John McEnroe's history with Serena Williams has taken another twist—this time, not because of his words about her, but because of how he called her match. The legendary American tennis star turned broadcaster is facing accusations of showing major bias in favor of Williams during her first-round Wimbledon match Tuesday against 20-year-old Maya Joint.
Williams, now 44, made her return to competitive tennis as a wild card entry at the All England Club. The seven-time Wimbledon champion took on Joint, a rising Australian talent, on Centre Court. Joint prevailed in three sets, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, to advance to the second round. But while the match was a showcase of grit and resilience from both players, McEnroe's commentary quickly became the story.
Fans took to social media to slam McEnroe for what they saw as a one-sided broadcast that failed to give Joint her due. "How do I make a complaint about the appallingly biased and disrespectful commentary from John McEnroe regarding Maya Joint? A 20-year-old tennis player who is daring to play very well against Serena Williams. We pay this man's salary, as TV licence fee payers, and he is an absolute disgrace," wrote user Hannah Spedding on X.
Another fan echoed the sentiment: "My thoughts entirely. Maya who has been ill is playing a fantastic game and the commentators are just drooling over Serena. The fans as well cheering more for Serena, personally I'm all in for Maya." A third added, "Not one good word from these commentators for Maya. So biased!!!"
The controversy comes nearly a decade after McEnroe and Williams were embroiled in a public feud. In 2017, McEnroe told NPR that Williams, then in her prime, would be "like No. 700 in world" if she played on the men's circuit. "That doesn't mean I don't think Serena is an incredible player. I do, but the reality of what would happen on a given day is Serena could beat some players, I believe, because she is so incredibly strong mentally," McEnroe said at the time. "But if she had to just play the circuit—the men's circuit—that would be an entirely different story." Williams, who had previously acknowledged she would have no chance against top male players, took issue with the remarks. The two appeared to have mended fences in recent years, but Tuesday's broadcast has reopened old wounds among fans.
Williams' return to Wimbledon was highly anticipated, and her performance showed flashes of the champion she once was. However, Joint, who battled illness during the match, played composed, aggressive tennis to seal the upset. The young Australian now moves on to the second round, while Williams heads home. The backlash against McEnroe echoes similar criticism directed at other sports commentators, such as the recent Richard Jefferson controversy during the NBA draft.
McEnroe, known for his unfiltered opinions, has not responded to the criticism. The BBC, which broadcast the match, has yet to comment on the complaints. For Joint, the victory is a career milestone, but the conversation around McEnroe's commentary threatens to overshadow her achievement. As Williams exits the tournament, the tennis world is left debating whether the broadcast was a celebration of a legend or a slight to the next generation.
