McEnroe, Ivanisevic, Henman & co. give Wimbledon final verdicts

Added on: July 7, 2012

Former Wimbledon champions and finalists were watching in awe yesterday as Roger Federer set up a showdown with Andy Murray, and many of the ATP Champions Tour stars got their pre-match predictions right.

On the eve of the event, John McEnroe picked Federer to win the title. Federer is one match away from being proving McEnroe right. Elsewhere, Mark Philippoussis, who went on a Friday morning media tour to promote the Statoil Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall (December 5th-9th), told more than 20 million viewers and listeners to the BBC, Sky and CNN networks that it would be a Federer vs. Murray final.

“I’m going for Federer in four, and Murray to beat Tsonga,” said the Australian, who watched both of the matches from the BBC Radio 5 Live commentary box, joining the broadcast for sets three and four of Federer vs. Novak Djokovic.

Richard Krajicek, the 1996 champion, picked Andy Murray to win the title on day one of the tournament, and sees no reason to change his mind now. Krajicek, who interrupted Pete Sampras’ run by knocking the American out in the quarterfinals, believes Murray is playing the best tennis of his career.

Tim Henman agrees. Asked on BBC Radio 5 Live immediately after the semifinals who he thought would win the title, Henman, a four-time Wimbledon semifinalist himself, said without hesitation:

“Murray. I think Murray prefers to play Federer rather than Djokovic in the final and with the crowd behind him he can find a way to get the job done. The start is going to be very, very important. It’s not going to be easy against Federer who will be trying to make even more history by winning a seventh title and breaking Pete’s record for weeks at No.1. It’s a massive challenge, but what an opportunity.”

Goran Ivanisevic, who will play in the Optima Open in Knokke-Heist, Belgium (August 16th-19th) before joining Henman, Philippoussis, McEnroe and Pat Cash at the Statoil Masters Tennis in London in December, said:

“It’s great for Andy, for British tennis, for Scottish tennis, for any tennis. He needs to win somehow, and I wish him all the best to win a Grand Slam. He doesn’t want to have that (runner-up) plate, even though it is a beautiful plate! He wants to win the big trophy. He deserves to win it.”

For tickets to watch McEnroe, Ivanisevic, Henman, Philippoussis and Cash at the Royal Albert Hall in London in December, go to the Royal Albert Hall booking page

For more information about the ATP Champions Tour, click here

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