John McEnroe blasted for ‘hurtful’ comment about US Open female staff member

American tennis legend John McEnroe has been blasted for a ‘hurtful’ comment he made about a female staff member at this year’s US Open.

During Novak Djokovic’s quarter-final win over Taylor Fritz, an older member of staff was seen delivering restrung rackets to the players.

McEnroe, on broadcasting duties for ESPN, said ‘thank you, grandma’ and and remarked ‘good time for her age group’ when she appeared on screen.

The woman has been identified as Susan Perkins and she has called out McEnroe for his ‘dismissive’ comments, feeling that she was mocked.

‘I would like to tell John McEnroe that his comments such as “good time for her age group” and “grandma” felt dismissive and hurtful rather than humorous,’ Perkins told Sportskeeda.

‘I was simply doing my job delivering a restrung racket to a player. His job is to comment on the players, not other people working on the court.

‘It is one thing to jest, it’s another to stereotype someone based on age.

‘I’ve worked at the US Open for years and spent that time supporting the sport with pride and professionalism, yet those comments made me feel invisible and mocked.

‘I have worked as a court attendant for the last 20 years, starting when my own children were ball persons.

‘I enjoy the sport of tennis and give up my two weeks vacation in August to work there.

‘I have loved every minute of this up until this year. After McEnroe’s comments, I did not even want to go out onto the court, afraid that he might say more derogatory things about me.

‘I was constantly looking up into the ESPN booth. In addition, I am a professional woman who works as a therapist during the year.

‘I was embarrassed to return back to work after the tournament, worried what people would say after hearing what was said about me on the court.

‘This has greatly affected my ability to do my job, both on and off the court.’

Earlier this year, meanwhile, McEnroe attempted to clarify a divisive comment he made about Rafael Nadal during the BBC’s coverage of Wimbledon.

He claimed that current tennis superstars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner would both be favourites to beat a peak Nadal.

‘I made a comment during the French [Open] where I said these guys (Alcaraz and Sinner) would have a shot… I didn’t say they would beat Nadal every time,’ McEnroe told BBC One.

‘I said the fact that you would think these two players would actually go onto the court really believing they could do it – with Nadal in his prime – it shows you how much the level of the game has changed even in a couple of years.’

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