Kyrgios has grand slam potential: McEnroe

McEnroe sees multiple grand slam wins in Kyrgios' future no Wimbledon breakthrough

TITLE POTENTIAL: John McEnroe does not see Nick Kyrgios winning Wimbledon this year but he does believe the Aussie has the skills to win multiple grand slam titles. Picture: YOAN VALAT

JOHN McEnroe believes Nick Kyrgios has sufficient talent to win several grand slams but the fiery American doesn't envisage a Wimbledon breakthrough next week for the Aussie.

The former world No. 1 expects Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal to extend a combined 14-season dynasty at the All England Club.

The New Yorker rates Milos Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov as the players most likely to end the Big Four's reign, a stint dating from Lleyton Hewitt's 2002 victory.

Federer has logged seven titles since succeeding Hewitt, Djokovic three and Nadal and Murray two each since Hewitt's triumph.

McEnroe believes Alexander Zverev and Kyrgios have the ability to eventually take over but not yet.

"Zverev is the guy in a year or two. I think he will be, but I don't think he's ready to win it yet,” McEnroe said.

"Kyrgios would be the most talented guy. I don't know what's going on with him. I know I get frustrated with his lack of effort at times.

"The talent is enough to win multiple majors. The raw tennis talent. But you have to combine everything.”

Patrick McEnroe agreed, but is worried about the Australian's fragility.

"Kyrgios, grass would be his best surface, his best chance to win one,” he said.

Roger Federer is among the Wimbledon favourites this year. Picture: TYLER LARKIN

Speaking on an ESPN pre-Wimbledon panel, Pam Shriver agreed with bookmaker assessments the sport's old firm will again provide the winner.

But she dismissed Stan Wawrinka as a title contender.

"It's going to be one of the Big Four,” Shriver said.

"I don't think Wawrinka on grass. It's his worst surface. I can't see him winning.

"I just look to a guy who might catch fire with his serve and go through two weeks, if not dropping serve, just dropping serve once or twice.

"You look at the big servers that can back it up. The one that's most fascinating has already been mentioned - Kyrgios.”

John McEnroe claimed Federer's biggest challenge will be to overcome Murray and Djokovic in best-of-five contests on courts he suspects will be slower than January's Australian Open.

"Ironically, the courts in Australia are going to play quicker than the courts at Wimbledon, which wasn't the case in the past,” McEnroe said.

"The courts are faster down there, which really helped Roger do his thing. Nonetheless, it was still amazing what he pulled off.

"The grass at Wimbledon, he will be the favourite, I believe, with Murray probably the second guy, then after that it's going to be a little bit more unclear.

"He hasn't beaten Murray or Djokovic in a best-of-five. He didn't play the French, obviously.

"There was also a temptation to say it would be pretty hard to top what he did at Australia.

"That would have been a heck of a time to say, 'I just proved something miraculous.'

"He seems to be the Six Million Dollar Man. He looks great physically. He's rested.

"He's one of the few guys that could make the decision to just not play the clay court season, then walk into Wimbledon and be the favourite.

"It's an amazing story what we've seen so far this year in tennis with him and Nadal, the way they've been playing.”

Originally published as Kyrgios has grand slam potential: McEnroe