Roger Federer’s ex-coach shoots down John McEnroe’s ‘nonsensical’ comments
Roger Federer’s ex-coach, Ivan Ljubicic, has bluntly shut down recent comments from John McEnroe on comparisons between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
The American provoked a flurry of discussion online after claiming that the Italian and the Spaniard would be ‘favoured’ against a peak Rafael Nadal on clay.
“You took a look at them bringing their A-game right now – I’m saying Sinner and Alcaraz against Nadal on clay – you would make a serious argument with both guys that they would be favoured to beat Nadal, at his best,” stated the seven-time Grand Slam champion to TNT Sports.
“Do I think they’re going to reach 20, 24 titles either one of them? No. Because I think that plateau is so hard it’s almost impossible; there’s more depth in the game, bigger hitters, and more things happen.
“But these two guys right now, it’s like when you watch the NBA and you say nobody could be better than Michael Jordan. The tennis level right now is higher than I’ve ever seen.”
McEnroe’s comments were made prior to the 2025 French Open final, where Alcaraz saved three championship points to claim a 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3,) 7-6(2) victory over Sinner in a record-long French Open final at five hours and 29 minutes.
Since then, the pair have contested a second Grand Slam final, with the Italian lifting a fourth Grand Slam title – his first at Wimbledon – via a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over the world No 2.
Ljubicic, who coached Roger Federer from 2017 until his retirement, sought to weigh in with his valued expertise, having directly worked with the Swiss during his final three Grand Slam titles.
“It was a very, very, very good final and the drama was perfect with the match points saved, but people always exaggerate,” the Croatian rebutted.
“John McEnroe said Nadal wouldn’t have stood a chance against these boys. That’s nonsense. We haven’t seen the best of Alcaraz and Sinner yet. They still have a lot of room for improvement.
“But I don’t think they’re ahead just yet. I sometimes watch matches from 2005, 2008, 2012, 2015 [between] Roger and Rafa. That was already incredible tennis.”
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The three-time Wimbledon champion attempted to clarify his prior comments during Wimbledon, after receiving the backlash.
“I made a comment during the French [Open] where I said these guys [Alcaraz and Sinner] would have a shot, I didn’t say they would beat Nadal every time,” McEnroe added.
“I said the fact that you would think these two players would actually go onto the court really believing they could do it – with Nadal in his prime – it shows you how much the level of the game has changed even in a couple of years.”
Sinner and Alcaraz are due to return to the tour at the Masters 1000 event in Toronto, which takes place from July 27 – Aug 7.
