortable on grass as on clay, but you can’t count him out because he has been in five Wimbledon finals! And I’ll be surprised if Serena Williams doesn’t win another grand
slam.