Do you have a link to this convo? I wanted to watch it but couldn’t find anything that showed them addressing McEnroe’s comments.
It is on YouTube. Search for John McEnroe reacts to Novak Djokovic default ESPN
Being defaulted couldn’t have happened to a more reasonable and logical person. Good riddance. Pulling for the neighbors up north.
Nobody can stand Djokovic anyway so it makes men’s tournament much more interesting. Really great group of young likable players left in the draw but it will be decided between the most experienced of them - Medvedev or Thiem
I’m glad the refs defaulted Djoko too. He is an arrogant man and his arrogance and bad sportsmanship finally caught up with him. I don’t think Rafa or Roger have ever been defaulted. Perhaps the refs are getting stricter. Serena said to the lines person “I want to shove this (deleted) ball down your (deleted) throat”. I view that as a worse infraction but she didn’t default the entire match. I think motherhood has improved her on court demeanor.
As for who wins now, Shapo played tremendously last night, but who knows.
“Perhaps the refs are getting stricter. Serena said to the lines person “I want to shove this (deleted) ball down your (deleted) throat”. I view that as a worse infraction but she didn’t default the entire match.”
When I read this part, I got the feeling you were implying Serena got special treatment. She did not. The rules were/are different for a verbal infraction regardless if you view it as a worse infraction.
And though I’m a huge Fed fan, he’s been guilty of a verbal infraction like Serena.
https://www.essentiallysports.com/give-me-a-break-roger-federer-argues-with-umpire-as-he-gets-a-code-violation-for-verbal-obscenity-at-australian-open-2020-atp-tennis-news/
I think sometimes we see things differently based on our biases…who our favorites are. I’ve never been a huge Serena fan…or a Nole fan. But I did remember the Fed incident I linked above because I thought it was so out of character for him.
However because I wanted to link an article to show consistency with the rules, I googled it. When doing so I came across this:
https://www.businessinsider.com/roger-federer-times-he-went-wild-in-middle-of-a-tennis-match-2019-2#2005-in-april-federer-threw-his-racket-on-the-floor-in-a-fit-of-frustration-during-the-nasdaq-100-open-final-against-emerging-rival-rafa-nadal-2
I realized we could say a similar thing for Fed…I think fatherhood has improved his on court demeanor. 
I didn’t know the rules were more lenient for a verbal infraction. But cursing and threatening are different in my opinion. And an intentional act is different than one done accidentally. The tournaments must have in the backs of their minds that the superstars put butts in the seats and eyes on the TV. So it’s good to see they are not treated more leniently whether they are Djokovic, Serena or Sharapova (for her use of a non-approved drug).
He gets defaulted and then shakes hands w/ opponent. What more does one need or will enablers continue to wax poetic?
I’ve seen two angles of this incident. In both, he appears to be looking at the lineswoman when he hits the ball. He is clearly shocked, though, when the ball makes contact with her throat.
What was he trying to do? Was he trying to scare or intimidate her?
I don’t think he intended to hit her. But I don’t for one minute think this was an innocent “accident.”
In any case, from what I understand, intent is not relevant. If you hit the ball with reckless abandon, not knowing for sure where it will go or who is in the vicinity and you hit someone, it’s a default. Even if you are the best player in the world.
I agree @Nrdsb4 It was reckless and since he hit her, case closed. I don’t think he expected to hit her. It was the right decision. Maybe he learned something.
Watching the Medvedev/Theim match and I’m changing my mind about lines people. Get rid of them. Medvedev has a legitimate complaint. The technology exists.
I am surprised this thread hasn’t bumped up since September. I’m loving having Fed and Murray back in action and moving forward. I don’t like Serena, but I am sad for her that she had to retire due to injury. I hope Centre Court becomes a better surface for players in the next day or two. Just really loving having Wimbledon back to almost normal!
Anybody else watching the US Open? I’m rooting for Shelby Rogers and Fernandez is growing on me (great tennis, but a little too much swagger for my taste). Hoping for one of the new guys to break through and spoil Djokovic’s run. I don’t care how many times Chris McKendree hypes him as tennis history, I don’t like him. I thought this would be a bit of a sorry tournament without Fed or Rafa, but the tennis has been outstanding. I’m very impressed with the young Spaniard who took out Tsitsipas.
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I have been floored by all of the qualifiers and “older” men who are still in it! What a great tournament this has been so far! Love that there is more variety in both the mens and womens field and that ESPN has been covering lots of matches at the same time. Maybe the cooler weather is helping out?
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So many fun matches! I really like the young Brit Raducanu! I also like Laylah Fernandez. I think they are playing better due to the crowds and they are not in a strict bubble.
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I’m also enjoying the newer faces at the Open. Disappointed to not have a few more American women at this point but every women’s match tomorrow looks great. Also hope someone takes put Djokovic out. Just not a fan. I think it’s harder on men’s side for one of young ones to go all the way since best out of 5 can be a different thing altogether and I think the strain of too many 5 set matches takes it’s toll on the newbies more than a Djokovic.
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Can Brooksby defeat Djoker this evening? I hope so but somehow I think the young upstart will run out of gas. I’m looking at Zverev or Medvedev to end the Djoker’s run.
No matter how many Slams Djoker wins, he will never be the GOAT. He doesn’t have the class, the fan following, the grace, the respect needed for that title. That will always be Roger and Rafa.
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I expect different people will have different views on that. Some of the best players in given sports were not model citizens, popular, etc. GOAT is also incredibly subjective in any event. Trying to compare athletes of different generations, with different competition, technology, etc. isn’t possible on an objective basis. Though for a site with many people who think you can do that objectively with colleges, likely some will disagree. LOL
I think the only way to stop Djokovic is for him to beat himself. Maybe Medvedev can do it. Too bad we don’t have lines judges lol.
In addition to my strong dislike of Djokovic for multiple reasons, I am also ready for ESPN to make some changes in the booth. I am ready for them to cut Cliff Drysdale & Brad Gilbert loose. I am enjoying James Blake and Alexandra Stevenson having more air time. Also, like Jason (Goodall?). I love Darren Cahill, but I get that he is constrained by his coaching Simona Halep the last few years.