Roger Federer is the form player going into next week’s US Open but Novak Djokovic (in pic) is favourite to win the title for a second time, according to former champion John McEnroe. Federer, who reigned supreme at Flushing Meadows with five consecutive titles from 2004, won the Cincinnati title last week on the back of reaching the final in Toronto and with world No. 2 Rafael Nadal injured, many believe the 33-year-old Swiss maestro can claim an 18th Grand Slam title.
‘Obviously not having to deal with (Nadal) is a huge positive for him potentially down the road if he’s at a stage at the end of the event,’ McEnroe said in a conference call with TV channel ESPN for whom he will be working as a commentator during the year’s final Grand Slam.
‘I would give a slight, slight favourite to Djokovic based on it being best-of-five. He’s younger and he can go the distance perhaps a little bit more easily than Roger at this stage. A little bit. Depending on what happens leading up to it if they were to play in the final, some of it would have to do with how much was left in the tank from previous matches,’ he added.
Djokovic beat Federer in an epic Wimbledon final but the 27-year-old, who has just married long-time girlfriend Jelena Ristic, lost early in Toronto and Cincinnati and McEnroe believes the Serb has lost focus.
‘I don’t think Novak’s mind has been into it since, it was one of the greatest matches I ever saw at Wimbledon. He got married. I didn’t see a lot of his matches since, but I saw a few. I think it was difficult for him to get back into the swing of things. I believe he’ll be ready here,’ he said. McEnroe also believes Briton Andy Murray, the 2012 champion, can use the US Open to spark a long-awaited return to form.
‘Obviously not having to deal with (Nadal) is a huge positive for him potentially down the road if he’s at a stage at the end of the event,’ McEnroe said in a conference call with TV channel ESPN for whom he will be working as a commentator during the year’s final Grand Slam.
‘I would give a slight, slight favourite to Djokovic based on it being best-of-five. He’s younger and he can go the distance perhaps a little bit more easily than Roger at this stage. A little bit. Depending on what happens leading up to it if they were to play in the final, some of it would have to do with how much was left in the tank from previous matches,’ he added.
Djokovic beat Federer in an epic Wimbledon final but the 27-year-old, who has just married long-time girlfriend Jelena Ristic, lost early in Toronto and Cincinnati and McEnroe believes the Serb has lost focus.
‘I don’t think Novak’s mind has been into it since, it was one of the greatest matches I ever saw at Wimbledon. He got married. I didn’t see a lot of his matches since, but I saw a few. I think it was difficult for him to get back into the swing of things. I believe he’ll be ready here,’ he said. McEnroe also believes Briton Andy Murray, the 2012 champion, can use the US Open to spark a long-awaited return to form.