World renowned tennis coach and academy owner Patrick Mouratoglou says Novak Djokovic can still play three or four more years at the highest level on the ATP World Tour…
“The only confrontation he can have now is probably Carlos and Jannik pushing him. I think Novak can still play three or four years at the highest level. The real question is about his motivation. I think he really struggled with motivation until the Olympics. Everybody felt like it was the end for Rafa, Novak felt it too. For sure, it hit his motsis ivation really hard. But after that, Rafa came back on clay, his level was good and I think this gave extra motivation to Novak. Sinner started to play great. Alcaraz again, I think it touched his ego, and he came back really strong and finally won the title that he was chasing his whole career, which was a gold medal at the Olympics, to complete his collection of trophies. So what’s gonna happen now in the future? He’s in great shape, he plays unbelievable tennis. He’s ready to compete, I think, two, three, four years at the highest level. But he needed this competition between him and Roger and Rafa to be the greatest. The only confrontation he can have now is probably Carlos and Jannik pushing him, beating him, him feeling his ego touched and wanting to show that he’s still great.”
Can’t argue with coach Patrick with this expert analysis. However there is a remote possibility Djokovic’s competitive fire may flicker a fraction now that he’s truly achieved everything he ever wanted to. It will be difficult to continue to train at full intensity and work with the drive to keep trying to improve his game and athleticism, because there’s nothing left to prove. Especially if his “greatest rival” Nadal decides to hang it up.
The best motivator for this home stretch of Novak’s career is to have Nadal still on his radar, because there is no man Djokovic would rather annihilate on the court. If Nadal rides off into the sunset at the end of the year, Djokovic may lose interest and motivation again because beating Carlos, Sinner, Stefanos, Rune, Ruud, Fritz, Hurkacz just doesn’t provide the satisfaction and high that hammering Rafa gives to Djokovic.
Djokovic’s last 16 finished matches…
Alcaraz W
Musetti W
Tsitsipas W
Koepfer W
Nadal W
Ebden W
Alcaraz L
Musetti W
Rune W
Popyrin W
Fearnley W
Kopriva W
Cerundolo W
Musetti W
Carballes Baena W
Herbert W
Carlos Alcaraz · Novak Djokovic · Olympics · Patrick Mouratoglou · Rafael Nadal
Harold · August 13, 2024 at 4:38 pm
The “ Coach” you claimed PAID big bucks to Serena Williams to be her coach is now an “expert”, because he jumped on your Djokovic train.
Maybe he’s looking to pay Djoker, he needs a Coach
SMH again
Scoop Malinowski · August 13, 2024 at 5:22 pm
Yes, Mouratoglou is a top coach even if he hasn’t helped any top players recently. I did not say he paid Serena “big bucks” to appear as her coach but several insiders confirmed it’s an open secret he incentivizes certain players to appear as their coach – Halep, Rune, Tsitsipas, all which did not work out. Mouratoglou has been a high profile supporter and defender of Djokovic for years now. Is he lobbying to join the Djokovic team as a coach or even spokesman? Very possible. Mouratoglou is an excellent self promoter and a well respected voice in tennis.
catherine · August 16, 2024 at 8:46 am
Mouratoglou didn’t emerge looking good from the Halep debacle.. His involvement seems to have been peripheral – but certainly negligent in terms of taking notice of whatever supplements she was taking.
No one is saying much about Simona but I imagine her career is over. She’s a non person. For the record, I believe her account. It’s a sad ending.
Scoop Malinowski · August 16, 2024 at 9:16 am
Catherine, most people I talk to don’t believe her excuse. She’s 0-2 in her comeback. Could it be possible Mouratoglou took the bullet for Halep? Because if he was guilty of giving her a bad supplement, wouldn’t/shouldn’t he be liable? Or even investigated by the governing bodies? The rumors that the big tennis academies offer PEDS to juniors – to give them their best chance at becoming a pro and the best player than can be – isn’t so far-fetched in a sport most people would sell their soul to make the top 50 wta atp.