McEnroe backs Murray for major glory
Friday, 15 January 2010Seven-time grand slam winner John McEnroe believes Andy Murray can claim his first major success at the Australian Open later this month.
He said: 'Each time he doesn't (win a major), the pressure sort of builds, but hardcourts are his favourite surface. He laid an egg in the (2009 US) Open when he lost to (Marin) Cilic; it was not a good effort. Cilic played well, but it was really surprising - to me it (the Australian Open) is there for the taking because there are questions about some of the other guys.'
McEnroe warned that world number Roger Federer would be Murray's biggest obstacle, despite the Swiss having not won in Australia since 2007.
Federer has reached the semi-finals of the past 22 grand slams and would only meet Murray at Melbourne Park if the two reached the final.
'He's amazing, obviously; the guy is to me the greatest player that ever lived,' McEnroe said.
'There's nowhere to go but down in a way, he's already broken every record, and it seems at some stage you have to level off. I was so amazed that after losing here last year in the finals that he was able to rebound and win the French for the first time, and then break the record (for Grand Slam singles titles won) at Wimbledon.
'If you look at his record, it's going to be pretty hard to say that Roger Federer won't at least get to the semis.'
