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John McEnroe has named the player he thinks could challenge the Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner duopoly at the Australian Open, but believes they first have to make one significant change. McEnroe - a winner of seven singles Grand Slam titles - was speaking after a relatively uneventful opening round in Melbourne.

All of the potential contenders made it through unschathed, with attention now turning towards the second round of action down under. But with it being over two years since anyone other than Alcaraz or Sinner won a singles Slam, questions regarding who could emerge as the most likely challenger have emerged.

Speaking as part of the TNT Sports punditry team, McEnroe labelled Alexander Zverev as a potential option, with the German widely considered the best current player never to have won a Slam. A runner-up 12 months ago at the Australian Open, McEnroe believes Zverev first needs to make one switch before he can get over the final hurdle.

Commenting on a recent training block Zverev completed with Rafael Nadal, McEnroe remarked: "With Zverev, it seemed like he recognised what he needed to do - maybe Rafa knocked it into his head that he had to be more aggressive, take chances, not play defensively. He got to number two or three in the world playing as a counterpuncher, but that's not where the game is now."

And on the change he wants to see, the American added: "That mentality is hard to change. He's had off-court issues that must weigh on him. I don't know where he's at mentally. He's always been fit, and he's improved his serve after having the yips. He could do it - the talent is there - but changing deeply embedded habits isn't easy."

Zverev has reached three Slam finals in his career, but with the emergence of the indomitable Alcaraz and Sinner, there is a feeling that time might be running out for the 28-year-old. He did at least make a little slice of history this week by becoming the first player to win 10 consecutive first-round encounters at the Australian Open.

On the victory, he mused: "The first set wasn't my best tennis, I would say, but then afterwards when I got into the match I felt really good on the court and definitely happy with the level." The German returns to the court for round two against Alexandre Muller on Wednesday.