McEnroe - 'Female umpires on the men's tour is a non-issue... they're just as bad as the guys'

McEnroe questioned who would ever want to become an umpire, but added that they deserve more credit for correct decisions.

Mohammad Liani's intervention to help Nick Kyrgios pick himself up for a match last year was raised.

And the use of female umpires in the men's game was also discussed, something that all three legends are firmly in support of.

Read the discussion in full below...

Boris Becker: We don’t hear enough when there’s a debate on difficult calls about umpires. I think sometimes they should come out. You mentioned Mohammad Liani, and I applaud him for doing what he’s done, and players step in his favour to say it’s a great call by the umpire in saving the match and saving Kyrgios... I don’t know if Kyrgios paid him some money from the prize money that he won because he came back in that match.

John McEnroe: Maybe the money he was fined for getting suspended.

BB: I think Liani should have been given the platform to explain why he has done what he has done. I think that would again add to the spectacle of the element of umpires.

JM: Think about an umpire though. I have always questioned why anyone would want to be an umpire. Not just because they have to deal with people like me, or Connors, or whatever, but if you do a great job you don’t get noticed. That’s the sign of a great job, no-one knows who you were.

Mats Wilander: Sounds like parenting.

JM: Maybe that’s it. You do a great job you don’t get the appreciation maybe you deserve. With umpires it’s a tough gig. I’m sure the love to be around the sport, but everybody likes to get a bit of recognition, so maybe that’s why they like to stir up the pot sometimes.

BB: Another thing I’ve noticed, and I like it, is a lot of more female umpires on the men’s side. Is it just me or do they have more female umpires on men’s matches. What do you think about that?

MW: Well they had Carlos Ramos and Serena Williams in the US Open final.

JM: That worked well, didn’t it?

MW: And for Novak Djokovic and Juan-Martin Del Potro they had a lady, I can’t remember who did it. So what do I think? If they are used to the ATP Tour then yes call the men’s match, and if they are used to the WTA Tour. But I think you have to treat the players slightly different depending on what Tour they are playing on and depending on what shot they are hitting. Obviously Nadal’s forehand is a lot harder to call than somebody who hits it flat maybe on the women’s tour.

JM: We’re heading into a day and age where that will become a non-issue. It’s becoming like that already… they’re just as bad as the guys.