MCENROE angry about young "seniors", loses to Rios

[GRAF_SAMPRAS]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/6219424.stm



McEnroe angry over young seniors
John McEnroe in action at the Royal Albert Hall
McEnroe finished runner-up in his qualifying group in London
John McEnroe has blasted the decision to allow 30-year-old former world number one Marcelo Rios to play on the seniors tennis circuit.

McEnroe is set for a quarter-final showdown with the Chilean at the Masters at the Albert Hall on Friday.

He said: "It's totally wrong. Over the years they've bastardised the thing - 35 seemed a reasonable age (limit).

"In seniors golf they set the age limit at 50 and kept it. They haven't changed the rules to let some 40-year-old in."

Rios reeled off 25 straight wins after joining the tour earlier this year.

McEnroe opened his Masters campaign with a hard-fought victory against Sweden's Anders Jarryd on Thursday night but lost 7-6 7-5 to Cedric Pioline on Friday

[GRAF_SAMPRAS]

RIOS answer to mcEnroe grudge against young seniors:


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McEnroe faces Rios grudge match
John McEnroe
McEnroe says his opponent should not be in the tournament
John McEnroe will face Marcelo Rios in the quarter-finals of the Masters at the Royal Albert Hall after saying the Chilean should not even be playing.

McEnroe, who came second in his group after losing his last game 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 to Cedric Pioline, says Rios, 30, is too young to be labelled a veteran.

Rios thumped Jeremy Bates 6-2 6-1, and the Briton now faces Goran Ivanisevic, who beat Paul Haarhuis 7-6 5-7 10-8.

Haarhuis v Sergi Bruguera and Pioline v Henri Leconte are the remaining games.

Rios reached the quarter-final stage with a 6-4 6-1 win over Pat Cash, and shrugged off McEnroe's comments about his age.


606: DEBATE
It is not a stage for a 30-year-old to come along and strut his stuff

IN
606: Have your say

"Maybe he is too old for it," he said. "They start saying this because I'm doing good. Maybe I'm too good for them."

But he said he did not fancy his chances against the 47-year-old three-times Wimbledon champion.

"I think I am not playing that good. I am missing too many balls. The court is too fast and the balls don't bounce enough.

"He's so fast I think he beats me in two sets."

Bruguera won his group, with Leconte clinching second place and a quarter-final spot by beating Thomas Muster 6-4 7-5.

[GRAF_SAMPRAS]

RESULT of grudge match between old senior McEnroe and young senior Rios

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McEnroe loses Rios grudge match
John McEnroe
McEnroe believes his opponent should not be in the tournament
John McEnroe failed to overcome a 17-year age gap as he lost to Marcelo Rios in the quarter-finals of the Masters at the Royal Albert Hall.

McEnroe, 47, had suggested Rios was too young to even play in the event before the 30-year-old beat him 6-3 6-2.

The American veteran said afterwards: "He says he can't play on the tour but I didn't see too much evidence of that.

"Marcelo's a great player. I wasn't playing bad and had some chances but it was a tough draw to play Marcelo."


I would love to come back (to the ATP Tour) but my body refuses to play the whole year

Marcelo Rios
With a tough schedule of three matches in less than 48 hours, McEnroe also admitted his playing days could be numbered.

"At this stage the door unlocking its way to further pastures beyond tennis is getting a little bit wider," he added.

Before the match, McEnroe questioned playing Rios, accusing the tour organisers of "bastardising the whole thing" by scrapping the original age limit of 35.

But Rios, two years younger than Britain's Tim Henman who still plays on the main ATP tour, insisted: "I would love to come back but my body refuses to play the whole year.

"That's the reason I'm not playing but I'd still love to come to places like this and play guys like John McEnroe and Goran Ivanisevic."

Rios will play the winner of Friday evening's match between defending champion Paul Haarhuis, from Holland, and Spain's Sergi Bruguera in the semi-finals.

In the other half of the draw, Cedric Pioline beat Henri Leconte in an all-French quarter-final and will face 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic or Britain's Jeremy Bates on Saturday.


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and the GRUDGES go on ---


none of this "i am in SUCH awe ,,, this is where everyone loses to roger now"

BLAKINESS......

[bea26]

I agree with the big baby. Who even wants to watch a match between a 30-year-old and a guy pushing 50? The only comfort in Rios playing in the seniors tour is it keeps him out of the ATP. Everything I've read coming from this guy's mouth has been ridiculous. He knows it's ridiculous too. He'll just keep collecting his checks and whatever glory he thinks he's earning.

[Ti-Amie]

Let's see how Marcelo does at Vina del Mar (?) against a resurgent Fena and his former coach Larry Stepanki.

If he at least goes deep I think that no matter what Mr Congeniality says we'll see him playing some on the main tour.