John McEnroe gives Ben Shelton a reality check in loss to Alcaraz at Laver Cup

And McEnroe reiterated his point in the post-match press conference. “I see Ben in the top five in the world if he keeps progressing. I think he’s got the ability. He wants it. He’s worked at it. He’s better than he was to me a year ago, more complete,” he explained.

“But I think he’s going to be up there with those guys, and that would be great. You know, I think American tennis is getting closer. You saw Taylor [Fritz] was in the final.

“Frances [Tiafoe] has been in a couple semis. Ben’s been in the semis. We’re going to make the breakthrough. Ben, I believe, is going to make a breakthrough in the next couple of years.”