Home

Tennis

Mixed Doubles Partner Indulges In Cheeky Banter as She Pokes Fun at ‘Grandfather’ John McEnroe

Published 01/31/2024, 3:20 PM EST

Follow Us

via Getty

Former pro tennis players Maria Sharapova and John McEnroe are practicing for their pickleball tournament together. In fact, John McEnroe is mentoring Sharapova in the sport. They are most likely to compete against the real-life couple Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf. Since the two of them have been playing together, they have developed a fun relationship.

Just recently in a video, Sharapova and McEnroe can be seen having fun and leg-pulling each other. While the video captured their candid practice sessions and conversation, Sharapova took a dig at McEnroe by calling him elderly in a joking way.

Maria Sharapova on John McEnroe: An idol, a mentor…a grandfather?

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The pickleball slam’s second season begins on February 4. The practice sessions for the tournament have vividly gotten intense but for Maria Sharapova and John McEnroe, they continue to remain fun as they practice together.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest Tennis stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

In a recent video on YouTube, it can be seen how the two of them have developed a friendly relationship and are pulling each other’s leg. Sharapova during the video can be heard saying, “Mac has always been like an idol, a mentor, and a grandfather to me.

Further, the two of them can also be seen discussing how Sharapova may be replaced by someone else and McEnroe teases her about getting fired. All the fun aside though, the tournament seems to be getting fans very excited about who will win the $1 million prize.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Even though Sharapova was joking about McEnroe, she also had some nice things to say about her opponent on the court for pickleball, Steffi Graf.

Sharapova appreciates her childhood idol and pickleball opponent Steffi Graf

This was a very iconic moment for Maria Sharapova as she would get to play against her idol and hero, Steffi Graf. In the same conversation, the Russian tennis legend mentioned how when she was ten years old, she thought Graf was very extraordinary and the smoothest mover on the court as a player. She also mentioned that she was one of the most admired athletes of her time and for her as well. Sharapova also added that Graf had the entire package and not just on the court but she had an amazing aura off the court as well.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Which iconic pairing are you rooting for in the upcoming pickleball game? Let us know your choices in the comments below!

Watch This Story: Distressing Serena Williams Reality Leaves Gaping Void That’s Nearly Impossible to Fill for Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Ishmeet Kaur

707Articles

One take at a time

Growing up, I was always drawn to tennis and would spend hours watching matches on TV. It's no surprise that I eventually pursued a career in sports journalism, with a focus on the racket sport.?As a tennis sportswriter for EssentiallySports, I've had the opportunity to cover some of the biggest tournaments.
Show More>

Edited by:

Arunima Bhanot