John McEnroe backs Novak Djokovic to overcome Grand Slam record pressure and win Australian Open final

John McEnroe is backing his pre-event tip Novak Djokovic to win the Australian Open final, but feels there will be added pressure of equalling Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 Grand Slam victories.

A host of big names have fallen during the fortnight of the opening major of the season in Melbourne, Nadal, Daniil Medvedev and Casper Ruud among them.

Djokovic has made smooth progress, spending just 14 hours and 42 minutes on court, but faces arguably his biggest test in the final in the shape of Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The Greek has looked good in reaching his first Australian Open final, albeit nerves have frayed on occasions.

Djokovic is the overwhelming favourite to win his 22nd Grand Slam and return to world No. 1, and McEnroe feels the 35-year-old will get the job done in four sets.

“I picked Novak to win the tournament before the event,” McEnroe said. “I’m sure a lot of people did. So I won’t switch my pick before the final as my guy is still there (laughter). I have to stick with Novak.

“I will say Novak in four sets will be my pick. I’m hoping for the excitement, even if I will call it in the middle of the night, that this will be a good match.

“Tsitsipas is playing well enough to offer a good match and he’s mentally in a good place. Even when he blew the third set against (Karen) Khachanov, he still won that match easily. But still, it will take him a lot to overcome Novak, maybe too much. Probably too much.”

Although he feels Djokovic will get the job done, McEnroe thinks a Tsitsipas win would be good for the sport.

“I think it would be great for tennis if Tsitsipas wins, I really do,” McEnroe said. “To me, it’s a no-lose situation because if Novak wins, he’ll tie Rafa, we can talk about that on our way to the French Open, what’s gonna happen there, and so on.

“If Tsitsipas wins, it’s like a continuation of what we’ve seen recently with the up and coming players and it will be a very, very good thing because we need some new blood in the men’s game, that’s for sure.”

Djokovic has his eyes firmly fixed on overhauling Nadal to claim the title of the greatest of all time. With the Roger Federer era now over, the Grand Slam record in the men’s game is a battle between Nadal and Djokovic.

McEnroe feels pressure could be the biggest obstacle for Djokovic to overcome on Sunday.

“For Novak, this game is so huge,” McEnroe said. “Not only he can retake the No. 1 spot, but of course there is the 22nd Slam to catch Rafa. So it’s a big moment for him and for our sport.

“Will Novak feel the pressure? He’s a human being. And he wants to be considered as the greatest, have all the possible records, especially the Grand Slam one. That puts additional pressure on you. And I give him credit for embracing that, talking about it, not walking away from it.”

“The way he’s playing, the way he is hitting the ball, how rock solid he is, it’s hard to imagine that he won’t (get the record),” McEnroe said. “I mean obviously it also depends on how Rafa will feel physically, if he can win again the French Open.

“From what I heard, he still wants to play a couple of years. If he’s healthy, it’s hard to think that Rafa won’t be able to win the French Open again but that’s a big if at that point.

“They’re both extraordinary in terms of their hunger, doing whatever it takes to win. So, the jury’s still out but now, I would call Novak the slight favourite. He will probably end up with two more at least.

“But I also like to think that some of these players that are coming up will provide some obstacles for both of them. Then it could become a lot tougher for Nadal and Djokovic.”

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