McEnroe backs Nadal to shine at US Open

JOHN McEnroe has tipped newly crowned Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal to complete a career Grand Slam later this year by lifting his first ever US Open title. 

READY FOR MORE: Rafael Nadal claimed his eighth career Grand Slam title at Wimbledon (Action Images)

Seven-time Grand Slaim winner McEnroe, who himself won two Wimbledon titles and five US Open titles, believes the sky is the limit for Nadal now that the Spaniard is fully fit and hungrier than ever to win the one Grand Slam title currently missing from his collection of eight. 

"Nadal wants to win the US Open so badly," said McEnroe, in an interview with atpchampions.com. 

"It'd be hard not to pick him at this time even though he's never won it.

"The guy's just an animal; he's mentally and physically incredible and he can definitely do it if he's in this shape.

"The conditions in New York don't suit Nadal so well and he needs to make his body hold up. 

"So I think after Wimbledon he is going to take some time off and get his knees recovered and then maybe not play too many matches before the Open."

McEnroe also warned Roger Federer fans not to panic after his quarter-final exit at the All England Club.

"Federer's done so amazingly well that anything but a win is almost considered a bad tournament," he added. "But he's won the Australian Open and been in two other quarters at Majors this year, and almost any other player would love that."

"It's inevitable at some stage, when you've won 16 and you've broken every record that maybe you lose that will at certain times.

"I think Federer is going to win a couple more Majors but you won't see him dominate the way he has before. He's a great enough talent and he has enough pride that he'll figure out a way to get a couple more Slams."