Serena Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, is not one to shy away from controversy. The Greek-French trainer, who owns a tennis academy in southern France, has repeatedly courted online and offline noise from tennis fans because of his opinions. Recently, a tennis-related statement from Mouratoglou has raised eyebrows among the followers of the Big Three: Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal.
Patrick Mouratoglou assesses Novak Djokovic vs other Big Three players
Mouratoglou has made a bold statement, saying that during their peak Djokovic is the best of the Big Three. He said that if only Djokovic did not suffer injuries and did not take time off the tennis court for two years, he would already have the most Grand Slam titles among men.
Roger Federer currently has the record at 20 trophies, with Rafael Nadal close behind at 19. Djokovic, on the other hand, has 16 titles.
Mouratoglou on Federer’s strengths and Nadal’s weaknesses
That said, Mouratoglou has also stated that Federer has the “perfect body” for the sport. He commends the Swiss Maestro for always being well-prepared during his games. He additionally commended him for knowing how to minimize the risks involved in the sport.
He also stated that Federer’s loose moves are a huge factor in his longevity. When compared to other star players like Nadal and Djokovic, he takes less effort to perform well, which helps prevent major injuries.
On the other hand, Mouratoglou is less impressed with Nadal. While he is a fan of his success, he thinks that the Spaniard’s playing style is too active, which can lead to more injuries and other physical issues. He also believes that Nadal has too full of a calendar during the tennis season, which can be too exhausting for him.
Mouratoglou’s fantastic 2019 season
Mouratoglou arguably had one of his most successful tennis seasons as a coach. Apart from Williams, two of his other clients have also shown impressive performances this year.
Coco Gauff, who Mouratoglou has been teaching since she was ten, caused much fanfare due to her performance in Wimbledon and the US Open. The 15-year old player became a darling of the press after she defeated Venus Williams in the first round in London. Moreover, she memorably lost to defending US Open champion Naomi Osaka, only to emerge a star because of their camaraderie after the match.
On the other hand, Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas has solidified his reputation as among the ATP Tour’s brightest young stars. The 21-year old player faced seven other top players in the ATP Tour Finals. He ended up winning the tournament, defeating Federer, Alexander Zverev, and Dominic Thiem in the process.
Australian Open bold odds on Djokovic, Federer and Nadal
According to bet365, the hot favorite to win the Australian Open is Djokovic followed by Nadal, and Federer.
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Novak Djokovic’s ranking and performance in 2019
Ranked no.2, Djokovic played his last match on the 14th of November when he capitulated to Roger Federer 6-4 6-3 in the R in London.
This year Novak has a 54-11 win-loss record. Djokovic has won 5 titles in 2019 at the Australian Open, in Madrid, in Wimbledon, in Tokyo and in Paris. Novak was the finalist in Rome.
Roger Federer’s ranking and performance in 2019
Ranked no.3, the Swiss played his last match on the 16th of November when he was overcome by Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3 6-4 in the semifinal in London.
This year Roger has a 51-10 win-loss record. Roger has won 4 titles in 2019 in Dubai, in Miami, in Halle and in Basel. Roger was the finalist in Indian Wells and in Wimbledon.
Novak Djokovic |
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