‘Boy was I wrong!’ – McEnroe ‘learned his lesson’ after underestimating Rafael Nadal
1989 French Open doubles champion Patrick McEnroe fully owned up to the fact that he gave Rafael Nadal no chance of coming back to win the Australian Open final when he was down two sets to love.
Like so many in the tennis world, the younger brother to legendary seven-time Major singles champion John McEnroe was in disbelief at Nadal’s Australian Open title run.
In fact, the American even took to social media to ask fans what they thought of the moment in a video.
“Was that match unbelievable or what?” McEnroe said of the Australian Open final.
“Rafael Nadal. I wrote him off, in the third set.
“I learned my lesson, never write off Mr Nadal.
“People, did you honestly think he was going to come back at two sets down, 2-3, 0-40?
“Tell me the truth now.
“Tell me the truth, did you think he was going to come back?
“I say his second greatest win ever.
“What do you think the first one was? Let me know.”
McEnroe left that question unanswered, with many in the comments pointing to his 2008 Wimbledon victory as his greatest win.
That triumph was his first at a Slam outside of Roland Garros, ousting five-time defending champion Roger Federer in what is considered by some to be the greatest match ever played.
Incredible from @RafaelNadal
I thought he was done.
Boy was I wrong.
His 2nd greatest win ever.
First? pic.twitter.com/ETuQumHik7
— Patrick McEnroe (@PatrickMcEnroe) February 1, 2022
The Australian Open victory puts Nadal one ahead of Federer and Novak Djokovic in the men’s Slam record race, and could move two ahead on 22 titles should he claim a 14th Roland Garros crown in June.
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