Chris Evert has backed Patrick McEnroe’s emotional plea to protect the interests of American kids in college sports in the USA. Evert’s backing of John McEnroe’s younger brother came on the back of prominent American media personalities Megyn Kelly and Tomi Lahren voicing their support for the former men’s doubles No. 3.
On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, McEnroe testified before the House Committee on Education & Workforce, a US congressional committee, warning about a lack of American players in college sports in the country. The younger brother of American tennis legend John McEnroe said:
Thanks for the submission!
“What does a 15 or 16-year-old American kid think when he or she looks around and sees college rosters filled with older, fully developed players from all around the world, many of who have professional experience? At some point the message changes from ‘work hard and you might earn your opportunity’ to ‘maybe that opportunity isn’t really there for you anymore.'”
The 60-year-old, who famously won the men’s doubles title at Roland Garros back in 1989, added:
“For millions of kids, college sports is not a professional dream. It’s the next rung on a ladder. Take away enough rungs and eventually, kids stop climbing.”
Megyn Kelly, the prominent American journalist, attorney, political commentator and media personality, took to X (formerly Twitter) to laud McEnroe over his plea, as did fellow commentator and TV show host Tomi Lahren.
“Great job @PatrickMcEnroe,” Kelly wrote.
“Illegal immigration is awful. We also have a legal immigration problem. We’re kind of full… Maybe we take a few year hiatus from importing the world?” Lahren added.
Former World No. 1 women’s singles tennis superstar Chris Evert, who won 18 singles major titles during her playing days, echoed Kelly and Lahren’s sentiments, writing:
“I second that, great job and message, PMac!👏”
“I didn’t go to college; I joined the tour right away” – When Chris Evert recalled dealing with fame from an early age
In a candid 2022 interview with CBS News, Chris Evert revisited her youth and spoke up about how finding fame very early on in life made her feel somewhat ‘entitled and enabled’ later on. It’s worth noting that unlike numerous American tennis players, Evert did not play collegiate tennis before turning professional.
“I think that my fame at a young age, I really didn’t get to have the freedom to develop the authentic me at a young age. I didn’t go to college; I joined the tour right away. And you know, I think people that, again, are always told, ‘You’re the greatest,’ and patted on the back, and people can’t say no to them, you know?” Evert said.
She later added:
“I think when that happens years, and years, and years, and years, I think you become a little entitled and a little enabled. And I’m the first to admit that. I feel like that affected my relationships with people, and with my marriages… I think you pay a price.”
Chris Evert is currently focusing on her health and recovery after announcing a third recurrence of her ovarian cancer in June this year.
Edited by Sudipto Pati