'I love it but I don't advocate it!' - John McEnroe's mixed views on Daniil Medvedev fan clashes at US Open

Published 04/09/2023 at 20:01 GMT

Daniil Medvedev has again been involved in clashes with the US Open crowd, calling on two fans to "shut up" and saying “are you stupid or what?”. John McEnroe has given his view on Medvedev's confrontations and why it is a "gutsy thing to do". McEnroe has also reflected on Andy Murray's future after his second-round exit and whether there could be a 'Big Four' in men's tennis.

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John McEnroe has mixed feelings on Daniil Medvedev’s crowd confrontations at the US Open, saying he wouldn’t “advocate” it as a former player, but “loves to see it” as a spectator.

Medvedev expressed his frustration with the crowd in his second-round victory over Christopher O’Connell, directly calling on two fans to "shut up" and saying “are you stupid or what?”

Asked afterwards if the friction with the crowd helped him, Medvedev replied: “Sometimes yes. Sometimes no.”

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Medvedev is no stranger to crowd controversy at Flushing Meadows, having given fans the middle finger during a match in 2019 and then relishing the boos that rained down from the stands.

Former world No. 1 McEnroe thinks the interactions can “help or hinder” Medvedev in his quest for a second US Open title.

“It depends on the match. Sometimes it helps and sometimes it hurts. It helped a couple of years ago when he encouraged people to boo him because he said it inspired him.

“That's a gutsy thing to do with a New York crowd – to tell people to boo you. I wouldn't advocate that, even though I certainly had my run-ins with crowds. But for an outsider, ex-player, commentator and fan of tennis, I love it. I love to see Medvedev get into it.

“A lot of times, you don't know what he's thinking and that's interesting, because you are trying to figure it out.”

Medvedev won his only Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2021 and faces Alex de Minaur in the last 16.

Andy Murray is no longer in the tournament following his second-round loss to Grigor Dimitrov.

Murray, 36, was beaten in straight sets and admitted afterwards that “deep runs” at Grand Slams might now be a thing of the past for him.

“It's tougher as you get older, I can tell you from my own experiences” said McEnroe.

“Can Murray on a given day beat anyone? I think he could. But to do it over the course of a couple of weeks where things happen? That's the part where I think as you get older, it's much tougher.

“I know it's got to be unbelievably frustrating for him, this last four or five years basically suck in a lot of ways. But he's got a family, he's got four kids, he looks healthy, he's moving better than he has been...So it's important as you get older to look at the glass half full, as opposed to half empty.

“It's easy to do, looking at it half empty, when things aren't going the way they used to. And it's tough. But success for him is whatever he wants success to be.

“I doubt we'll see him play a whole lot more this year, maybe a couple of events in Europe. I think he's going to really evaluate where he's at right now.

Andy Murray was beaten in the second round by Grigor Dimitrov

Image credit: Getty Images

“To be around 30-40 in the world is a lot better than it was but that's not where Andy Murray should be. He's an unbelievable player, a first ballot Hall of Famer. In certain ways, it's got to be extremely difficult. But in other ways, he's made it farther than a lot of people thought.”

As Murray’s career looking to be coming to a close, the focus is now on the next generation.

Carlos Alcaraz, 20, is leading the way, but has several rivals not far behind, including potential US Open quarter-final opponent Jannik Sinner.

McEnroe thinks both could be part of a future ‘Big Four’ in men’s tennis.

“Obviously Alcaraz is one. I believe [Jannik] Sinner has a great chance to be one of those. He took a step back, but [Holger] Rune has a chance to be one of those. And actually, I think Ben Shelton has a chance if he continues to progress to maybe get in that mix.

“I think those would be the most obvious choices to me, talking about 20, 21, 22-year-olds.

“Alcaraz is the best 20-year-old I've ever seen.”

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