He isn't saying anything that a lot of other tennis experts don't already believe, but when John McEnroe says it, it still sounds controversial.
The former No. 1 player in the world and now tennis analyst spoke candidly about another former No. 1 player, Roger Federer, and his chances of winning another grand slam.
Or rather, lack of chances.
"He's won 17 majors," McEnroe told the Daily Mail of the 32-year-old Swiss star. "I'd be surprised if he won another one. I'd also be surprised if he wasn't contending."
According to the newspaper, McEnroe is on his annual winter trek to London and spoke on a number of tennis matters - namely the lack of popularity of doubles, Andy Murray's hiatus from the game being good for him, and Federer's uphill battle.
"To win one? I personally don't see that," McEnroe said of Federer to the Mail. "It doesn't mean that it's not going to happen. Maybe he can use that as motivation. I just don't think that physically at this stage he is going to be able to overcome the hurdles of those younger, hungrier guys."
The younger, hungrier guys to which McEnroe referred are Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Murray. McEnroe said Federer, the No. 1 player in the world from 2004-08 and again as late as the summer of 2012, could beat any one of them in a given tournament. To beat all three in the same tournament is a different matter.
"He'll be a factor for as long as he steps on a court, but to win seven best-of-five-set matches and against at least two of the top three guys, that's going to be extremely difficult," McEnroe said.
"That's the part - two out of three sets, can I see him beating one guy? Absolutely. Can I see him winning a Masters tournament? Yeah.
"I'd be surprised if he didn't get to the quarters, semis and possibly the final of a Major before he quit."
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