The Big 4—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic—have combined to win 14 consecutive Wimbledon crowns.
Hall of Famer John McEnroe believes one of the Big 4 will win Wimbledon next month.
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If they should falter, McEnroe points to two men—2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic and reigning US Open champion Stan Wawrinka—as most likely to break through and win the grass-court Grand Slam.
In a conference call with the media to promote ESPN’s Wimbledon coverage, which starts Monday, McEnroe, who briefly joined Raonic’s coaching team during grass-court season last year, said the big-serving Canadian can win his first major at SW19.
“Having worked with Milos last year, him getting to the finals, one of the reasons I worked with him was I believed he could win it,” McEnroe told the media. “I would say he would be high up on the list of one of the most likely to win it.
"Wawrinka obviously has three majors. Anyone that's got three majors, three different ones, would have a career Grand Slam if he won Wimbledon, you've got to take seriously. Although I do feel that Stan struggles with his movement more on grass than he does, and his confidence, more than on any other surface.”
Former Wimbledon semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov, Rome champion Alexander Zverev and 2014 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Nick Kyrgios are other dark horses McEnroe favors. Though the three-time former Wimbledon winner questions the Bulgarian’s mental strength, suggests Zverev lacks the major experience to win Wimbledon this year and questions Kyrgios’ “lack of effort at times.”
“I've seen Dimitrov play the best match of his life in Australia, losing in the fifth (set) to Nadal,” McEnroe said. “I thought, Okay, he's back to where he was when he was in the semis. Looked like he was going to win some majors. Then he's tailed off again. I think his game can translate to grass better than any other surface. He wouldn't totally shock me, even though I don't feel like he seems to have mentally found that next gear in order to deal with these guys.
“After that, I'm hoping Zverev is the guy in a year or two. I think he will be, but I don't think he's ready to win it yet. Kyrgios would be the most talented guy. I don't know what's going on with him. I know I get frustrated with his lack of effort at times. The talent is enough to win multiple majors. The raw tennis talent. But you have to combine everything.”
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