Stockholm: John McEnroe lashed out at the chair umpire after losing in the Stockholm Open doubles with Swedish partner Jonas Bjorkman on Friday.
The 47-year-old American and much younger Bjorkman lost 7-6 7-6 to Swede Simon Aspelin and Australian Todd Perry in the second round after failing to capitalise on their chances.
Cheered on by most of the home crowd, the pair led 6-3 in the first set tie-break and by a break in the second but Aspelin and Perry, the third seeds, managed to come back each time.
In the first set tie-break Perry hit an ace which was given out but then ruled in by the chair umpire, taking Aspelin and Perry to 6-5 and prompting McEnroe and Bjorkman to protest.
Aspelin and Perry then won three points to take the set.
"It brings back memories of the last thirty years I've played. It's just disgraceful, absolutely disgraceful," said McEnroe, who is known at the tournament for throwing one of his biggest tantrums during a semi-final back in 1984.
"I've seen it so many times, it's the only way they can get their name in the paper. I wanted to tell him what I really felt, but I tried to hold back," said the American.
At 6-5 down in the second set, McEnroe saved two match points on his serve to force a tie-break in which Aspelin and Perry proved too strong.
"I'm disappointed, it's a match we should have won. What can I say, we blew it. I don't think they were better than us," added McEnroe, who won the San Jose doubles title with the 34-year-old Bjorkman in February.
"They kept fighting, so they deserve the credit."
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