What John McEnroe predicted would have happened if he played Roger Federer at his peak

Follow us on Google Discover

John McEnroe and Roger Federer never got the chance to play a match against one another.

McEnroe retired from singles competition in 1994, four years before Federer made his ATP Tour debut.

While they have never played a match against one another, Federer and McEnroe became close at the Laver Cup, which is the tournament where the former retired in 2022.

There is often discussion surrounding the best players from different generations, and McEnroe once predicted what would have happened if he did ever play Federer.

How John McEnroe said he would have performed at Wimbledon in 2017

McEnroe won seven Grand Slam singles titles in his career, including three at the Wimbledon Championships.

Prior to 2006, only two men had won more Wimbledon titles in the Open Era than McEnroe, but both Federer and Novak Djokovic have since made that four.

Federer had won seven Wimbledon titles heading into 2017, and McEnroe was asked how he thought he would have performed if he was playing against the opposition when he was in his peak form.

McEnroe suggested that he could reach the final, but did not back himself to beat Federer in the final.

“Oh I think I’d probably lose to Federer in the final (laughs),” McEnroe told GQ Magazine ahead of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships. “I don’t know how well I’d do but I’d give it a heck of a try.

“It would have been a dream to play these guys; I’m sure I wouldn’t have done that amazing but I’d have tried to figure out a way to get them uncomfortable.”

While it is impossible to know how McEnroe would have done against the likes of Federer at Wimbledon in 2017, he did get his prediction right and the Swiss did win a record eighth and final title at SW19 in 2017.

The tactic John McEnroe says he would have used against Roger Federer

Although he did not seem confident about his chances against Federer at Wimbledon, McEnroe was then asked about how he would have played against him.

Federer was not often fazed on court during his senior career, but McEnroe answered by revealing that he would try and get under his skin.

“Try to play my game to the best of my ability, which would be to try and make things happen, put pressure on him,” McEnroe said. “Pretty much the way I play against anyone.

“Obviously that would have been a tall order. Try to work over that wide serve, and try to get some free points. Get under his skin a little – he doesn’t seem to get ruffled very easily.”

Both McEnroe and Federer are now retired from tennis, and they will both be in the Tennis Hall of Fame when the latter is officially inducted next year.

Although it may not necessarily be against McEnroe, Federer has hinted about playing exhibitions in the future, including a potential tour with Rafael Nadal.