With American men’s tennis at a new low, Patrick McEnroe is stepping down as GM of USTA Player Development. But the reason is his refusal to relocate full-time to the Orlando area, where the new training headquarters are being moved in 2016.
McEnroe will stay on the next 4-to-6 months during a transitional phase and help the search for a replacement. According to a tennis source, McEnroe preferred to stay on two more years until the Orlando move, but the USTA thought it best to start the change now.
“It made all the sense in the world the person in this position to be full-time based in Orlando,’’ McEnroe said at a press conference. “I think we both looked at each other over the course of a few discussions and realized that probably wasn’t going to be me for a variety of reasons, professional and personal.’’
McEnroe’s wife, Melissa, an actress and singer, needs to be in New York for her career, a source said.
It comes at a time when American men’s tennis has never produced worse results. McEnroe said before the US Open a good showing would be if two American men could get to the second week – the Round of 16. But it didn’t happen.
However, it’s a stretch to say USTA officials demanded his ouster after no American man advanced past the third round for the second straight year.
“We’re not that Steinbrennarian,’’ a USTA spokesman said.
One day before the Open, McEnroe was asked during a meeting with three writers if he would move to Orlando. McEnroe was noncommittal but sounded as if he was in it for the long haul, saying fans had to be patient and the American men’s contingent in the 18-and-under ranks were promising.
USTA CEO Gordon Smith said he isn’t sure yet if he is looking for a big name but added: “Can we clone Patrick? It’s a damn hard job and it’s going to be hard to find somebody.’’
USTA’s top developmental coach is Jose Higueras, and McEnroe said he hopes he will be considered for the job. John McEnroe has already taken himself out of the running.
In his recent sitdown, Patrick McEnroe admitted the USTA board had gotten on him last year for not being “more inclusive’’ in player development. According to a source, the USTA in the past felt he was too involved in broadcasting and all but forced him to give up his weekend radio-show at ESPN Radio in New York last year.
McEnroe said Wednesday, “This is not so much time commitment but location.’’
The American women appear in better shape with more top-100 players, but only Serena Williams, who didn’t develop through the USTA coaching system, made it to the Round of 16.
Before the Open, McEnroe called out the system that doesn’t allow the USTA to sanction coaches, saying America had “lost ground in the world of coaching.’’