Federer dismisses McEnroe’s ‘guard change’

MELBOURNE, Australia – A changing of the guard?

That’s how John McEnroe, who was handling the on-court interview duties Sunday night, classified Stefanos Tsitsipas’

6-7 (11-13), 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, 7-6

(7-5) victory against Roger Federer in the Australian Open.

“You’re watching the changing of the guard,” he said.

After the six-time Australian Open champion was denied a chance to win his 21st Grand Slam tournament title, Federer was asked during if McEnroe was correct in seeing a transition happening in tennis.

Federer was willing to compliment Tsitsipas, but he definitely wasn’t interested in ceding his position in the game.

“He’s in front of the mic a lot,” Federer said of McEnroe. “He’s always going to say stuff. I love John. I’ve heard that story the last 10 years. From that standpoint, nothing new there.

“About Stefanos, I think he’s definitely done a really nice job now the last year and a half. I mean before that, too, obviously. But beating Novak (Djokovic) in Toronto, the likes of (Kevin) Anderson and (Alexander) Zverev, now me here. That’s what you need to do to get to the next level. He’s doing that.”

Tsitsipas, who started the 2018 season ranked No. 91 and finished at No. 15, said, “My idol today became pretty much my rival. I still have to keep my focus, keep my concentration on further goals that I want to achieve. That’s a very good beginning. I need to stay humble.”

Federer, who owns the most Grand Slam titles of any man in history, has not won a major since last year’s Australian Open.