McEnroe on best form, behaviour

Press, 28 May 1988, Page 88

McEnroe on best form, behaviour

NZPA-AAP. Paris On the tennis court at Roland Garros this week, John McEnroe has shown he is coming back — and off-court behaviour suggests he is coming around. In both his French Open matches, the McEnroe most people have wanted to see for the last 10 years has been in action. *

He has won in straight sets both times, and has done so without a word spoken in anger. But his words seem to be speaking as loud as his actions. The man they once called “Superbrat” put the new image right into focus after his second round win yesterday with the accusation that “kids today don’t have no respect.”

Discussing prospects in his third round match against the 16-year-old Michael Chang, McEnroe launched into a speech on the follies of youth. McEnroe was told of Chang’s remark that he had played him in his mind "and in one of those matches I beat him 7-6 in the fifth.” The winner of seven Grand Slam titles was not impressed.

“I don’t think it’s proper that all these young kids coming up today show no respect,” McEnroe said, carefully avoiding “like I did.” “I think it’s important to show respect for the guys who have been around for a long time. It’s a problem on the circuit these days.” For his part, Chang did little to besmirch the •j;

McEnroe name. “He'll probably kick my butt and I’ll learn from it and hopefully do better next time,” Chang said. Chang, who was born in Frank Sinatra’s home town of Hoboken, New Jersey, is the latest childstar of international tennis. In 1987 when he was still 15, he became the youngest player to win a match at the U.S. Open