If he’s looking at Rafa and Novak, Andy will think that he can still have one last hurrah
McEnroe insists Scots star can win third Wimbledon crown if he’s fit for action this summer
JOHN McENROE has claimed Andy Murray can have one last hurrah and win Wimbledon this year – even with a metal hip.
And the American insists Ivan Lendl would not have returned as his head coach if his old rival didn’t believe the Scot can triumph again.
“If he was physically fit, you can’t count him out against anyone,” said the US legend.
“I actually believe he’d be one of a handful of guys that could win it.”
The Scot, 35, has not won a grasscourt title since his second Wimbledon title in 2016 – or following his two hip surgeries.
His preparations have been hampered by a stomach strain suffered in the recent Stuttgart final and he’s still struggling to serve.
But double Wimbledon winner Murray has huge experience on grass.
The top two players in the rankings – Daniil Medvedev and Alex Zverev – will also be absent along with Roger Federer while the other high seeds have never competed at SW19.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic is the red-hot favourite but BBC commentator McEnroe said: “If Murray’s fit, I absolutely believe he is one of the contenders.
“He knows how to play better than almost anyone on that surface. He’s prepared himself well, I believe, for that moment.
“Obviously if he’s looking at Rafa (Nadal) and Novak, he’s got to be thinking, he’s going to have one last hurrah. That’s entirely conceivable.
“What I don’t know is how you know how close to 100 per cent he is.”
Lendl started a third stint as Murray’s coach in March after leading him to three Grand Slams, two Olympic golds and world No.1 in their first two times together.
“I don’t think he’d do it if he didn’t believe Andy could win one,” said Super Brat. “So I think that that sends some type of message as well. That would be a hell of a story.”
McEnroe is also adamant he has no regrets over his controversial comments about Emma Raducanu at Wimbledon last year.
And the 63-year-old said his former struggles with mental health qualified him to speak on the issue. He caused a storm when claiming the Centre Court occasion got “a little bit too much” for the teen when she withdrew from her last-16 match with breathing difficulties.
Raducanu revealed she had “felt dizzy” and her Wimbledon run to the fourth round had “caught up” with her.
She went on to win the US Open just three months later.
McEnroe said: “I’ve never met Emma but I was just giving an educated guess as to what I thought was happening, based on 45 years of being around the professional game.
“It’s not like she’s the first person it’s happened to.
“And I was amazed that she was able to come out of that and suddenly win the US Open. I’d like to see her be able to reach her potential.”
●John McEnroe is part of the BBC’s Wimbledon 2022 line-up.