A new breed of Superbrat

McEnroe: Safin and Kuerten are great for the game

BBC Sport Online's Peter Sanderson speaks to tennis legend John McEnroe about the fiery characters filtering through the tennis ranks.

They say humility is no substitute for a good personality.

And with his 40th birthday behind him, tennis legend John McEnroe is relishing the prospect of seeing a new generation of tennis stars succeed him as chief Superbrat.

  McEnroe meets Clarkson

John McEnroe will be on BBC Two's Clarkson programme, with Jeremy Clarkson, on Thursday 7 December at 22:00 GMT

In recent years, McEnroe's primary concern has been that the game was losing all its characters.

He believed tennis was trying to discipline any player on the circuit who was threatening to have a "dynamic personality".

McEnroe used to shudder at the very thought of the modern game being full of humourless, robotic professionals - capable only of serving, volleying and keeping their mouths shut.

The three-times Wimbledon singles champion has always believed that there is a place for a player who is prepared to challenge the umpire.

It would be great if the characters in the men's game could market themselves a bit more

  McEnroe

It is a skill that Ilie Nastase, Jimmy Connors and the Superbrat himself could execute with more style but less grace than a Pete Sampras back-hand pass.

Cue Gustavo Kuerten, a 24-year-old from Florianopolis with fire in his Latin American belly and tennis close to his heart.

"I was beginning to think tennis had lost its character - especially in the men's game," McEnroe told BBC Sport Online.

"There didn't seem to be anyone who could take over from the likes of Jimmy Connors and myself.

"We realised that you can entertain the crowd by doing more than hitting a ball with your racket.

"But then I saw this chap from Brazil - not only was he a stylish player, he also thrilled the crowd with his colourful character.

McEnroe: A real character

"It's a while since I've seen someone roared on so passionately by such devoted fans.

"But it's no surprise that they love him because he has this real engaging personality and if a decision doesn't go his way you can bet he will let the umpire know."

As well as Kuerten, McEnroe also believes the tennis personality factory has rustled up two potentially explosive individuals in Australian Lleyton Hewitt and Russian Marat Safin.

"Hewitt is a fiery character who isn't scared to show just how much he hates losing," said McEnroe. "He reminds me of myself in that respect.

"And Safin strikes me as someone with some real anger inside him.

"He has let it out a few times already during matches. But I'd like to see him use it a little more."

When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves

  Confucius

McEnroe is in Britain for this year's Honda Challenge at the Royal Albert Hall.

"I just hope the likes of Kuerten and Safin develop the personalities they have," he said.

"From a media perspective, the women's game is dominated by the Williams sisters and Anna Kournikova.

"It would be great if the characters in the men's game could market themselves a bit more so that the game can become as popular as it used to be."