NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

McEnroe, Graf thrilled to play alongside each other

Steffi Graf was overawed; so was John McEnroe, as they teamed up for the mixed doubles at Wimbledon.

It was not the occasion, but the privilege of playing together.

McEnroe and Graf played Czech Eva Melicharova and South African Jeff Coetzee in the first round of the mixed doubles and won 6-2, 6-4.

"I felt so nervous coming out. I was kind of proud to play with you," Graf told her partner afterwards.

"Me too," replied the 40-year-old McEnroe, back playing at Wimbledon for the first time since 1992.

The 'bad boy' of tennis returned to a standing ovation at Wimbledon and boasted "I'm not totally extinct yet."

Cheered to the rafters every time he struck the ball, McEnroe said: "It was meant to be. I could not have picked a better partner. Onward and upward."

There were no McEnroe cries of "You cannot be serious". The elder statesman of tennis was on his best behaviour, even blowing kisses to the adoring crowd on Court Number One.

The pair, two of the most experienced players in the world, confessed to being very nervous after all the hype surrounding their decision to pair up for Wimbledon. The media dubbed them "Team McEnGraf."

McEnroe, three times a singles champion at Wimbledon, jokingly slammed his racket on the ground when Graf missed her first volley. She did the same when McEnroe missed his. But dominance was soon established by the wily duo.

"I do believe we have a chance to win it," said McEnroe, the competitive fires still burning bright even if the hair is grey and receding fast.

Graf was thrilled to be competing alongside her childhood hero: "I have always admired the way he has played. He is the one player I watched when I was growing up. It's always been a wish of mine to play with him."

Graf, at 30, is favourite to land her eighth singles title at Wimbledon. She is fresh from an epic triumph over 18-year-old Martina Hingis in the French Open final when the Swiss world number one stormed off court in petulant fury.

Agencies