Tennis legend John McEnroe has said that doubles should be scrapped at Grand Slam tournaments.

The former world number one won nine major doubles titles during his career, but he says that the format no longer has any place at the main events because the elite players do not take part.

"Why we are even playing doubles at this point is a mystery to me," McEnroe told The Telegraph. "I love doubles but I don't even recognise what this is.

"If there was a volleying contest from the service line, most of these guys couldn't. They play an inch from the net. It is like wham, bam, thank you ma'am. If you cut out doubles and gave that money to singles players ranked between 200 and 1,000, maybe that would do something for the game.

"Most doubles players, I hate to say, are the slow guys who were not quick enough to play singles."

Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion McEnroe claimed 71 career ATP doubles titles, 57 of which were won with Peter Fleming as his partner.