McEnroe: Federer is greatest player of all time

Posted: Tuesday 9th February 2010 | 20:21

SEVEN-time Grand Slam winner John McEnroe insists Roger Federer is already the greatest player of all time.

Roger Federer is the world's greatest tennis player according to John McEnroe
WORLD'S GREATEST: Roger Federer has already notched up 16 Grand Slam titles (Getty Images)

Federer, still only 28, secured his 16th Grand Slam title in the Australian Open final defeating Andy Murray last month and has been world number one for 268 non-consecutive weeks throughout his career.

McEnroe, who won three of his titles at Wimbledon in the eighties, believes that the long list of records held by the man from Switzerland, including that of reaching 23 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals since 2003, will never be bettered.

"Roger is just the greatest player of all time," he said, in an interview ahead of the new ATP Champions Tour, which kicks off in Delray Beach next month.

"He is the most beautiful player I've ever seen and I don't ever get tired of watching him.

"Rod Laver is my idol, Pete Sampras is the greatest grass court player ever, but Roger is just the greatest player of all.

"I think we can all appreciate how incredible he is even more lately, because he's shown a bit more emotion on court and he's become a father so he seems a bit more human, more relatable.

"That makes what he's doing seem even more amazing."

Federer's closest rival over recent years has undoubtedly been Spaniard Rafael Nadal with the pair battling it out in seven Grand Slam finals to date.

And with Nadal holding a 5-2 lead on that score, McEnroe is hoping the 23-year-old from Mallorca can overcome his recent injury problems to rekindle his rivalry with the current world number one.

"It's unfortunate that Rafa is struggling with injury because his rivalry with Roger has become an incredible one, and rivalries are great for the sport," added McEnroe.

"I think at the moment Nadal's injury is working to Roger's benefit because he was able to take advantage of it at the French Open and dig deep to win that one.

"But at the same time I think it would be nice to think that Nadal could stick around for a couple of years and push Roger a bit because competition like that can push you that bit harder."