John McEnroe Praises TNT Sports’ French Open Coverage

PARIS, France — Tennis analyst John McEnroe shared his enthusiasm for TNT Sports’ coverage of the French Open during a media call on Thursday. With the tournament nearing its climax, McEnroe noted the network’s distinct approach and how it sets itself apart from traditional sports broadcasts.

“Each network does their thing a different way,” McEnroe explained. He praised TNT for embracing personality, referencing notable figures like Charles Barkley from the ‘Inside The NBA‘ team. “TNT seems to embrace more, like, personality in a way,” he said, referring to their unique style of presenting sports.

McEnroe also expressed his excitement over TNT having exclusive rights to the French Open, a shift from the previous arrangement where coverage was split among different networks. “I think it makes it easier and better for the viewer,” he stated. “It’s a shot in the arm for the sport.”

An innovative addition to TNT’s coverage is the ‘MacZone,’ a show co-hosted by McEnroe and his brother Patrick. McEnroe described the program as a culmination of a long-desired project to showcase more dramatic matches that often go unnoticed. “I thought, ‘We’ve got to do this in tennis,’” he said.

As for the matches themselves, McEnroe highlighted the advancements in racket technology, noting how it has contributed to an increase in the pace of play. “The amount of mph they can put on even ground strokes is amazing,” he remarked, expressing amazement at the game’s evolution.

Reflecting on the current competition, McEnroe discussed Novak Djokovic’s impressive semifinal run at age 38. “The amount of work and conditioning he’s kept himself in, it’s almost in certain ways better,” he commented on the different standards of athleticism today compared to when he competed.

TNT’s broadcasts continue through the women’s singles final on Saturday and the men’s singles final on Sunday.