John McEnroe has come under renewed criticism from US Open viewers after making comments about Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz immediately after Alexander Zverev’s victory over Ben Shelton.
The ESPN analyst’s brief remark, made as the network’s coverage of the men’s final was coming to an end, was described by some fans as disrespectful to the two players who had just competed for the title.
Zverev Claims Another Grand Slam
Zverev completed a memorable run in New York by defeating American hopeful Shelton 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2 in Sunday’s final.
The German, seeded No. 1, denied Shelton the chance to become the first American man since 2003 to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Shelton had the backing of a passionate home crowd, but Zverev held his nerve across four sets to secure his second major title of the year.
His victory also came amid scrutiny over his distinctive service routine, with Shelton among those who have called for tennis authorities to consider changing the rules governing the time between points and serves.
McEnroe Turns Attention To Sinner And Alcaraz
After the trophy ceremony, ESPN lead commentator Chris Fowler looked ahead to the next Grand Slam season and referenced Zverev’s continued rise.
“So the drought continues but the rebirth of Sascha Zverev also continues into 2027 – Down Under awaits, huh?” Fowler said.
McEnroe then responded with a short appeal: “Get healthy Carlos and Jannik!”
The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, who works as an analyst alongside his brother Patrick, appeared to be looking ahead to the 2027 season and the prospect of Sinner and Alcaraz returning to full fitness.
The exchange quickly spread online, with a clip of the commentary being widely shared by tennis fans.
Fans Accuse McEnroe Of Undermining The Final
Some viewers were furious that the discussion appeared to shift toward Sinner and Alcaraz moments after Zverev had lifted the trophy.
One fan called McEnroe’s remarks the “final straw”, accusing the former world No. 1 of being “unprofessional” and “belittling the sport”.
Another criticised ESPN’s coverage, arguing that Alcaraz had been healthy enough to compete at the tournament and that Zverev should not be blamed for Sinner’s absence.
“McEnroe has to go,” the supporter wrote, insisting that Zverev deserved the attention after defeating Shelton fairly.
For those critics, the issue was less about McEnroe mentioning two absent stars and more about the timing of the comment, which came immediately after Zverev’s championship triumph.
Other Fans Defend The Tennis Legend
Not everyone agreed with the criticism.
Some fans interpreted McEnroe’s words simply as a prediction about the competitive landscape for the 2027 season.
One supporter defended the comment by saying it reflected what many tennis followers were thinking, particularly given the recent injuries affecting both Sinner and Alcaraz.
Sinner missed the US Open because of a knee problem, while Alcaraz returned to competition at Flushing Meadows after spending more than four months sidelined with a wrist injury.
Their absences and fitness concerns have inevitably raised questions about how the men’s game will look when both are fully fit.
McEnroe Had Already Faced Djokovic Backlash
The latest controversy is not McEnroe’s first clash with fans at this year’s US Open.
Earlier in the tournament, he was criticised for comments concerning Novak Djokovic after the Serbian suffered a first-round defeat to Mariano Navone.
Djokovic was beaten by the world No. 49, prompting McEnroe to joke that Navone would be playing his second-round match on Court 21.
The remark was met with accusations that McEnroe had been disrespectful toward the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
With the latest comments now generating another wave of criticism, the ESPN analyst once again finds himself at the centre of debate surrounding the broadcaster’s US Open coverage.
