NEWPORT BEACH — Newport Beach missed the heated John McEnroe.
The Hall of Famer last week ripped into an opponent, stepping on his side of the tennis court after a ball intentionally hit a teammate. It was vintage McEnroe, never backing down.
McEnroe did not have to put up a fight Tuesday night. That is because he saw the Newport Beach Breakers lay down.
By the time the 50-year-old stepped on the court at Breakers Stadium, his New York Sportimes team took ownership of the World Team Tennis match.
No one barked at anyone. No one was suspended.
McEnroe and his coach remained on their side, the winning one, as the Eastern Conference champions prevailed, 24-14, in front of a crowd of 1,911.
Fans cheered and sometimes jeered the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion. McEnroe continued on, relentless as ever. Tennis is his life.
He plays it. He talks it. He yells at it.
New York (10-3) has benefited as it rolls into the playoffs. The Breakers (8-5) return to the postseason for the first time since 2006. Newport Beach closes out the regular season tonight at 7:05 at home and will have Maria Sharapova against the Kansas City Explorers.
If New York and Newport Beach meet again, it will be for the WTT championship. Until then, the spotlight was on McEnroe Tuesday.
Someone asked McEnroe for advice for older tennis players.
“It keeps me young,” McEnroe stated his case for staying active at his age while trying to figure out why many Americans do not exercise.
McEnroe made Newport Beach’s 33-year-old Ramon Delgado work. The reigning WTT Male MVP can’t underestimate an old Super Brat.
Delgado might be the greatest player in WTT history to Newport Beach Coach Trevor Kronemann, but Delgado is no McEnroe.
No. 1 in WTT action is not like holding down the world’s No. 1 ranking.
Delgado tried to force overtime in men’s singles against McEnroe. With the Breakers down, 19-10, heading into the final set, McEnroe stayed strong.
McEnroe delivered an overhead smash, displayed a strong volley game, served superbly, and toyed with Delgado, slapping shots one side, then to the other before finishing off the Paraguayan for a 5-4 (5-2 tiebreaker) victory.
“I picked it up,” McEnroe said. “I know he wanted it bad in front of his home crowd. I had gotten him a week ago.”
Delgado and Kaes Van’t Hof managed to edge McEnroe and Robert Kendrick in men’s doubles, 5-4.
