For the former world No. 1, that player is Carlos Alcaraz. “I mean, I’ve watched tennis for 50 years or longer… Of all the players I’ve ever watched, at this age, I’ve never seen a player this good and this complete for the last two or three years,” McEnroe told Tennis Channel.

The numbers back up McEnroe’s assessment. Federer kickstarted his era of dominance by winning Wimbledon in 2003—his first of 20 Grand Slam titles—at age 22.

Nadal burst onto the scene two years later, winning Roland Garros in 2005 at just 19, ultimately finishing with 22 majors and igniting his storied rivalry with Federer. Djokovic claimed his first major in 2008 at 21 and has since gone on to capture a record 24 Grand Slam titles, eclipsing both Federer and Nadal.

Yet none of them had matched Alcaraz’s pace at the same age. By 22, the Spaniard has already collected six Grand Slam titles. Only Nadal came close, with five majors by that point in his career.

Nadal on Alcaraz’s future

Speaking with Spanish outlet RNE, Rafael Nadal praised Alcaraz’s trajectory but also urged caution about expectations. “His career looks like it’s on track to become something unique,” said the 14-time French Open champion. “I just hope it’s a long career, because that’s what he’ll need to reach certain milestones”.

Nadal emphasized that Alcaraz’s age means there is still plenty of time, but also potential risks. “Hopefully injuries stay away and everything goes well for him. For now, he already has six Grand Slams,” Nadal said. “But let’s not get ahead of ourselves…”

The Spanish legend continued to highlight the achievements of the current world No. 1. “Six Grand Slams is an incredible number,” Nadal said. “I just hope he can win as many as possible”.

A seven-time Grand Slam champion and owner of 77 career titles, McEnroe has long been considered one of the most respected voices in tennis. That’s why his latest comments during the US Open made plenty of noise across the sport.

Speaking with ESPN, the 66-year-old offered high praise for World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, even putting the Spaniard above Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. “Carlos Alcaraz, at 21 or 22 years old, is the most talented player I’ve ever seen on a tennis court,” McEnroe said. “That’s more than Roger Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, for whom I have great respect”.

McEnroe doubled down on his admiration for Alcaraz, comparing him to some of the sport’s greatest names. “I idolized Rod Laver, I played with Pete Sampras. This guy is unbelievably good when he’s on. One of the fastest players ever to step on a court, with an incredible personality and attitude. He’s got every shot in the book,” he added.

On Alcaraz’s budding rivalry with World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, McEnroe didn’t hold back: “You want two great players in any sport to push each other to their best. In my opinion, if both play their absolute best, Carlos Alcaraz is the best overall player. If he’s at an A-minus or below, Sinner will beat him. That’s what it comes down to”.

McEnroe on Djokovic and the chase for 25th Major title

Despite his praise for Alcaraz, McEnroe also weighed in on Novak Djokovic’s quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title. The Serbian, who owns seven Wimbledon crowns, was beaten in straight sets by Sinner in the semifinals earlier this summer—a result that raised doubts for McEnroe.

“It’s the first time I’ve looked at him and thought: ‘I’m not sure he’s going to come back,’” McEnroe told the BBC. “I don’t know if he can accept being one or two steps below these guys (Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz). He’s finally joined the group of veteran champions who realize the best may be behind them—and they have to come to terms with that”.

Still, Djokovic remains firmly in the hunt at the US Open, where he faces Cameron Norrie in the third round. A win would move him one step closer to a historic 25th major, and potentially quiet McEnroe’s doubts—at least for now.

Alcaraz debuted a fresh appearance at this year’s US Open, sporting a buzz cut that caught the attention of Sharapova and McEnroe, who discussed it extensively on the official tournament broadcast.

“I haven’t even gotten to his tennis yet. I’m still fixated on the buzz cut,” Sharapova remarked. “It’s so low maintenance, and he just went for it. That’s a bold decision. I’d be so superstitious. But that’s what you have to love about him, his ability to be so free and confident, exuding an aura that transcends the game.”

McEnroe also had thoughts on Alcaraz’s new style. “That haircut, did he get the buzz cut from his hair stylist in Spain? He brought someone in for Wimbledon. I’m curious because you can get that for 20 bucks right here in the city,“ McEnroe quipped.

Alcaraz engages with fans over new haircut

From the outset, Alcaraz anticipated that his fresh hairstyle would generate buzz, not only on social media but also among fans filling the stands. Unlike the biblical story of Samson, whose powers waned after his haircut, Alcaraz continued his season with remarkable performances, as this one against Opelka.

When prompted by event organizers about his updated look, Alcaraz turned to his fans for their opinions, setting up a poll to gauge their reactions. The fans responded resoundingly, offering enthusiastic applause and showing their approval of his new style at US Open.

Alcaraz explains the haircut change

Though the focus may have veered from Alcaraz’s on-court performance, his new haircut was undoubtedly the talk of the tournament, even catching the attention of tennis icons like Sharapova and McEnroe. Naturally, the media was eager to understand Alcaraz’s decision to change his hairstyle.

“Suddenly, my brother just mishandled the clippers. He cut it, and the only way to fix it was to shave it off completely,” Alcaraz revealed. “To be honest, it’s not that good… it’s not that bad, I guess. I’m not really into hair at all. I’m the kind of guy who thinks, ‘Okay, hair grows back,’ and in a few days, it’s going to be fine, I suppose. It just happened, and that’s it.”

McEnroe, a former World No. 1 who captured three Wimbledon titles and four U.S. Open championships, remains a prominent figure in the sport as both a respected commentator and former champion. A longtime admirer of Djokovic, McEnroe offered a rare and candid assessment of the 24-time Grand Slam winner’s current standing.

Djokovic, who has won Wimbledon seven times, was soundly defeated by Sinner in straight sets. McEnroe admitted the performance raised doubts about Djokovic’s ability to bounce back. “It’s the first time I’ve looked at him and thought: ‘I’m not sure he’s going to come back,’” McEnroe said on the BBC

“I don’t know if he can accept being one or two steps below these guys (Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz). He’s finally joined the group of veteran champions who realize the best may be behind them—and they have to come to terms with that,” he added.

As Djokovic navigates the latter stages of his career, questions continue to mount about how much longer he can compete at the highest level. McEnroe’s remarks echo a growing sentiment that the dominance of tennis’ longtime king may finally be nearing its end.

Djokovic on his loss to Sinner

After the 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 loss to Sinner, Djokovic addressed reporters and remained firm about his intentions. “I would be sad if it were my last match, but I hope it’s not my last match on Centre Court,” Djokovic said in his post-match press conference. “I don’t plan to end my career at Wimbledon today. I plan to come back, definitely, at least one more time”.

“Honestly, it wasn’t a great feeling on the court. I don’t want to get into the details of the injury or use it as an excuse. I just wasn’t able to perform at my best level. I want to congratulate Jannik on another great performance. That’s it. He’s in the final. He played really well. I’m disappointed I couldn’t move the way I wanted or expected,” Djokovic added.

McEnroe names future stars who could challenge Sinner and Alcaraz

With the current ATP landscape dominated by Sinner and Alcaraz, McEnroe also weighed in on who might challenge their supremacy in the coming years. “Mensik, Fonseca or Shelton would be my picks right now,” McEnroe said. “I think it’s important to have one or two more guys in the mix. That would be really helpful”.

While Djokovic has not ruled out a return, McEnroe’s comments reflect a shift in tone surrounding the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s future. For now, fans will wait to see if the Serbian legend can defy the odds one more time in the last Grand Slam of the year, US Open.

The draw matched Alcaraz against Fognini, a former top-10 player in what is likely his swan song season. Despite being 38, Fognini demonstrated his signature technical prowess and elicited admiration from the crowd with his sheer class, elegance, and competitive spirit.

Fognini’s persistence pushed Alcaraz into a challenging five-setter. The defending champion ultimately triumphed over the Italian, securing a 7-5, 6-7, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 victory after more than four and a half grueling hours on court.

This exhausting opening round at such a demanding event highlights the Italian’s exceptional play. Alcaraz himself, speaking to his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, marveled at Fognini’s enduring level of performance, joking, “He’ll be playing like this at 50.”

McEnroe’s take on Fognini’s future

When McEnroe, a three-time Wimbledon champion, speaks, the tennis world listens. Following the match, McEnroe opined through the BBC that it was the ideal time for Fognini to bow out, labeling it “the perfect ending.”

“Fortunately for Alcaraz, by the fourth set, the crowd realized just how extraordinary Fognini was playing,” McEnroe remarked. “At times, Fognini appeared fresher than Alcaraz, despite their 16-year age gap! What’s going on here?”

McEnroe also revealed a conversation with Fognini’s wife, 2015 US Open champion Flavia Pennetta, who agreed it might be time for her husband to spend more time with family. Both understand the tour’s relentless demands, a sentiment echoed by Fognini’s announcement that this would be his final season.

The Italian has already received standing ovations, including at his last match at the Masters 1000 in Rome, and earned similar recognition at Wimbledon, with Alcaraz joining in the applause, acknowledging Fognini’s stellar performance.

Alcaraz’s praise for Fognini

Post-match, the Spaniard star offered high praise for his opponent, “When you see your adversary playing like Fabio did, especially in the fourth set, there are moments where you run out of answers. Fabio played brilliant tennis. I expressed my deep respect for him after the match, admiring his career achievements and today’s performance. It’s always a pleasure to share the court with him.”

With the French Open underway, one of the tournament’s most heartfelt pre-event moments came courtesy of Rafael Nadal. The 14-time Roland Garros champion was honored with a tribute from tournament organizers, recognizing his unprecedented dominance on clay. Fittingly, his footprint is now immortalized on Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris, a symbol of his lasting legacy.

Speaking ahead of the tribute, McEnroe addressed the GOAT discussion by spotlighting the best players on each surface. He aligned the Big Three, Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer, with their respective strongholds and added a personal touch by naming his childhood idol and tennis icon, Rod Laver.

For McEnroe, the tennis Mount Rushmore is clear: Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, and Laver. But he didn’t stop at listing names. He attributed each legend’s greatness to their unique dominance.

McEnroe names his GOAT picks by surface

When asked to name the greatest of all time on each tennis surface, McEnroe didn’t hesitate. Starting with clay, he gave the nod to Nadal, fresh off being honored by Roland Garros.

“Rafael Nadal, on the surface we’re going to see over the next couple of weeks, without a doubt, it’s him on clay at Roland Garros,” McEnroe said during a guest appearance on Inside the NBA last weekend.

After praising Nadal, McEnroe turned his attention to hard courts, responding to Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley’s follow-up. “The best hard-court player of all time would be Novak Djokovic,” he said without hesitation.

When it came to grass, McEnroe’s choice was just as emphatic. “We also play on grass for one month a year, which I would give to Roger Federer,” he noted. He also used the moment to pay tribute to one of his childhood idols. “To me, Rod Laver, way back when, was my idol,” McEnroe added.

McEnroe recalls his Roland Garros nightmare

While reflecting on his GOAT picks, McEnroe also opened up about what he called the worst moment of his tennis career, losing the 1984 French Open final to Ivan Lendl. “I was up two sets. My old buddy Ahmad Rashad pointed at me, waved, and said, ‘You’re going to win this. I’ll see you later.’ And I told him, ‘Don’t leave yet, it’s not over until it’s over.’ Then I blew it and lost 7–5 in the fifth,” McEnroe said.

McEnroe recalled: “To this day, those first two sets were arguably the greatest tennis I ever played. But it turned into a nightmare. Every time I go to Paris, I relive it. I still have a couple of nightmares about what I should’ve done differently.”

Despite early exits at the Monte Carlo and Madrid Masters, Djokovic has regained his form, recently setting a unique record by clinching 100th ATP title at the Geneva Open with a hard-fought victory over Hubert Hurkacz. Now, as the 38-year-old Serbian prepares to chase his fourth Roland Garros title, McEnroe has advised fans not to overlook him.

“You might look back and he loses and, ‘Ah see, of course, he’s 38. He’s too old. It caught up to him,’ or whatever. But you don’t count him out,” McEnroe said in an interview with Tennis365.

McEnroe also highlighted Djokovic’s relatively favorable draw at Roland Garros, which could boost his chances of reaching the latter stages. The Serbian might face Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals—a matchup McEnroe views as advantageous, given the German’s inconsistent form.

“And he’s got the best draw of anyone to get to there. And the way… you know, Zverev’s not playing with the same confidence that he played with until he reached the finals of Australia this year,” McEnroe noted. “That really hurt him, I think, mentally, at least from what I’ve seen. And he doesn’t seem to be playing with the same confidence”.

Because of these factors, McEnroe ranks Djokovic as his third favorite to win the French Open this year. “So I could see the possibility of him (Djokovic) getting there… whether or not Zverev was there, I don’t think Novak would go in being much of an underdog there,” he added. “And who knows with the other guys? What happens if one of them gets hurt? You don’t know. So Novak to me would still be, like, the third favorite”.

Djokovic’s French Open potential journey

The World No. 6 begins his campaign on Monday, May 26, facing American Mackenzie McDonald in the opening round. A win would set up a second-round clash with the victor of an all-French duel between Corentin Moutet and Clement Tabur.

Djokovic’s potential road to the final includes matchups against notable players like Denis Shapovalov in the third round and potentially Daniil Medvedev, Ugo Humbert, or Stan Wawrinka in later rounds.

The most challenging tests, however, could come in the quarterfinals and beyond, with a possible showdown against Zverev, followed by a semifinal clash with Jannik Sinner and a potential rematch with Carlos Alcaraz in the final—a replay of their Paris 2024 Olympic gold medal match.

Sinner’s most recent match was the Australian Open final, where he defeated Germany’s Alexander Zverev to claim his third career Grand Slam title. Since January 26, 2025, when the Italian secured his last official victory, he has not returned to the court for any competitive match.

However, neither Carlos Alcaraz nor Zverev—Sinner’s closest challengers in the ATP rankings—capitalized on his suspension to dethrone him. Now, the Italian is within striking distance of a significant milestone.

Currently in his 47th consecutive week as World No.1, Sinner is projected to maintain his top spot through the conclusion of the French Open on June 8. This would extend his streak to 54 weeks, and if he sustains it through Wimbledon, which begins on June 30, he would reach 59 consecutive weeks as No.1—surpassing Nadal and McEnroe to claim the 11th spot on the all-time list.

Top 10: Most consecutive weeks at World No.1

While Sinner is achieving an impressive feat early in his career, he still has a long road ahead to challenge the record holders. Roger Federer leads the all-time list with an astonishing 237 consecutive weeks, followed by Jimmy Connors with 160.

• 1- Roger Federer: 237 weeks
• 2- Jimmy Connors: 160 weeks
• 3- Ivan Lendl: 157 weeks
• 4- Novak Djokovic: 122 weeks
• 5- Pete Sampras: 102 weeks
• 6- Novak Djokovic: 86 weeks
• 7- Jimmy Connors: 84 weeks
• 8- Pete Sampras: 82 weeks
• 9- Ivan Lendl: 80 weeks
• 10- Lleyton Hewitt: 75 weeks

Sinner nearing return to the tour

Sinner’s suspension will officially conclude on May 4, allowing him to return at the Italian Open in Rome starting two days later. “There is still a bit of time to digest all this, but I can’t wait to be back in Rome,” Sinner told Sky Sports Italy in April.

“It’s a special tournament for me, even though it will also be very tough,” he continued. “I’ll be back at a moment when there will already be a lot of attention on me, and in Rome, that’s not easy. But let’s say I am living every day in a calm manner”.

Wimbledon has witnessed countless iconic moments and legendary matchups event. The list of champions in the men’s singles during the Open Era is a testament to the sheer talent of these remarkable players. Notably, the upcoming final will feature an exciting showdown between the reigning champion Novak Djokovic and the rising star Carlos Alcaraz.

The history of men’s singles champions at Wimbledon is filled with iconic figures who have left an indelible mark on the sport. Legends like Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, and Roger Federer have carved their names into tennis lore with their extraordinary achievements on the hallowed grass courts of the All England Club.

The tournament has witnessed fierce rivalries that have captivated the world, including the epic clashes between John McEnroe and Borg, the encounters between Sampras and Andre Agassi, and the recent duels between Rafael Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer to determine the Wimbledon champions through the years.

Wimbledon Champions in the Open Era by Year