Patrick McEnroe on U.S. Open weed smell, trans athletes, foreign recruits reshaping college tennis
Tennis icon Patrick McEnroe is pushing for federal reform in college athletics while weighing in on transgender participation and the mysterious weed stench that hit the U.S. Open this year.
Appearing on OutKick's "Tomi Lahren is Fearless," the former U.S. Davis Cup captain sounded the alarm on foreign recruits dominating American college rosters, calling tennis the ultimate "canary in the coal mine." Watching a marquee matchup between top SEC and ACC teams, McEnroe noticed a staggering imbalance: 21 of the 24 players on court were foreign recruits.
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McEnroe stressed, "So I knew that the numbers were getting pretty high in tennis. I've been in tennis my whole life. I played college tennis, had an amazing experience, and I became, quite frankly, deeply concerned."
Appearing before the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, ESPN commentator Patrick McEnroe addressed lawmakers on the shrinking presence of American student-athletes in NCAA programs. (Education and Workforce Committee)
McEnroe is taking a stand in order to award the most opportunities possible to American collegiate athletes. The response prompted McEnroe to pen a Wall Street Journal op-ed and take his fight straight to Capitol Hill, meeting with Washington politicians to push a new bill currently heading before the House of Representatives.
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"American universities were put in place, the athletic departments, to help our kids, to educate them, to give them opportunity," McEnroe argued, stressing U.S. schools should prioritize domestic talent over international pros.
McEnroe didn't pull punches on trans athletes in women's sports either. As a father of three daughters, McEnroe wants to protect young girls in sports.
"I'm not for a trans playing in female sports, no, I'm not," McEnroe said.
The veteran broadcaster also weighed in on the marijuana haze that disrupted play at the U.S. Open, urging complaining players to lighten up. McEnroe blamed tournament workers taking quick breaks on the street behind the venue.
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Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after defeating Jessica Pegula in the women’s singles semifinal on Day 12 of the 2026 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 10, 2026, in Flushing, Queens. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
"Instead of taking a break and having some Gatorade, I guess they were taking a little puff," he joked.
Broadcasting one night with brother John, Patrick admitted he actually misses the old days when charcoal grill smoke drifted over the courts.
"I kind of miss the smell of the burger," McEnroe laughed. "A little weed, if I smelled it in the air, wouldn't affect me as much as a burger, the smell from the charcoal of the burger."
"Get over it," McEnroe declared. "Making a mountain out of a molehill, not that big of a deal."
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Patrick McEnroe poses for a photo during the Red Carpet Pre-Show of the International Tennis Hall of Fame 2026 Induction Ceremony on Aug. 29, 2026, in Newport, R.I. (Getty Images)
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Alejandro Avila is a longtime writer at OutKick, living in Southern California.
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