John McEnroe, a famous tennis player, said that he doesn’t agree with the choice to make the Australian Open a 15-day event and called it “a money grab.”
The previous number one ranked player in the world said he would agree with the change if players were “getting something from it.” However, he sees no such thing.
This year’s Australian Open will start on a Sunday for the first time in its 119-year history. The tournament will run from January 14 to January 28.
The 112th Melbourne Grand Slam and the 56th in the Open Era. The first round matches will be played over three days instead of two days like they have been in the past.
The Australian Open starts on a Sunday, like the French Open, and lasts for 15 days. Wimbledon and the US Open, on the other hand, only last for 14 days.
“We’ve heard what the players and fans have to say, and we’re excited to come up with a way to cut down on late finishes while still keeping the schedule fair on the stadium courts,” Craig Tiley, director of the Australian Open, said.
“The extra day will make this possible, which will improve schedules for both fans and players.” The first round will now last three days instead of two. This will give tennis fans an extra day of events, food, entertainment, and family fun.
READ MORE: You need to know about these up-and-coming black tennis players
McEnroe was asked by ESPN before this year’s Australian Open what he thought about the decision to add an extra day of play. His answer was typical of him: “I don’t know.”
“To begin with, I think it’s just a way to make money.” They now have another way to make money. I disagree with it. I give my opinion. “No one really cares about how I feel,” the seven-time Grand Slam singles winner said.
“I think it’s a good idea that they added an extra day if the players agree to it and get something out of it, like money for their pensions or retirement for players who don’t have insurance.”That didn’t happen at the French Open either, so I don’t think it has been done. I don’t agree with it at all. “I likely feel selfish having to be away from home for an extra day or two.”
The American was also asked about the famous time he was refused in the fourth round of the 1990 Australian Open for three code violations.
It seems like you want to make things worse. I liked my draw, but in the semis I would have had to play Stefan Edberg. “That obviously wouldn’t have been easy,” McEnroe thought.
“I should have known that the rules had changed.” I’m going to say that. I made a mistake. There were changes to the rules right before the event. Yes, that did cost me because I had a nice draw there. “Thank you for bringing that up, but I don’t want to say that.”