By Richard Pagliaro
© Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA

(July 5, 2010) John McEnroe knows the downside of a champion's career can come as quickly as a runaway rental car rolling down the hill with your racquets trapped inside: once a player begins that descent it's tough to turn it around and regain your grip.

McEnroe has watched Roger Federer's entire career and says Federer, who begins his first week at World No. 3 after nearly seven straight years occupying one of the top two spots, has a couple of more majors in him, but believes his days of dominance are done.

Pointing out the 16-time Grand Slam champion has authored nearly every major mark in the tennis record book, has completed the career Grand Slam and is now a married father of twin daughters, McEnroe suggests advancing age, expanding outside interests and the pack of younger players on the rise will prevent Federer from dominating again.

"It’s inevitable at some stage, when you’ve won 16 and you’ve broken every record that maybe you lose that will at certain times," McEnroe told www.atpchampions.com. "I think Federer is going to win a couple more majors but you won’t see him dominate the way he has before. He’s a great enough talent and he has enough pride that he’ll figure out a way to get a couple more Slams."

At the age of 25, McEnroe produced one of the most brilliant single seasons in tennis history. The left-handed serve and volleyer won Wimbledon and the US Open and came within a few points of winning Roland Garros only to squander a two-set lead before bowing to Ivan Lendl in the French Open final.

At the peak of his professional powers, McEnroe was the closest thing to unbeatable tennis had seen that season.

He never won another major and in fact only reached one more major final after his 25th birthday.

Federer reached 23 straight Grand Slam semifinals — a streak that may well never be matched — before suffering consecutive quarterfinals losses at Roland Garros, to Robin Soderling, and Wimbledon, to Tomas Berdych.

McEnroe carries the perspective of a man who has stood on the precipice and believes Federer has set the bar so extraordinarily high that any mis-step may be perceived as fatal.

"Federer’s done so amazingly well that anything but a win is almost considered a bad tournament," McEnroe said. "But he’s won the Australian Open and been in two other quarters at majors this year, and almost any other player would love that."