Former Grand Slam finalist gives his verdict on John McEnroe’s ‘huge statement’ about Rafael Nadal

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John McEnroe made headlines once more during the French Open with his bold claim about Rafael Nadal.

During TNT Sports’ coverage of the 2025 French Open, the American did what he does best and said something that got the tennis world talking.

Seven-time Grand Slam winner McEnroe claimed Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz would be favorites to beat ‘prime’ Nadal at Roland Garros.

Many fans and former players disagreed with McEnroe, including Andy Murray, who said it will ‘take time’ for Alcaraz and Sinner to reach the heights of 14-time champion Nadal.

Weighing in with his thoughts, a former Grand Slam finalist has given his verdict on McEnroe’s ‘huge statement’.

Luke Saville is taking ‘prime Rafa’ over Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner

Appearing on the Australian Open TV YouTube channel, Luke Saville reacted to McEnroe’s comments.

“What caught my eye was John McEnroe’s comments when he said he’d have them both favored to beat prime Rafa [Nadal] on clay,” he said.

“I sent that article around to a lot of my mates to get a bit of a feel before I came on here. I think that’s a huge, huge statement from Johnny Mac.

“It’s interesting when you’re comparing eras as well.”

The 2020 Australian Open doubles finalist then predicted how ‘prime’ Nadal would have matched up with 2025 Sinner and Alcaraz.

“In my opinion, [Jannik] Sinner would match up a little better, he’s taller, got a better two-handed backhand, maybe a little [Novak] Djokovic-esque,” said Saville.

“Maybe he can step in and not let the forehand of Rafa pull him around the court.

“I think [Carlos] Alcaraz may struggle a little more, but I’m taking Rafa, prime Rafa, 14 French Opens. The level of tennis is super high right now, but I’m taking Rafa.”

Saville then reflected on Nadal’s prime, highlighting the year where he performed at his best.

“I think he’s probably had a couple of primes, but I looked back at 2009 [actually 2008], when he was basically not losing games in the final of the French [Open], I think he beat [Roger] Federer 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 [actually 6-1, 6-3, 6-0],” he said.

“Not a great match up, we know, those two [Nadal/Federer] on clay, but I just find it hard to see those two [Sinner/Alcaraz] beating Rafa.

“Maybe over three, but over five was just something that almost no one could do.”

Nadal lost just one of his five clay-court meetings with Alcaraz and Sinner, dominating his younger rivals on his favorite surface.

His sole defeat came at the 2022 Madrid Open, when Alcaraz defeated Nadal in a thrilling quarterfinal clash.

However, it’s far from controversial to say that Nadal was no longer in his ‘prime’ in 2022, and the result may well have been different if Alcaraz took on his fellow Spaniard 14 years earlier.

Rafael Nadal’s 2008 clay-court season

Nadal was near-perfect on clay in 2008, competing in five tournaments, winning four.

He began in Monte-Carlo, producing five stellar displays to lift the title, dropping just 29 games all tournament.

• 2008 Monte-Carlo Masters F – Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer, 7-5, 7-5
• 2008 Monte-Carlo Masters SF – Rafael Nadal beat Nikolay Davydenko, 6-3, 6-2
• 2008 Monte-Carlo Masters QF – Rafael Nadal beat David Ferrer, 6-1, 7-5
• 2008 Monte-Carlo Masters 3R – Rafael Nadal beat Juan Carlos Ferrero, 6-4, 6-1
• 2008 Monte-Carlo Masters 2R – Rafael Nadal beat Mario Ancic, 6-1, 6-3

Nadal then returned home to Barcelona, dominating the field as he picked up his second clay title of the year.

Looking to extend his winning streak, the Spaniard travelled to Rome, where he was a three-time defending champion.

Suffering his only defeat on clay in 2008, Nadal was beaten by Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second round, 5-7, 1-6.

Bouncing back, Nadal returned to winning ways by clinching his maiden title in Hamburg, avenging his 2007 defeat to Federer, as he battled past the Swiss star in a thrilling three-set final.

Capping off a wonderful clay season with the biggest title of them all, Nadal beat Federer once more in the final of Roland Garros.

Nadal had won 22 of his 23 matches on clay in 2008, picking up four titles in the process.

We’ll never know how that Nadal would’ve performed against today’s Alcaraz and Sinner, but to say he wouldn’t have been the favorite is certainly a ‘huge statement’ to make.