Roger Federer
Roger Federer lost in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. In this picture, Federer of Switzerland thanks the crowd after losing his men's singles quarter-finals match against Kevin Anderson of South Africa on day nine of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, England, July 11, 2018. Julian Finney/Getty Images

Roger Federer is currently ranked number two in the world and in the last 17 months along with Rafael Nadal, he has been one of the most dominant players on the tour. The Swiss ace has been at the top of the sport since turning pro two decades ago and continues to dominate tennis despite being in the latter stages of his career.

Federer has won 10 titles since the start of the 2017 season, which includes three Grand Slams to take his tally to 20 men’s singles majors. Prior to 2017, he had failed to win a Grand Slam for over four years since his Wimbledon title in 2012.

A number of former players and experts had raised questions about his game, but he proved them wrong by displaying some of his best tennis in the last 17 months. But American tennis legend John McEnroe believes his time at the top will come to an end soon.

Federer was expected to dominate the grass court season in 2018 especially after skipping the entire clay court season earlier in the year. However, the Swiss managed just one title at Stuttgart, while he lost in the final of the Halle Open and in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. The latter was a shock as he was leading Kevin Anderson by two sets and had match point in the third before capitulating in five sets.

McEnroe is of the view that Federer’s dominance over the rest of the field will come to an end but insists that it is a natural process owing to him entering the twilight of his career. He is five years older than current world number one Nadal, but is still in the fight to end the 2018 season as the top-ranked player in the world.

The American, however, is unsure if it will happen this season, as there are few players that can beat the veteran even today. Federer has lost just nine times in the 81 matches he has played since the start of the 2017 season.

“I think it's absolutely exceptional what Roger does,” McEnroe said, as quoted on Tennis World USA. “We don't have to forget that this year he will turn 37. But the way he moves on the court is incredible.”

“However, I think that time will reach him in a not too far away future. It's normal, it's the course of things,” he added. “Will it already be this year? There aren't many ones who can beat him, that's for sure.”

McEnroe, meanwhile, also gave his pick for the player that can replace Federer and Nadal once they hang up their rackets. The seven-time men’s singles Grand Slam winner believes current world number three Alexander Zverev has “all the weapons” necessary to become a great champion.

The German has impressed since breaking through on the ATP Tour and has already amassed three Masters Series titles at 21. He is still struggling to make it into the latter stages in the Grand Slam events, but McEnroe is confident that he can be a future champion on the biggest stage.

“When it's about finding Federer and Nadal's successor, Alexander Zverev is my first choice. He has all the weapons to become a great champion. This year he was a little bit unlucky with his injury in Paris and this stomach virus here. But if he stays patient, he will win Grand Slam titles,” the American explained.

RELATED STORIES