«He is close to reaching the top. Djokovic? It deserves respect»- Corriere.it

Coffee on the fire, eyes on Australia. This morning, for the second consecutive Grand Slam, together with the cup, the top of the ranking is up for grabs. Tsitsipas try to climb the mountain Djokovic, in partnership with its new certainties. While awaiting the verdict, John McEnroe (Eurosport’s brightest star) is playing tennis.

Is (Djoker’s) 35 years old the new 25, John?

«We’re talking about a natural phenomenon, the one he has won so far is already extraordinary, let alone if he were to win the 10th Australian Open, 22nd Slam… I would pay to know Novak’s secrets: obviously they work great. The entire Big Three generation has special genes: Federer had match points at Wimbledon with Djokovic a few days before he turned 38, Nadal is almost 37 and threatens to annex the 15th Roland Garros. Physically, the Serbian is a monster.”

«We’ve already seen him win tournaments with various ailments, rising from the ashes. Is it bad in Melbourne? Well, it’s difficult to know, but we can certainly say that he has an extraordinary physiotherapist at his disposal! For the sake of the final, I hope you play free from annoyances. In that case, if he is able to express himself at his level, I don’t think Tsitsipas will be able to beat him ».

Zero chance for Greek?

«I believe that Alcaraz’s victory at the US Open, at the age of 19, was one wake up call for many, including Stefanos. He thought: if I don’t make a move, I’ll miss the train. I don’t think tennis is different from him, he seems different to me. He’s changed his mentality, but to beat Djokovic in the final he needs a qualitative leap».

Novak says he doesn’t get the respect he deserves.

«I agree with him. Imagine having to fit into the Federer-Nadal dualism and, in the end, overcome both. Novak of the three Immortals is the one who had the most thankless task (Murray too should be re-evaluated for this: three Grand Slams in 11 finals), but he was able to do it very well. That even today he cannot play in the US because of the vaccine is absurd, in my opinion ».

Does Rafa Nadal seem on his last legs?

«I’ve heard everything about Rafa these days: that he will retire in Paris, that he will play at least another three years, that he will never come back from this last injury… The hip is delicate, I’m thinking of Andy Murray and Guga Kuerten; he bothered me a lot too. Your level of pain tolerance is personal. It seems to me that Rafa still wants, God bless him».

The Italians, John: in Melbourne the young American guns have come much further than the blue nouvelle vague.

“But that doesn’t mean your time has passed. In my opinion, indeed, it has yet to come. My favorite is Sinner: it’s almost there, I feel it. Berrettini has the physique for an increasingly powerful, high and fast tennis but he has too many injuries: he is not at the level of Djokovic and Nadal but not even Alcaraz. Today, first you have to be a great athlete, then a strong tennis player».

Has Berrettini already exhausted his driving force?

“It’s not from Matteo that Italy should expect the Majors: the backhand is his kryptonite”.

«I think so, its potential is unexpressed. With Jannik Riccardo Piatti did an excellent job, then there is a boy who wants to change coach e Cahill, who handled Hewitt and Agassi, is a great choice. I repeat: I would be surprised if Sinner did not win one or more Grand Slams ».

At the moment, is Jannik’s problem more tennis or his head (26 break points with Tsitsipas, 4 converts)?

“Both things. In Australia he seemed a bit taller to me, as if he was still growing and having a hard time adjusting to his new measurements, his changing body. But at 21 he is already an excellent player ».

Musetti, among all the Italians, remains the one with the most tennis in his arm.

«True, but it has to grow, especially on the fast track. It is very pleasant to watch him play, for me he is worth the top 10».

«Shapovalov, left-handed and often at the net, reminded me a bit of myself at first. Kyrgios has my folly however, unlike Nick, I gave my all almost every time I took to the field while he occasionally pulls the oars in the boat. But compared to my times everything has changed, it’s difficult to make comparisons: it’s a different kind of tennis».

«I didn’t support the choice of Wimbledon last year, I would disapprove of the decision to leave them out again this year. Then it ends up that the tournament is won by Rybakina, born in Moscow! But athletes have nothing to do with war, it’s unfair to punish them.”

The young US who will arrive first, according to McEnroe.

«The Americans stimulate each other: Korda, Wolf, Brooksby, Paul and Shelton want to reach the level of Isner and Opelka, who have been there before, and Tiafoe and Fritz, the top 10 on which the US has great expectations. Of all of them, Korda has the most potential, in my opinion, but Shelton also has good cards to play: he has the serve that Brooksby doesn’t have. I’m an American who wins a Major in the next few years, I can see it».