John McEnroe Draws Criticism for Post-Match Comments Following Zverev’s US Open Triumph

During Alexander Zverev’s US Open victory celebration, John McEnroe noted the achievements of two of tennis’ top players.

Moments after the 29‑year‑old German defeated Ben Shelton 6‑3, 7‑6(2), 5‑7, 6‑2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday, ESPN play‑by‑caller Chris Fowler opened his closing remarks with, “So the drought continues, but the rebirth of Sasha Zverev also extends into 2027. Heading down under next, huh?”

“It does,” McEnroe replied, before adding, “Get healthy, Carlos and Jannik.”

“Please,” Fowler added.

“But for now, the moment belongs to Alexander Zverev, the 2026 US Open champion. Well done,” Fowler concluded.

McEnroe’s remark struck many fans as ill‑timed, regardless of how much they hope to see Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner return to full health.

“The commentary was incredibly distracting throughout the match, and the blatant bias was absolutely unbearable to listen to!” one fan wrote on X.

“John clearly doesn’t like Zverev,” another commented.

A third observer noted, “We failed to celebrate Novak Djokovic because of our obsession with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Let’s not repeat that mistake; this commentary does not come from a good place.”

“Sorry, this should be the final straw for John McEnroe. His remarks were unprofessional, belittled the sport, and stole the spotlight from the champion and runner‑up moments after the victory,” another fan said.

“The biggest distraction in the match was McEnroe’s annoying voice,” another fan wrote.

Many felt the comment detracted from Zverev’s accomplishment — his second career Grand Slam title (his first in New York) and second major of the season. He had also captured the Roland Garros crown earlier that year, defeating Flavio Cobolli in five sets.

By mentioning Sinner and Alcaraz, McEnroe pointed out that Zverev had not faced either player in either of his Grand Slam victories this year.

Alcaraz missed Roland Garros while recovering from a four‑month wrist injury, and Sinner struggled in the heat, exiting in the second round.

Months later, Sinner claimed the Wimbledon title in four sets over a near‑flawless Zverev performance. The 25‑year‑old subsequently withdrew from the US Open due to a right‑knee injury, whereas Alcaraz reached the quarterfinals before losing in five sets to Shelton in a late‑night encounter.

Nevertheless, despite the absence of the sport’s two leading players, Zverev has continued to find ways to defeat all comers.

He entered the match with momentum over Shelton and appeared poised to challenge for the world No. 1 ranking before the tennis season concludes.

Yet world No. 1 Sinner made a decision on Monday that could thwart that ambition.

The Italian announced he will compete to defend his title at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna this October, an ATP 500 event. Sinner had beaten Zverev to win the tournament last year, after previously claiming the crown in 2023 over Daniil Medvedev.

He also holds the defending champion titles at the China Open, the Paris Masters, and the ATP Finals.

After falling short in the US Open final last year, the only tournament Sinner failed to complete was the Shanghai Masters, where he retired due to cramping in the third round.

Sinner has held the top ranking for 22 weeks since his victory over Alcaraz at the Monte‑Carlo Masters final in April, leading Zverev by 1,810 points for the No. 2 position in the official ATP rankings.

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