Federer has enjoyed a great year (Picture: AFP/Getty)

John McEnroe has cast doubt over whether Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray’s returns to tennis will be anything like Roger Federer’s comeback in 2017 and admits he won’t be ‘as strong’ as the Swiss when they rejoin the ATP Tour.

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The pair have suffered with injuries throughout the year, with Djokovic ending his season early due to an elbow problem and Murray all but confirming he was doing the same after repeated issues with his hip, and have mirrored Federer’s move to call time on his 2016 and return six months later.

Federer enjoyed a triumphant return at the start of the year, winning the Australian Open, and has gone on to win his 19th Grand Slam title – and eighth Wimbledon – while also lifting Masters 1000 crowns in Indian Wells and Miami.

Djokovic’s season was ended early with an elbow problem (Picture: AFP/Getty)

Murray was forced to withdraw from the US Open (Picture: Getty)

But McEnroe is not convinced Murray and Djokovic will be able to pull off a similar feat when they rejoin the Tour at the start of 2018, despite – in his opinion – making the decision based on Federer’s achievements.




‘I do not think they’re coming back as strong as Federer, I think he’s been the main reason they decided to take time off the tour,’ he told El Mundo.

‘I did that when I was 27, I was six months away from the circuit, I wanted to be a better player, but I was never the same.

‘It’s not easy to do that successfully.’

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