BBC stars make their feelings clear on Wimbledon pundit John McEnroe | Tennis | Sport

Few tennis legends are as closely associated with Wimbledon as John McEnroe. The fiery American thrilled crowds at SW19 during his playing days, showcasing his prodigious talent and outrageous shot-making on his way to three men’s singles titles and a further two finals throughout the 1980s.

McEnroe was just as famous for his explosive temper, none more so than his memorable “You cannot be serious!” rant after a controversial line call during a first-round match in 1981. More than four decades later, the seven-time Grand Slam champion remains very much part of the furniture at the All England Club.

Since joining the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage in 2004, the 67-year-old has become one of the Championships’ most recognisable pundits, earning a reputation for his sharp analysis, colourful personality and trademark forthright opinions. But much like during his playing career, McEnroe remains a polarising figure.

While many viewers relish his blunt honesty, others believe he can be overly critical of players and, at times, unnecessarily disrespectful. Those criticisms intensified when details of the American’s sizeable BBC pay packet were revealed.

According to the corporation’s accounts, McEnroe received almost £200,000 for his broadcasting work in 2023-24. Given that his on-air duties are confined to just two weeks at Wimbledon, the former world number one is effectively the BBC’s highest-paid employee on a pro-rata basis.

Despite that, McEnroe is held in high regard by many of those who work alongside him, with several of his past and present colleagues making their admiration for the tennis great crystal clear. Writing in her autobiography, ex-Wimbledon presenter Sue Barker said: “Mac is the BBC’s highest-paid employee pro-rata, and with good reason. The public love him. He was great to work with, always up for fun.”

Andrew Castle, who will be dropped by the BBC as a pundit after this year’s tournament, shared a similar sentiment, telling Globusbet last year: “John is a wonderfully funny and well-weathered guy. I can tell you this, when he is into a match and is concentrating and is engaged whilst enjoying it, there is no one to match. It’s a thrill to sit there and listen to what he has to say.”

Dave Gordon, the former executive editor of BBC Sport, praised McEnroe for taking the broadcaster’s coverage of SW19 “kicking and screaming into the 21^st century”, while Clive James, writing for the BBC in 2007, hailed ‘Superbrat’ as “so interesting” and the “supreme male commentator” at Wimbledon.

Most of the criticism levelled at McEnroe has come from fans, who have accused him of disrespecting players by mispronouncing their names and showing up to tournaments seemingly unprepared for commentary duties. “Why does John McEnroe have so little respect for other ‘lesser’ players that he does not bother learning how to pronounce their names?” one disgruntled fan posted on social media last year.

On other occasions, McEnroe has found himself in hot water with BBC presenter Claire Balding. The pair clashed live on air during a discussion about Novak Djokovic’s behaviour in 2024, while Balding was forced to remind McEnroe of the BBC’s strict rules after he made a cheeky sex jibe on air. The three-time Wimbledon champion also crossed swords with Simon Reed last year after the BBC presenter dismissed Jack Draper’s first-round win over Sebastian Baez as “like a practice match”.