ESPN will have worldwide coverage of this year’s US Open beginning Monday, August 27 live from Flushing Meadows, Queens with brothers John and Patrick McEnroe again serving as analysts.
Besides commenting on all the juicy back and forth at this year’s competition with tennis stars including Roger Federer, the Williams Sisters, Andy Murray, Maria Sharapova and Andy Roddick, John will take a break and do what he does best, get on the court for an exhibition match with Adam Sandler and challenge funny man Kevin James and fellow pro Jim Courier.
Had a few words with the tennis great on the phone and here’s how it went.
Gossip Gal: John, are you looking forward to the exhibition game with Adam Sandler, and how much practice is involved with you and Adam? Will you and Adam be practicing?
JOHN McENROE: (Chuckling) Hopefully. He may need a little more practice than I do, I’m just guessing. But yeah, I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be fun. It’s Thursday night right before men’s quarters and that’s a big time for our men as it winds down to the top couple players.
His tennis great brother added:
PATRICK McENROE: Let me just say, John, since he won’t be able to be in the broadcast booth for that match, I’m hoping Will Ferrell will come up and join me.
JOHN McENROE: Well, you know, you may know this, Pat. Will was originally involved but I guess he decided he would rather broadcast a match with you. They have got Kevin James, who obviously, he’s got a sense of humor too, and Adam. So I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. If I don’t break too much of a sweat, I’ll try to get up there for that match with you.
Gossip Gal: Have you ever played with Adam before? Are you friends?
JOHN McENROE: I would like to consider myself a friend. He’s been nice enough to put me in four of his movies. I would like to consider myself as a friend to some degree. I think he’s a great guy. But I have not been on a tennis court with him, never.
Gossip Gal: That is exciting and we are looking forward to that.
JOHN McENROE: I’ll be nervous but I’ll be less nervous than him in this case, because there will probably be 10,000 or 15,000, and I’m a little more used to it on a tennis court than he is. Hopefully I won’t be the one to lay an egg but I’m confident that we’re going to get it done.
Gossip Gal: Trust me, he’ll be the one sweating.
JOHN McENROE: Thank you.
Tune in Thursday, Sept 6 at 7:00pm on ESPN2 to see McEnroe/Sandler challenge Courier/James for charity with Colin Quinn as chair umpire.
Love the interview!