MADRID — John McEnroe responded to a remark from David Broncano, host of the Spanish talk show La Revuelta, about the disparity in Grand Slam titles between the U.S. and Spain. Broncano noted that, despite Spain's population being only a fraction of the U.S., it has won 30 more Grand Slam titles in recent years, prompting laughter from the audience. McEnroe, in Madrid as an ambassador for the Inclusive Tennis Masters organized by Fundación Sanitas, acknowledged the comment with, “We’re improving,” and “we’re getting closer.”

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Since 2003, the United States has not seen a male player win a Grand Slam, with Andy Roddick being the last. This record-breaking gap starkly contrasts with the achievements of Spanish tennis, where legends like Sergi Bruguera, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Albert Costa, and Carlos Moyà led to Rafael Nadal's remarkable career. Nadal boasts 22 Grand Slam titles, including 14 at Roland Garros, a benchmark now complemented by Carlos Alcaraz and the emerging Rafael Jódar.

McEnroe emphasized the need for the U.S. to examine Spain’s tennis success more closely. “First we had Rafa Nadal, and now Alcaraz. We need more players at that level,” he said at the Caja Mágica, venue for the Madrid Masters 1000 and the Inclusive Tennis Masters. He expressed hope that Alcaraz would maintain his health, and that Jódar could follow in Nadal's footsteps. “It’s an incredible time for Spanish tennis,” he added.

Reflecting on Alcaraz, McEnroe described him as his favorite player to watch and shared admiration for Jódar, noting his rapid progress at a young age.

In an interview with Cadena Ser, McEnroe also commented on an impressive statistic about Nadal: the Spaniard finished his career without breaking a single racket. “It’s something I don’t understand. He never broke a racket. What’s wrong with him? Maybe he’s a robot and not human,” joked McEnroe, whose own reputation as a 'bad boy' persists.

During his visit, McEnroe enjoyed traditional Spanish foods like jamón and tortilla, participated in various media interviews, and interacted with fans at the Caja Mágica. His itinerary was similar to that of fellow ambassador Gabriela Sabatini, who visited the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.

McEnroe and Sabatini captained teams in the Inclusive Tennis Masters, where players with and without disabilities competed alongside each other. Notable participants included Martín de la Puente, world No. 3 in wheelchair tennis. McEnroe, reflecting on the experience, said, “The feeling of playing tennis in a chair is very strange. I’ve tried it. But playing tennis normally is hard enough… I’m too old to try it now. Though maybe, when I’m even older, I’ll give it another shot.”