McEnroe blasts ‘bastardised’ tour

JOHN McENROE yesterday blasted the decision to allow 30-year-old former world number one Marcelo Rios to play on the senior tennis circuit.

“It’s totally wrong,” fumed the three-time Wimbledon champion, 17 years the Chilean’s senior.

“Over the years they’ve bastardised the whole thing.”

McEnroe is set for a quarter-final showdown with Rios at the BlackRock Masters at London’s Royal Albert Hall today after finishing runner-up in his qualifying group.

The original age limit of 35 has been reduced in recent years to allow new stars like former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic and Richard Krajicek on to the Merrill Lynch Tour of Champions.

McEnroe insisted his complaint was not directed at Rios.

“It’s not like Rios is the first guy,” McEnroe said. “I can name 15 others, but this is the most extreme case.”