John McEnroe left his BBC commentary midway through Arthur Fery’s match against Grigor Dimitrov at Wimbledon on Monday.
The former men’s tennis singles champion, 67, was commentating on the British wildcard sensation Fery’s fourth-round game alongside Andrew Cotter and Tim Henman on Monday.
Fery won the opening set but Dimitrov came back to claim the second, with Fery taking a lengthy toilet break afterward.
The 23-year-old Brit has stunned tennis fans to become this year’s Wimbledon ‘wildcard wonder’. Ranked No. 114 in the world, he booked his place in the semi-finals after defeating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in Tuesday’s quarter-final.
McEnroe took the the opportunity during the pause in play on Monday to make a hasty exit from his commentating duties.
“I think we're going to have to bid farewell at this point," Cotter told viewers. "John McEnroe to take a break, never to return."
McEnroe replied: "Well, hopefully I'll return but I've got contractual obligations to do the lone American in the draw, Taylor Fritz.”
The tennis ace and broadcaster left to commentate on Fritz’s match against Alexander Bublik.
“He's maybe the slight favourite to get to the final on this half. I'm sure Bublik, Zverev and others may have a say about that,” McEnroe said.
“You guys call a great rest of the match."
McEnroe has been dividing Wimbledon viewers with his commentary over the course of the 2026 Championships.
While some fans praised his enthusiastic notes, others called out the former US athlete for going on tangents about various topics during the matches.
McEnroe attracted the ire of viewers especially during the quarter-final between Jannik Sinner and Jan-Lennard Struff on Tuesday.
"God does McEnroe ever stop talking about irrelevant nonsense?" one asked on X, while another added: “McEnroe on again I've switched it off.”
"McEnroe really p***ing me off with his commentary,” a third viewer posted.
While McEnroe has been covering the live matches, Clare Balding has been providing the post-match analysis for the BBC.
The former Celebrity Traitors star was shut down by Tim Henman on Monday for bringing up Henman’s match loss from decades earlier.
Balding mentioned that Fery's 24th birthday on Sunday coincides with the men's final.
"It’s his birthday on Sunday, Tim! Men’s finals day," the former Celebrity Traitors star said. Pundit Jamie Murray replied: "It’s written in the stars."
Balding continued: "And 25 years ago today, so before he was born, the only wildcard to win Wimbledon, Goran Ivanisevic, did that. I mean…"
Serbian player Ivanisevic beat Henman in a five-set semi-final before going on to win Wimbledon. It was the third of Henman's four losses at that stage in the tournament.
Henman was quick to butt in to avoid reliving his failure, saying: "This is a much better story, let’s not go back to 2001!"
Balding replied: "OK, let’s just keep looking forward, you’re right."
Fery has completely defied expectations, transforming his wildcard opportunity into an open-era record-breaking streak.
The young tennis star collapsed with joy after defeating Cobolli to reach the Wimbledon semi finals.
Fery moves on to the Friday semifinals where he will face second seed and reigning French Open champion Alexander Zverev, who defeated Taylor Fritz in straight sets on Court One.
