ROME, May 11: John McEnroe dropped his racquet on the ground, called opponent Richard Krajicek a cheat and threatened to bare his behind on court today.

``Yeah, Mac is back,'' the greying and bearded American declared at a subsequent news conference.

For once, he could not be serious.

McEnroe, who retired from the tennis circuit in 1992 and played with his rock band at Rome's Foro Italico last night, starred in a one-set exhibition match against Wimbledon champion Krajicek ahead of today's women's final at the Italian Open.

It was knockabout stuff, with no line judges and a well-known Italian boxing journalist in the chair, and it was one of the best-attended events of the week.

The crowd, from which six spectators were invited to face both players' serves, was bigger than at most of the singles matches in the women's tournament.

``You know, he's a known cheat on the circuit,'' the 38-year-old American said after the Dutchman challenged one line call.

Other crowd-pleasing antics included standing on a chair to receive serve, bending over as if to drop his shorts and threatening to hurl his racquet to the ground.

In the end he just let it fall softly.

As a metaphor for changed times, it was a fair one for the former bad boy turned somewhat mellow with the years.

More of the old fire broke out later, however.

``Turn that damned thing off,'' the former triple Wimbledon and US Open champion said to an official whose walkie-talkie crackled into life during the media conference.

The conference had been billed by the organising sponsor as a chance for McEnroe to discuss the changes in tennis since his day. But nobody seemed to have informed the great man.

``Let's just say there's room for improvement,'' he said. ``We can start with the organisation but we don't have that much time. I have got to go back to New York in four hours.''

Asked what advice he would give to the rocket-serving Krajicek, McEnroe replied: ``Serve a little softer.''

``He needs to get more pissed off,'' he added. ``It's got to be a requirement that players have to get more angry. They can afford to get fined so they need to show more emotion.

``And they have got to try harder, they must try harder.''

Then he got bored of the whole subject.

``I think we have in all honesty gone over all this so many times I can't think of anything more boring to discuss,'' he said in reply to another question about the sport's future.

``Its the same thing and nothing changes and we hear the same questions for some idiotic line in your crappy newspaper. It's beyond boring to even discuss it.''

The outburst, genuine or not, cheered him up no end. ``Yeah, now I'm coming back. The real Mac is back. I never left though, I never left. I just went to the seniors' tour.

``I'm coming back to Wimbledon, I just want to make that announcement. Playing the singles at Wimbledon. I want to play the defending champion,'' he joked, having just spent the morning against the big man in question. Krajicek, who memorably cast scorn on women's tennis at Wimbledon five years ago, had another chance to stir up controversy but he stayed on the side of discretion despite McEnroe's goading.

``What was that you said a few years ago?,'' McEnroe asked, after saying that he himself had tried to avoid the women's matches this week. ``Ask Richard about women's tennis. He knows the game a lot better than me. I don't know the game very well.''

``I have no opinion,'' said the Dutchman.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.