BBC stars have made feelings clear on John McEnroe as Wimbledon star told to retire

The BBC's coverage of Wimbledon almost feels incomplete without the brash yet informative tones of John McEnroe soundtracking Centre Court's biggest battles. The US icon is a staple on our televisions these days after seamlessly making himself part of the furniture at SW19 ever since taking on media duties at the event in the early 2000s.

Former world No.1 McEnroe, 66, conquered the men's game during the 1980s, winning Wimbledon on three occasions alongside four US Open titles. The man dubbed 'Superbrat' called time on his colourful career in 1992 and has since turned analyst on the game he once dominated. The high-paid star however has been a divisive figure in the commentary box. While he's been praised for his no-nonsense approach, combined with unrivalled insight, he has never been one to shy away from controversy, and in recent times, he has been called out for an apparent "disrespect" to certain players.

Yet testimonies from those that have shared the studio with McEnroe tell a story of a man who is fiercely dedicated to his craft. Ex-BBC presenter Sue Barker has recently praised her former colleague.

In her 2024 memoir Wimbledon: A Personal History, she wrote: "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."

Another of McEnroe's colleagues, BBC commentator Andrew Castle agreed with Barker's assessment. "John is a wonderfully, funny and well-weather guy," he told Globusbet. "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."

Even one of his old foes from the circuit, Australian legend Pat Cash, showed his full respect to McEnroe - even if the 1987 Wimbledon champion couldn't resist a barb at his American counterpart's punditry skills.

Crossing paths at Wimbledon in 2024, McEnroe said: "Cashy, it's great to see you in person, I've watched you on TV, but it is great to see you guys." Cash quipped:"Likewise, I've watched you on TV... until I can get to the off button."

To be the first to receive the latest Wimbledon news, join our WhatsApp community or Wimbledon newsletter

Dave Gordon, BBC Sport's former executive editor, and the man once behind Wimbledon coverage, also once told The Daily Telegraph that McEnroe brought the Beeb's coverage of SW19 "kicking and screaming into the 21st century."

Writing for the BBC back in 2007, Clive James claimed McEnroe is "so interesting" in the booth that he hardly needed to be "accompanied by an actual match." He also branded him the "supreme male commentator" at Wimbledon before labelling him as a "philosopher".

It hasn't all been plain sailing however. In recent times McEnroe has been the target of some fan's ire as he was believed to be mispronouncing player's names wrong and coming into tournaments with a perceived, and uncharacteristic, lack of knowledge.

Splitting his time between the BBC and US network ESPN, some American viewers took umbrage with McEnroe at this year's event, with one fan even saying he should call it a day.

"I see John McEnroe is at it again. If ESPN won't retire him, can we at least compromise and keep him off broadcasts until the semifinals where he'll actually know the players?" one fan said on social media.

Another added: "Why does John McEnroe have so little respect for other, 'lesser' players that he does not bother learning how to pronounce their names?"

He has also been in hot water with the BBC's Wimbledon host Clare Balding on several occasions, most notably when taking part in a tense discussion live on air over Novak Djokovic in 2024. This year an ill-judged comment on "swingers" and an off-colour remark about Russian teenage star Mirra Andreeva have also seen McEnroe called out by colleagues and fans alike.

He also had a mild run-in with BBC star Simon Reed over comments made about Jack Draper. Another point of contention is his pay. McEnroe continues to be part of one of the BBC's highest-paid commentators for his two-week stint at the championship.

The BBC's salary report from last year revealed that he earned between £195,000 and £199,000 for the 2023/24 period, marking a slight dip from his previous earnings of £205,000. Despite the reduction, McEnroe's daily rate during Wimbledon is still estimated to be £14,000.

A BBC insider explained to The Times in 2023 just why the US star can command such a figure, saying: "He is one of the most popular and respected pundits in tennis," adding: "He provides a unique perspective to our coverage."