John McEnroe believes Novak Djokovic is 'slight favourite' to win US Open instead of Roger Federer

Tennis great John McEnroe believes that world number one Novak Djokovic is the favourite player to win the US Open title for a second time, despite Roger Federer being the in-form player as both head into next week's campaign.

Federer, who reigned supreme at Flushing Meadows with five consecutive titles from 2004, won the Cincinnati title last week on the back of reaching the final in Toronto and with world No 2 Rafael Nadal injured, many believe that the Swiss maestro can claim an 18th grand slam title.

McEnroe said that not having to deal with Nadal is obviously a huge positive for Federer potentially down the road if he's at a stage at the end of the event, Sport24 reported. However, he said that he would give a slight, slight favourite to Djokovic based on it being best-of-five. McEnroe added that Djokovic is younger and he can go the distance perhaps a little bit more easily than Federer at this stage.

McEnroe said that depending on what happens leading up to it if they were to play in the final, some of it would have to do with how much was left in the tank from previous matches.

Djokovic beat Federer in an epic Wimbledon final but the Serb, who has just married long-time girlfriend Jelena Ristic, lost early in Toronto and Cincinnati and McEnroe believes that the 27-year-old has lost focus.