Google News John McEnroe to Roger Federer: You are the most beautiful player that I've ever seen
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John McEnroe did not choose words of praise for Roger Federer in his address to him; “You're obviously a class act,” McEnroe said.
“I've loved watching you play and commentating your matches has been a privilege.
You are the most beautiful player that I've ever seen on a tennis court.
And I idolised Rod Laver - so that tells you something.
Thank you for everything you've done. That's all I can say. Your absolute love of the game, it rubs off on all of us.
And I've got goosebumps just feeling that because it's been a pleasure to watch you these last 20 years”. McEnroe also praised Djokovic and Nadal “The greatest grass court player of all time is Roger [Federer], the greatest hard court player is Novak [Djokovic] and the greatest clay court player is Rafa [Nadal],” said McEnroe.
Bjorn Berg considers their success as something amazing. “It is nice to see the ‘Big Four’ - including Andy Murray – [playing] together [again]. But what they did in tennis and history, it's unbelievable.
“Yes, it is unbelievable - we can lose sight of how unbelievable it is," interjected McEnroe.
"But I think in 10 years, 20 years when you look back, you're like, 'wow'
“I don't think the next guy is going to win 20. Although, I didn't think any of these three would win this many”.
McEnroe on Federer
McEnroe is delighted with Roger Federer's human qualities.
“Bjorn and I went to Asia with Roger on an exhibition tour. And the week before at the Atp Finals, he got sick and wasn't able to finish the event. And we both thought he's going to retire and pull out.
"He played and he talked about how much he loved the travelling and he loved the press conferences, and he loved just being around the people and everything about it.
"I'm like, ‘this guy just played 40 or 45 weeks of the year, he's playing a couple of meaningless exhibitions’.
We were like the opening act.
“And that absolute love of the game was something that really rubbed off on me and made me feel like this guy is a super special person.
“He is really as nice as he appears”.
Federer is a big fan of tennis and there will be a great emptiness after his departure. He has achieved a lot in his career, but the time has come for it to end.