McEnroe compares Nadal to LeBron James, believes he could complete comeback and win 2024 French Open

Wednesday, 24 May 2023 at 23:00

John McEnroe compared Rafael Nadal to basketball player LeBron James and expressed his opinion that the Spaniard can win the French Open next year.

Rafael Nadal's injuries have prevented him from fully participating in the tour in recent years, and this 2023 has perhaps been the most challenging year for him. He has not played any matches since the second round of the Australian Open and had to skip the entire clay season. This will be the first time in 18 years that he will not play in the French Open, a tournament he has already won 14 times.

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When he announced that he would not be playing in his favorite tournament, Nadal expressed that he hopes 2024 will be his last year as a professional. John McEnroe commented on the situation of the 22-time Grand Slam champion.

“It’s unfortunate obviously,” said McEnroe

“But it does open the door and I think it's inevitable, they say Father Time wins every time, and that's what's happened here,”

The American assured that Nadal will do everything possible to return to playing his favorite tournaments next year and used the case of Andy Murray as an example.

“I'm sure that Rafa did everything he could to try to play and this is not the way he wants it to end so that's why he's talked about playing next year,” he said.

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“Whatever Rafa wants to do is something that we should respect and any player…you watch Murray play, he's not the same player that he was and not nearly as highly ranked, but he wants to go out on his own terms and I'm sure it'll be the same with Rafa.”

McEnroe commented on the similarities he sees between the Spaniard and LeBron James, and he assured that Nadal has a good chance of winning the upcoming Roland Garros.

I would never say that he couldn't win at Roland-Garros. Anyone that's done what he's done, as long as he stepped foot on a court would have a great chance.

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“He reminds me a lot of Lebron James. LeBron James is a little bit older and is part of a team, but I think he proved he was still a fantastic player.

“But you know, maybe at the end of those [season-end] games he got a little tired because too much was expected from him. And at some point, that's what's gonna happen to Rafa, it happens to everybody, you're going to be asking too much,” the American concluded.

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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