McEnroe Considering Plans for Comeback

Is Mac coming back? It’s a longshot, but he might, although there probably is a better chance of John McEnroe’s being able to hold his temper for an entire year than there is of his playing anything that resembles a standard touring schedule in 1994.

McEnroe’s game plan for 1994 is to practice, play exhibitions and stay in tune so he won’t be too far off his game if he decides to play again.

“I’m keeping close enough to keep my options open for next year,” he said. “I basically don’t plan on playing, but if suddenly it’s like, ‘I’ve got to play,’ then I’m willing to do what it takes in my mind.”

McEnroe’s recent exhibition schedule has included matches in Hong Kong in October, in Paris last month and in Prague last Friday. He plays a special event against Mats Wilander tonight at the Forum.

McEnroe, who will be 35 in February, thought about how he would have fared on the court this year and looked no further than the U.S. Open.

“I saw guys I felt like I could beat right then in the semifinals,” he said. “And (Cedric) Pioline was in the final, so you say, ‘What’s going on here?’ But the fact of the matter is, I could have gotten to the semis, so what? What does that mean? I did that last year at Wimbledon. Ultimately I made the decision that wasn’t satisfying enough to me.”

McEnroe finished 1992 ranked No. 20. He didn’t play a match this year and disappeared from the computer rankings Nov. 15.