John McEnroe calls Roger Federer tennis' "true Messiah."
Now the mercurial McEnroe is asking Federer's forgiveness for his latest transgression.
McEnroe: Serena Choked
Following Stefanos Tsitsipas' stunning fourth-round upset of the defending Australian Open champion, on-court interviewer McEnroe boldly branded the victory "a changing of the guard."
Though the 20-time Grand Slam king declared "I love John" afterward and dismissed it as a recycled remark he's heard before, McEnroe suggests Federer wasn't pleased with his words.
"He's in front of the mic a lot," Fededer said. "He's always going to say stuff. I love John. I've heard that story the last 10 years. From that standpoint, nothing new there."
Mac's mea culpa comes with a direct plea to to Federer in the latest episode of his Eurosport show "The Self-Appointed Commissioner of Tennis."
"I might have gotten a little carried away when I talked about the changing of the guard," McEnroe says. "And I know Roger didn't take it so well. God, forgive me. But hey, you have to admit: this shaggy-haired teenager is the real deal."
McEnroe mocks some of Tsitsipas' philosophical musings before paying "tribute" to Federer in song.
"The king lost his crown," warbles Mac, whose attempts to play "Rebel, Rebel" on guitar once prompted the late, great David Bowie to knock on his London hotel room door in an effort to stop the madness.
This isn't the first time McEnroe has elevated Federer to celestial levels.
Previously, McEnroe declared Federer's run to the 2017 Melbourne title nothing short of the second coming of tennis' true Messiah.
Tongue firmly planted in cheek (you think?) Johnny Mac put Roger's resurrection into biblical proportions, crediting Federer for "turning water into gatorade" and repelling his own personal Judas before the eyes of "God Laver."
More recently, McEnroe has declared the GOAT a two-headed major monster.
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