Three-time Wimbledon champion John McEnroe employed his trademark nonchalance on Friday when he told Rafael Nadal to "get a new damn coach" after the Spanish tennis star lost his championships qualifier to Germany's Dustin Brown, the BBC reported.

Nadal's coach, his uncle Toni Nadal, is often viewed as a tennis celebrity in his own right, and McEnroe's comments thus made international headlines. The American tennis veteran pointed to the fact that the "King of Clay" this year has failed to make it past a major quarterfinal this year, the broadcaster noted.

"It might be time for some fresh blood in the Nadal camp," McEnroe said on BBC Radio. "Are we even allowed to say that? Uncle Toni's going to be upset."

Toni Nadal, who ranks as one of the most successful mentors in tennis history and has led his nephew to 14 Grand Slam titles and prize money of more than $70 million, has been dubbed the "winningest coach" of all time, according to DB4Tennis. The 54-year-old has advised the younger Nadal since 1990.

McEnroe, meanwhile, suggested that others surrounding the tennis star have suggested that he might think about replacing his uncle.

"I know Carlos Costa, who manages Nadal, and he's had other people," the four-time U.S. Open champion said. "They have tried to gently persuade Uncle Toni, who has done a magnificent job from when Rafa was a little kid. Clearly, at this stage, it would appear that some fresh ideas are in order."

Nadal, who -- in addition to his Grand Slams -- has won the Olympic gold medal along with a record 27 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles, "compounded his miserable season" when he lost to Brown in four sets, ESPN judged. The Spaniard himself, though, remained optimistic in comments after his defeat.

"Obviously this is a bad moment for me," he said. "(But) I need to accept these kind of things that can happen; I have done that all my career."