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McEnroe fancies his mixed doubles chances

John McEnroe is preparing to test his veteran status in mixed doubles alongside 22-time Grand Slam winner Steffi Graf at the 12-million-dollar Wimbledon Championships.

The high-profile pair have teamed up for the fortnight, with McEnroe taking time from television commentary duties and Graf seeded second and in the thick of the fight for a second straight Grand Slam crown after winning Paris this month.

The 40-year-old, greying McEenroe, a three-time singles champion who last played here in 1992, last entered a mixed doubles 21 years ago.

But he is more than confident of his abilities, having boasted last year that he would be happy to play Davis Cup doubles for the American team and could certainly do as well as any of the other, more current, players. That offer was declined by coach Tom Gullikson.

To psyche himself up for his mixed sessions, 'Mac the mouth' has been convincing himself that Graf, 30, needs him on her side of the net.

''For a start, I'm back,'' McEnroe wrote for the Sunday Telegraph. ''Better watch out ... The partnership of John McEnroe and Steffi Graf might stir a little bit of interest. Obviously the girl needs help, I'll see what I can do.''

Graf has so far had no comment. ''I have a sense that something magical will happen at the final Wimbledon of the century,'' wrote the American.

On a more serious note, he added: ''I'm flattered to be given this opportunity to play. She is one of the goddesses of modern tennis, one of the greatest athletes this sport has seen - and she wants to play with me. Let's go out and win it Steffi.''

McEnroe's lone major mixed title was earned at the French Open in 1977. He won the Wimbledon singles three times and captured the doubles at the All England Club and won a men's doubles title at least once in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

DPA