John McEnroe fires LeBron James warning to Rafael Nadal as French Open missed

Nadal is not going to be defending his French Open title in Paris this week as he continues to get well from an harm that has put him out of motion because the Australian Open in January.

The 36-year-old holds the document for probably the most consecutive weeks within the ATP world rankings high 10 at a staggering 912 weeks however has seen his place now slip to fifteenth.

With a joint-record 22 Grand Slam titles to his title, together with a document 14 French Open titles, Nadal has achieved every thing there may be within the sport and expects 2024 to be his final season on tour.

Speaking to Eurosport about Nadal’s absence in Paris, McEnroe mentioned: “It’s unfortunate obviously. But it does open the door and I think it’s inevitable, they say Father Time wins every time, and that’s what’s happened here.

“I’m sure that Rafa did everything he could to try to play and this is not the way he wants it to end so that’s why he’s talked about playing next year.

“Whatever Rafa wants to do is something that we should respect and any player…you watch [Andy] Murray play, he’s not the same player that he was and not nearly as highly ranked, but he wants to go out on his own terms and I’m sure it’ll be the same with Rafa.”

Basketball legend James can be coming near the top of his profession. The 38-year-old nonetheless performs on the highest stage within the NBA for the LA Lakers, however a current playoff defeat to the Denver Nuggets left him with “a lot to think about”.

Tennis knowledgeable McEnroe, who gained seven profession Grand Slams however not the French Open, can see the similarities between Nadal and James, however would not rule out the legendary Spaniard returning to clinch a historic fifteenth triumph in Paris subsequent 12 months.

McEnroe mentioned: “I would never say that he couldn’t win at Roland-Garros. Anyone that’s done what he’s done, as long as he stepped foot on a court would have a great chance. He reminds me a lot of Lebron James. LeBron James is a little bit older and is part of a team, but I think he proved he was still a fantastic player.

“But you know, maybe at the end of those [season-end] games he got a little tired because too much was expected from him. And at some point, that’s what’s gonna happen to Rafa, it happens to everybody, you’re going to be asking too much. So it’s hard to know, at this point. By the time he [Nadal] plays next year, if he plays, he’d be 38 years old during the tournament.”