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McEnroe expects a Nadal victory at US Open

Rafael Nadal beat Andy Murray in the Wimbledon semi-final © Getty Images

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John McEnroe believes that Rafael Nadal will triumph at the US Open and secure the one Grand Slam that has so far eluded him.

Wimbledon champion Nadal has eight Slams to his name, but he has never been past the semi-final stage at the Flushing Meadows tournament.

With Roger Federer's game potentially showing the first signs of decline - he has slipped to No. 3 in the world after a quarter-final exit at Wimbledon - McEnroe believes the circumstances are right for a Nadal triumph.

"Nadal wants to win the US Open so badly," he said. "It would be hard not to pick him at this time even though he's never won it.

"The guy is just an animal; he's mentally and physically incredible and he can definitely do it if he's in this shape. The conditions in New York don't suit Nadal so well and he needs to make his body hold up.

"So I think after Wimbledon he is going to take some time off and get his knees recovered and then maybe not play too many matches before the Open."

McEnroe also expects Andy Murray to be in contention for the title after the Scot's return to form at Wimbledon, where he was vanquished by Nadal in the semis.

"I thought it was a little soon for Murray at Wimbledon because he hasn't been playing with much confidence for a lot of this year, but he likes the hard courts a lot better so he'll be playing well at the US Open," he said.

"Murray played well at Wimbledon. I feel like he did a lot of good things in his match against Nadal and it's just a couple of points here and there, like the one at 6-5 in the tie break.

"If I were Murray I would continue on the same path. If he sticks with it and perseveres I think at some point he'll get some luck and be able to pull a Grand Slam out of the bag. He just has to keep strong mentally and realise that his time will come. "

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