Roger Federer, who dominated Flushing Meadows with an astounding five consecutive titles from 2004 to 2008, is riding high after a triumphant victory at the Cincinnati Masters last week. This win follows his impressive run to the final in Toronto. With world No. 2 Rafael Nadal sidelined by injury, the 33-year-old Swiss maestro is now seen by many as a strong contender to claim his 18th Grand Slam title. Federer’s recent form and historic prowess make him a formidable presence on the court, fueling anticipation and excitement among tennis fans worldwide.
“Obviously not having to deal with (Nadal) is a huge positive for him potentially down the road if he’s at a stage at the end of the event,” McEnroe said in a conference call with TV channel ESPN for whom he will be working as a commentator during the year’s final grand slam.
“I would give a slight, slight favourite to Djokovic based on it being best-of-five. He’s younger and he can go the distance perhaps a little bit more easily than Roger at this stage. A little bit. “Depending on what happens leading up to it if they were to play in the final, some of it would have to do with how much was left in the tank from previous matches.” Djokovic beat Federer in an epic Wimbledon final but the 27-year-old, who has just married Jelena Ristic, lost early in Toronto and Cincinnati and McEnroe believes the Serb has lost focus. “I don’t think Novak’s mind has been into it since — it was one of the greatest matches I ever saw at Wimbledon,” he said.
