John McEnroe thinks Alexander Zverev doesn't have a reason to concern himself about what some may say about his road to a possible Australian Open title as the American tennis legend says no one will remember in a decade that Novak Djokovic from their semifinal match.
After the German progressed into his first final at Melbourne Park via a Djokovic retirement, some started wondering what would be the chatter in case he became a Grand Slam winner in these circumstances.
Addressing that, McEnroe - who was 20 when he won his first Major at the 1979 US Open - said his first Slam came in similar circumstances but no one ever cared about it.
"The first time I ever won a major, I got a couple of defaults, and I bet no one here, not even you twoJelena or Johnwould know that," McEnroe said on Nine.
"In 10 years' time, if Zverev ever wins this, no ones going to know or care that Novak didnt play. He got through; its not his fault. But its a bummer because it was starting to get very interesting."
Zverev set to face Jannik Sinner
On Sunday, the two top-ranked players in men's tennis will clash for the Australian Open title.
Last year, the 23-year-old Italian landed his first two Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open and the US Open.
On the other side, Zverev fell short in a five-set 2024 French Open final to Carlos Alcaraz.
In the past, the German also infamously lost that 2020 US Open final after failing to serve out for the match against Dominic Thiem.
Going into the Australian Open, Sinner is widely regarded as the favorite.
And while Zverev owns a 4-2 head-to-head record against the Italian, all of his wins came before the Italian became the player he is today.
Also, the German was beaten in their lone meeting of 2024, which came at the Cincinnati Masters.
