Former Tennis Player McEnroe: Drop Doubles From Majors, Give Prizemoney To Singles

Former U.S. tennis player John McEnroe is casting doubt on whether doubles should be part of major championships because it has become "such a wasteland of diminished playing talent and non-existent pulling power," according to Will Swanton of THE AUSTRALIAN. McEnroe "is so infuriated by the decline in big-name players and substandard fare offered by the alleged B-graders at majors that he claimed during the off-season that it should be banned so battling singles players can receive more substantial pay packets." During the legends event at Royal Albert Hall, McEnroe said, "Why we are even playing doubles at this point is a mystery to me. ... If you cut out doubles and gave that money to singles players ranked between 200 and 1000, maybe that would do something for the game." Doubles experts "are paid handsomely." The world No. 1 pairing of Bob and Mike Bryan "have combined career prizemoney" of $21.9M (THE AUSTRALIAN, 1/7).