Tennis fans have expressed anger towards ESPN analyst John McEnroe following his comments made after Alexander Zverev's victory at the US Open. McEnroe, speaking during the broadcast of Zverev's win over Ben Shelton on Sunday, suggested that top players Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz should "get healthy."
Zverev secured his second Grand Slam title of the year by defeating the American favorite in a four-set match. The final garnered significant attention, partly due to Zverev's unique service routine which has sparked debate and calls for a rule change. Shelton's loss extended the drought for American men in Grand Slam singles, with the last victory occurring in 2003.
Following the trophy ceremony, ESPN announcer Chris Fowler commented on the continuation of the "drought" for American men and the "rebirth" of Zverev. McEnroe's response, "Get healthy Carlos and Jannik!", was captured in a viral clip and subsequently drew criticism from some viewers.
Both Alcaraz and Sinner have faced injury setbacks in recent months. Sinner, the world No. 1, withdrew from the US Open due to a knee injury, while Alcaraz returned to play at Flushing Meadows after a four-month absence for wrist damage.
Critics accused McEnroe of being unprofessional and belittling the sport, arguing that his remarks overshadowed the champion and runner-up. "This should be the final straw for John McEnroe," one user wrote on social media. "Unprofessional, belittling the sport and stealing the spotlight from the champion and runner up seconds after victory."
Another commenter stated, "McEnroe has to go. Carlos is healthy and he played, It's not Zverev's fault that Jannik's knee doesn't work. It's his moment and he won fair and square… this is honestly pathetic."
However, others defended McEnroe, suggesting his comments were intended as part of a forward-looking discussion about the upcoming tennis season. "It’s exactly what most tennis fans are thinking," one supporter commented.
This is not the first time McEnroe has faced criticism during the tournament. Earlier, he was accused of being "disrespectful" after joking about Novak Djokovic's first-round opponent, Mariano Navone, potentially playing his second-round match on an outer court following Djokovic's unexpected exit.