Former seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe has admitted that more attention will be paid to Novak Djokovic at this year’s US Open as Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will not play.
Nadal is out for the remainder of the season with a foot injury, while Federer announced a third knee operation. “As for Djokovic, since Roger and Rafa are not here, it becomes apparent that they are paying even more attention to him and his pursuit of the slam.
That won’t make it easier, “McEnroe told ESPN Press Room.” Obviously, it opens the doors for the Zverevs, Medvedevs, Tsitsipases of the world. Thiem isn’t even here. He won it last year.
It’s still strange times. Hopefully it will have a lot of fans. I mean, everyone’s keeping their fingers crossed. It will obviously be better for everyone if it does, including Novak, who I think was negatively affected in Tokyo.
But I still think he will. “Easier said than done, as Pam said. There’s a reason it hasn’t been done in 50 years. It’s difficult. It’s really tough. We’ll see how he handles it.
He handles it as well as anyone I’ve seen in the last five or ten years of his career. I think he’s ready for the moment. ”
Djokovic the top favorite to win the US Open
Nadal and Federer are not the only big names missing from this year’s US Open, because defending champion Dominic Thiem will not play at Flushing Meadows this year either.
Former world number 1 McEnroe was asked who Djokovic’s biggest threat at the US Open is. “It’s hard to say which of these guys, whether Zverev, Tsitsipas, Medvedev, those are the obvious ones that come to mind, who would be best able to do that.
I couldn’t predict. I would say it would be one of those three players if it were, “said McEnroe.
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