John McEnroe walks out of BBC commentary during match and told ‘never to return’ | Tennis | Sport

John McEnroe had to leave his BBC commentary duty midway through Arthur Fery’s clash with Grigor Dimitrov. The last Brit standing won the opening set 7-5 but his much more experienced opponent came back to claim the second 6-3.

Fery took a lengthy toilet break at the end of the second set and during the pause in play McEnroe took the opportunity to make a swift exit. The American was in the BBC commentary booth alongside Andrew Cotter and Tim Henman when was made to withdraw from duty.

“I think we’re going to have to bid farewell at this point,” Cotter told viewers. “John McEnroe to take a break, never to return.”

McEnroe replied: “Well, hopefully I’ll return but I’ve got contractual obligations to do the lone American in the draw, Taylor Fritz.

“He’s maybe the slight favourite to get to the final on this half. I’m sure Bublik, Zverev and others may have a say about that. You guys call a great rest of the match.”

No. 9 seed Linda Noskova had just beaten Madison Keys 6-4, 7-6(2) on Court 1 meaning it was time for Taylor Fritz to make his way to the area for his clash with Alexander Bublik.

And the No. 6 seed acknowledges that it will be a tough tie against the world No. 11.

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