Wimbledon 2024: ESPN’s Last-Minute Move With John Isner Frustrates Tennis Insider as He Offers an Interesting Alternative

Ben Rothenberg has made his stance clear about the entry of a new commentator at Wimbledon. Along with Nick Kyrgios, another fresh voice will add to the excitement of Wimbledon, generating a new sense of enthusiasm among fans this season. It is none other than the retired tennis pro, John Isner! However, Rothenberg, a sportswriter from Washington, feels this might not be the ideal choice. Instead, his preference lies with Sam Querrey, a former American tennis pro. Stating his reasons behind it, Rothenberg did not hesitate to make his “math” clear to the world.

On June 27, ESPN announced John Isner’s entry for the two-week coverage of Wimbledon. Isner, who retired after last year’s U.S. Open, is now all set to voice his candid opinions during the matches. However, this new addition did not sit well with Ben Rothenberg. Known for his coverage of Naomi Osaka, Rothenberg took to his Twitter account and shared his opinion, “ngl I’m wishing Sam Querrey were calling Wimbledon with how strong his Instagram reel auditions have been. ESPN has been *so* slow to get players from recent generations who actually played against current players in prime booth spots. By my math: one Querrey > two McEnroes.”

Nevertheless, in his next tweet about John Isner, Ben Rothenberg added, “Yeah, Isner is a smart guy and will probably be great, especially if he’s given big match reps.” Isner’s Instagram feed might not be full of match highlights and commentary, but his connection to Wimbledon has grabbed the attention of many tennis enthusiasts. After all, it is where he created history in 2010 with his 11-hour and 5-minute match against Nicholas Mahut. 

How Ishner will perform as a commentator, is yet to be seen. But, Sam Querrey has done some amazing commentary on his Instagram which cannot be overlooked. Although retired, former World No. 11 Sam Querrey has maintained his connection to tennis. Besides appearing on Racquet’s Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast and sharing his thoughts on ongoing matches, the 36-year-old also has a hobby of sharing quick commentary reels on Instagram. Whether it’s the French Open or the Queen’s Club Championships, Querrey’s commentary has hit the right chord in fans’ hearts. 

His posts about recent events and flashbacks to the Queen’s Club Championships from a decade ago display his humor and engaging storytelling. For example, his recent reel on Tommy Paul’s Queen’s Club match has got the spotlight due to Rothenberg’s comparison of Sam Querrey to John McEnroe.

McEnroe, who has been commentating on ESPN for over two decades, has received mixed reactions from fans due to his candid remarks on air. His strange comments on Nicholas Jarry ( not being a well-known player) during last year’s Wimbledon are still fresh in everyone’s mind.

Anyway, Isner is excited about joining ESPN and said, “I am thrilled to be joining the ESPN team to cover such an amazing event. I can’t wait to see what the week brings from the booth.” However, apart from Isner, Rothenberg also commented on Nick Kyrgios’ upcoming Wimbledon commentary.

After John Isner, Ben Rothenberg shares his opinion on Nick Kyrgios’ upcoming commentary at Wimbledon

Before John Isner, the tennis world was already buzzing about Nick Kyrgios’ Wimbledon commentary this season. Known for his powerful serve and dominating personality on-court, Nick Kyrgios has taken on a different role off-court after being absent from tennis for over a year. He made his debut with ESPN earlier in January, during the Australian Open. Now, he is back with his captivating remarks at Wimbledon. 

According to Rothenberg, Nick Kyrgios needs some training before commencing his commentary journey. “From what I’ve heard Kyrgios needs some coaching, I think. In earlier appearances, what he’s cooked up on air too often is nowhere near as spicy as was advertised on the label so far,” his tweet reads.

On the other hand, the former Wimbledon finalist said, “I’ve had great matches on the court in the past, and I can’t wait to be on the other side, teaming up with ESPN to break down matches on those legendary grass courts. Looking forward to giving fans a fresh take on the game!”

As both John Isner and Nick Kyrgios set the stage up for a new generation of commentary at Wimbledon, fans are hoping to enjoy this new experience this year!