Tennis: McEnroe excited about current crop of top men's players

Tennis great John McEnroe believes the crop of young players in the sport is ready to bring about new rivalries unheralded in the game.

McEnroe, who is remembered for his epic matches with Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors, said the sport was on an "upswing" with the clutch of athletes now playing.

New Australian Open champion Roger Federer has McEnroe, who was in Christchurch last night for an exhibition match against Australian Pat Cash, excited about the future of the game, and with more than half-a-dozen true challengers for grand slam titles, the rivalries on court will develop.

"It's a good time for tennis," McEnroe said. "Federer may be the greatest talent I've ever seen step on a tennis court. I see him winning a lot of majors."

He said there was a group of players peaking and playing their best tennis now.

"You could say Federer is the most talented, you could say [Andy] Roddick has the most powerful serve and you could say [Marat] Safin is the best looking ... along with very powerful," McEnroe said.

"Lleyton [Hewitt] is really trying to fight back and [Juan Carlos] Ferrero is tougher, even on the slower court. Then there's Andre [Agassi], and as long as he keeps playing, he brings out the best in these other guys.

"It's great for the sport."

But he warned the game must be marketed for more than just the on-court action.

"I think there is a real opportunity to show our sport in a much better light.

"A one-on-one sport relies on personality, individuality and rivalries," he said. "I'm hoping the Federer v Roddick [rivalry] grows and Safin stays in the mix. That's important."

Cash agreed the men's game was riding a wave of success, with the sport's "young guns" stepping up to the mark.

"It's a fantastic situation we have in the men's game at the moment.

"At the beginning of the Australian Open I would have picked half-a-dozen players to win the tournament.

"It just goes to show how much depth there is now, even compared to a couple of years ago."

Cash, who like McEnroe has turned to television commentary, said tennis fans were spoiled with the likes of Federer gracing the court.

"Federer is one heck of a player. He's got it physically and he's got one of the great eyes in hand-eye co-ordination that I've seen.

"We're very spoiled. We've seen one great go away in Pete Sampras and now we've got another player of very similar style come in."

Cash and McEnroe play on the seniors tour and still meet on occasions on court.

McEnroe said that while the modern game was enjoying a purple patch, he was grateful he played in an era that included Bjorg, Connors, Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl and Boris Becker.

"I feel like it was the greatest time to come into our sport. It seemed to be exploding around the world," he said.

"There was a cast of characters and personality that made it all the more exciting to try to jump in and try to make my own mark.

"I wouldn't take it back."

Both will play another exhibition match in Auckland tonight before McEnroe heads back to the US and Cash home to Australia.

- NZPA