McEnroe Isn’t Romancing the British Tabloids

The rain stopped briefly here Tuesday, long enough for John McEnroe to play his first match, to win it, to have his first press conference--and to win that, too.

McEnroe fired the first shot in his annual war with the British tabloids, denying a report that had yet to be printed. Several newspapers are going with the story today that McEnroe picked out a ring last month in Paris to give actress Tatum O’Neal for a wedding that would follow Wimbledon.

McEnroe coolly set the record straight, saying the report was “a complete falsehood.”

Then he got serious, saying that he was having difficulty concentrating this year and that the blame lay with the tabloids’ treatment of his relationship with O’Neal.

“It’s not because of my friendship with Tatum, it’s what’s being written about it . . . the constant things that are being made up and not even asked,” he said.

“The reason she’s not here is because I don’t want to deal with that situation. That’s not the way it should be. You’re supposed to come here and enjoy it. I want to come here and play tennis.”

He then pointed to several writers whom he accused of making up stories about him.

“If I was given a 1% chance, I wouldn’t mind answering the questions,” he said. “I’d be the first to tell you when I get engaged. Why should I keep that a secret?

“They (the tabloids) don’t have to lie about me. . . . They don’t even say good luck to you.”

Of course, McEnroe, two-time defending men’s champion, needed no luck Tuesday, defeating Peter McNamara, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. Martina Navratilova, three-time defending women’s champion, beat Lisa Bonder, 6-0, 6-2.

Those were two of only seven matches completed after a full afternoon of rain, but they were six more than were finished Monday. After two days, Wimbledon is only 120 matches behind schedule. Seventy matches are scheduled for today, with the forecast calling for some sunshine and some rain.