5 Chris Fowler questions s. tions for...

ESPN tennis host Chris Fowler talks Serena Williams, reveals who the best interview in the sport is and comments on John McEnroe’s dilemma with The Post’s Justin Terranova.

Q: How odd does it feel not to have Roger Federer at the U.S. Open?

A: It gives people a taste of the future they are not ready for. Everyone understands he’s going to retire — and it will be the saddest day in tennis history — but they want to hold on to him as long as they can. His fans, even more than himself, have that desperate need for one more big title.

Q: Any concern after Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic both lost at the Olympics?

A: I wasn’t alarmed by their losses, because I expected a pretty unpredictable tournament. Both have some health issues. Serena’s shoulder has kept her from serving the way we are used to, so unless that is fully healed and she has confidence in it, that’s a major variable. In Novak’s world, the Open is a huge question: Will it be back to business as usual? Can he re- store order or did Wimbledon represent a tipping point, a change of direction toward [Andy] Murray?

Q: Who is an American to watch outside of Williams?

A: Madison Keys puzzles me. You watch her play at the Olympics and you say, “Why not a gold medal?” It’s all there for her, but she just has not been able to play within her control and limit her mistakes in the big moments. The potential is there for her to walk into the U.S. Open and win it.

Q: Who is the best player to interview?

A: Among the top players, I’ve always thought that Novak is among the most thoughtful athletes I’ve ever covered. Speaking in his third or fourth language, he really gives thought-out answers about every aspect of his game and great details of what it’s like to be a tennis player. Q: There was some criticism of John McEnroe calling the Wimbledon finals with Milos Raonic, whom he is coaching. How was it from your perspective alongside him in the booth? A: John was able to give insights into Raonic’s thinking and tactics we don’t usually have. It represents challenges, though, for John first and foremost, Patrick [McEnroe] is there in a traditional role focusing on both sides or even focusing more on Murray because we had to. We couldn’t let Raonic become the main story because he wasn’t the main story. The important thing is total transparency, which we did at Wimbledon. I said from the start that John has an emotional and financial stake in the match, and he is a representation of the Raonic camp.