McEnroe names his Mt. Rushmore of tennis after | Sports News

John McEnroe has named his Mount Rushmore of Tennis and put NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal on the spot after becoming a member of TNT’s NBA protection of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers. McEnroe, a seven-time Grand Slam winner recognized for his explosive on-court outbursts and now a commentator, revealed that he was once a basketball participant in high faculty earlier than happening to assert tennis greatness.

When requested by Shaq to call 4 tennis gamers that will make the game’s Mount Rushmore, one of the names was little to no shock, not just for his accolades, but in addition for McEnroe’s admiration of the Swiss legend’s beauty. “John, in our basketball world, we have this crazy debate of Mount Rushmore and the GOAT. Give me your Mount Rushmore of tennis players,” Shaq requested the 66-year-old.

“My Mount Rushmore would be Rafael Nadal on the surface that we’re going to see in the next couple of weeks, without a doubt, at Roland Garros on clay,” McEnroe responded. “The best hardcore player of all time would be Novak Djokovic because we play on hard courts, and we also play on grass one month a year, which I would give to Roger Federer. So to me, Rod Laver was, you know, way back when was my idol.”

“I’m not sure. Who was your idol, Shaq?” McEnroe requested the 2000 NBA MVP. “You and Boris Becker,” Shaq replied. “I meant in basketball. I played high school basketball for a couple of years,” McEnroe added.

“You know what’s crazy? It started off with Dr. Jay (Julius Winfield Erving II), and I had a conversation with Patrick Ewan the other day. I told him that I patterned my game after him in high school, and he said he never knew that,” Shaq stated. The former NBA Big Man’s response introduced back reminiscences of when McEnroe watched a younger O’Neal tackle the New York Knicks and Ewan as a rookie in his Orlando Magic days.

“I was at a Knicks game when you were a rookie, and Patrick Ewan was obviously already established, and you were pushing him around like he was a small forward,” McEnroe recalled. “I’m like, ‘Oh my God, man, this is going to be a problem here.'”

Between Laver, Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, McEnroe’s Mount Rushmore gained an eye-watering 77 singles Grand Slams between them. However, the chief is Djokovic, who has probably the most Grand Slams within the Open period with 24, surpassing Serena Williams’ 23.

Djokovic remains to be the final lively skilled tennis participant, with Nadal and Federer, who had been half of the identical era of gamers, each retiring in the previous few years. The 38-year-old Serbian gained Olympic gold final summer time on the Paris Games and remains to be a main identify for Grand Slam titles regardless of the energy of his youthful friends.

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However, Djokovic has not gained a Grand Slam because the 2023 U.S. Open. Djokovic will make his bid for a twenty fifth Slam at this month’s French Open on clay.

“This is a different chapter in my life; I’m trying to get used to it. These are not the circumstances I’m used to, losing in the early rounds consecutively,” Djokovic stated on his current poor type following early defeats in each Monte Carlo and Madrid. “I don’t think it has happened to me in 20 years, but I knew moments like this would come. It’s hard for me to look back while I’m still playing at my entire career.

“I proceed with the need to win Grand Slams and be among the many best on this planet. That’s why I play, to goal for trophies, to reach in prime type earlier than Roland Garros, to problem the best on this planet.

“The motivation is still there, but in this transitional period, I have to understand my body and my circumstances, what I need to do to stay healthy, as well as to be in optimal conditions for the tournaments that are most important to me, which are the Grand Slams.

“Stress and stress are half of what we do. I do know how a lot dedication it takes to be a Grand Slam champion, nevertheless it’s not as straightforward for me because it was ten years in the past as a result of my life has modified. I really feel like I nonetheless have the sport to be a Grand Slam contender. It’s clear that in phrases of outcomes, I’ve more ups and downs than earlier than, however I’ve to simply accept that my degree of play shouldn’t be as constant as earlier than. I additionally know what my precedence is.”