Tennis doesn’t need umpires, John McEnroe has said - as he admitted he would have been a “boring player” with Hawkeye, video technology which decides if the ball is in or out.

The three-time Wimbledon winner, who earned a reputation as a “superbrat” for his outbursts, claimed he would have won more often if the ball-tracking technology had existed during his career.

He also said he attempted to act more like his unemotional rival, Bjorn Borg, but would lose control “in ten minutes”.

Speaking to the Radio Times, McEnroe said: “I think that tennis is one of the few sports where you don’t need umpires or linesmen. If you have this equipment, and it’s accurate, isn’t it nice to know that the correct call’s being made?”

“Had I had it from the very beginning, I would have been more boring, but I would have won more.”

His rivalry with Borg was nicknamed “Fire and Ice”, with commentators contrasting the American’s tantrums with Borg’s composure.