John McEnroe: Roger Federer is the most beautiful player I ever watched

Former seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe has said that Roger Federer is the "most beautiful player" he has ever watched. 

Federer, 40, is a former world No. 1 and he has 20 Grand Slams in his collection. 

Ahead of the US Open, McEnroe was asked what has been the most impressive thing about Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. 

"I think Roger set such a great tone, he’s the most beautiful player I ever watched. That inspires people to want to do things on a tennis court that perhaps you would think unthinkable, including the two guys we’re talking about,2 McEnroe told ESPN Press Room.   

"You got Nadal. I look to Connors. I was always like, I’ve never seen a guy try harder where every point was the last point you’re ever going to play. Nadal seems to do that at a level that’s even surpasses Connors, which seems almost impossible. That’s got to inspire people."

McEnroe acknwledged the greatness of Djokovic

"Obviously Djokovic, if you think of the history and the circumstances he grew up in, having to leave his country, just getting inspiration from that ultimately, being able to push these guys to levels they probably didn’t think they’d get to. I can’t imagine even Novak thought he would be truly this incredible a player is what it boils down to, have the opportunity to do something," McEnroe noted.

"He’s actually already held four in a row; he just didn’t win them all in the same year. Now he’s got a chance to do this.  

"I’m absolutely amazed at his ability to improve, not only technically on a court, but also just as a human being, he’s able to find sort of some sense of peace while you’re out there competing at the highest level. I think it will be lessons that people will be looking at for the next 10, 20 years."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3Df33w9