McEnroe Shocks By Saying Nadal Would Struggle Against Alcaraz And Sinner On Clay
NewsMonday, 09 June 2025 at 13:00
Seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe caused much astonishment by making a case for Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner being favorites if they had played Rafael Nadal at his best at Roland Garros.
Alcaraz and Sinner's 2025 Roland Garros final was one of the most dramatic matches ever played. The Spaniard saved three championship points at 3-5 in the fourth set before breaking and taking it on a tiebreak.
Sinner courageously fought from a seemingly hopeless position in the fifth, breaking at 4-5 when Alcaraz served for the championship. However, the defending champion retained his crown in Paris by playing an exceptional deciding 10-point tiebreak.
Many think Sinner and Alcaraz's rivalry could be the most important in tennis for the next decade or more. However, the pair has much work ahead of them to replicate Nadal's achievements, and matching him on clay might be impossible for anyone.
The now-retired Nadal won 14 of his 22 Grand Slams at Roland Garros. His domination of the tournament has not been achieved anywhere else by another player, with the 39-year-old raising the standard of clay-court tennis to new heights.
That was why many were shocked and some were even bemused by McEnroe's comments on TNT Sports ahead of Alcaraz and Sinner's final. Although the American did not say he was sure they would be the favorites against prime Nadal at Roland Garros, he thinks an argument can be made for that view.
"These two guys to me, you look at those guys and if you took at look at them bringing their A-game right now and I'm saying Sinner and Alcaraz against Rafael Nadal on clay ... you would make a serious argument with both guys that they would be favored to beat Nadal, at his best."
Despite making that unexpected comment about Alcaraz and Sinner's best level possibly being better than Nadal's prime on clay, McEnroe does not expect them to replicate the number of Grand Slams won by Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer.
"Do I think they're gonna reach 20, 24 [titles], either one of them? No, because that plateau is so hard."
That was not enough to stop several fans ridiculing McEnroe. Some deemed the comments disrespectful to Nadal after he dominated at Roland Garros and on clay more broadly during most of his legendary career.
Nadal never played in a five-set final at Roland-Garros. However, that was due to his exceptional level. The former world No. 1 never lost a final in Paris and played at a level that gave his rivals no chance of winning.
Although McEnroe's remarks were derided, three-time French Open champion Mats Wilander made similar comments last year. The Swede claimed the level from Alcaraz and Sinner is the highest he has seen, and called their 2022 US Open quarterfinal the best match of his lifetime.
Regardless of what fans feel about McEnroe's remarks, Alcaraz and Sinner's rivalry is exceptional and critical for tennis. Many were concerned that men's tennis would decline after Federer and Nadal's retirements, but they have allayed those fears.
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