‘He Was Very Nervous..’ – Serena Williams’ Ex-coach Patrick Mouratoglou Analyses ‘Burden’ on Novak Djokovic and How It Propelled Carlos Alcaraz to Glory

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic kept tennis fans glued to their seats during the epic Wimbledon Championships final this year. It was a see-saw battle with constant shifts of momentum. However, it was the 20-year-old Spaniard who prevailed in the five-setter thriller. With this win, Alcaraz cemented his position at the top of the ATP rankings chart. On the other hand, it was a major blow to Djokovic’s bid of winning his 24th Grand Slam title. Recently, Serena Williams’ ex-coach, Patrick Mouratoglou opened up about the rivalry between Alcaraz and Djokovic.

Mouratoglou was a long-time coach of the American tennis legend. Their partnership lasted for more than 10 years until Mouratoglou decided to walk away due to Serena being injured in the first half of the 2022 season. However, being active in the tennis world, the French tennis coach had opinions about Djokovic and Alcaraz.

What did Patrick Mouratoglou say about the rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz?

In episode #80 of the Eye of the Coach, the 53-year-old revealed why Djokovic fell short of winning the Wimbledon title this year. Further, he also gave his views about whether Alcaraz was superior to Djokovic given the recent circumstances.

Talking about this, Mouratoglou said, “I don’t think Carlos has an edge on Novak. I think both players are very close in terms of level. I think Novak can play much better than he did in the Wimbledon final, I think he was very nervous.”

Moreover, Mouratoglou feels that with Alcaraz being the favorite now, the pressure will shift on the Spaniard’s side. He further went on to explain, “I feel that being this ultimate favorite all the time and playing for history, it has to be a burden. So now in a way that Carlos is a favorite as well, Novak will feel more free the next time he plays him.”

With the US Open fast approaching, there is a high chance that the two might again square off in the final of a Grand Slam. In the build-up to the tournament, Alcaraz has played smart by being a step ahead of Djokovic.

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Alcaraz playing mind games with Djokovic

Earlier this week at the Cincinnati Masters, the World Number 1 was asked about his battles against the 23-time Grand Slam champion, Djokovic. Answering that question, the Spaniard mentioned that he liked those battles and the fact that he can enjoy himself on the court. Further, he revealed, “I feel I’m the main opponent for him. For me, it’s something crazy. I’m trying to enjoy it.” 

The US Open starts on August 28. Alcaraz is the defending champion in the tournament. Can Djokovic take his revenge in the upcoming Grand Slam tournament or will Alcaraz prevail and defend his crown? Well, only time will tell but it promises to be an exciting time for tennis fans ahead.