{"id":678194,"date":"2026-07-07T08:51:20","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T08:51:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/678194\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T08:51:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T08:51:20","slug":"bbc-commentator-jokes-john-mcenroe-never-to-return-after-stopping-during-wimbledon-match","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/678194\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC commentator jokes John McEnroe \u2018never to return\u2019 after stopping during Wimbledon match"},"content":{"rendered":"

John McEnroe left his media duties with the BBC during the Wimbledon clash<\/p>\n

18:54, 06 Jul 2026Updated 09:22, 07 Jul 2026<\/p>\n

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John McEnroe had to abandon his BBC<\/a> commentary position midway through Arthur Fery’s<\/a> match against Grigor Dimitrov<\/a>. Fery, the only British player <\/a>to make it to the second week of the men’s singles, had taken the opening set 7-5 before his far more seasoned rival fought back to secure the second and third.<\/p>\n

The Brit took an extended toilet break at the conclusion of the second set and during the interruption in play McEnroe seized the chance to make a quick departure. The American was in the BBC commentary box alongside Andrew Cotter and Tim Henman<\/a> when he was forced to step away from his post.<\/p>\n

“I think we’re going to have to bid farewell at this point,” Cotter joked. “John McEnroe<\/a> to take a break, never to return.”<\/p>\n

McEnroe responded: “Well, hopefully I’ll return but I’ve got contractual obligations to do the lone American in the draw, Taylor Fritz.<\/p>\n

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\"LONDON,<\/p>\n

John McEnroe is on media duties at Wimbledon this year(Image: Karwai Tang, WireImagevia Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“He’s maybe the slight favourite to get to the final on this half. I’m sure [Alexander] Bublik, [Alexandeer] Zverev and others may have a say about that. You guys call a great rest of the match.”<\/p>\n

No. 9 seed Linda Noskova had just defeated Madison Keys<\/a> 6-4, 7-6 (2) on Court 1 meaning it was time for Taylor Fritz to head to the venue for his encounter with Alexander Bublik.<\/p>\n

And the No. 6 seed recognised he was in line for challenging contest against the world<\/a> No. 11.<\/p>\n

\"Day<\/p>\n

Arthur Fery was taking on Grigor Dimitrov on Centre Court(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n

“I don’t really have a preference between the two of ’em,” Fritz said when it was still unclear if he would play Bublik or Frances Tiafoe.<\/p>\n

“Both are very crafty. Good grass court players playing well. In form. I mean, I have good stuff to go off of because I played both of them in this grass court season. Yeah, I mean, no preference. But both really, really dangerous players. It’s not an easy round of 16.”<\/p>\n

Bublik needed five sets to get past Tiafoe in round three and took Fritz to a first set tie-break. However, the American won it to draw first blood in the fourth-round battle on Court 1.<\/p>\n

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