Patrick Mouratoglou has downplayed Novak Djokovic's semifinal victory over Jannik Sinner at the 2026 Australian Open, arguing it does not settle debates about tennis eras. The coach emphasized Sinner's technical superiority while crediting Djokovic's mental edge for the win. The comments sparked a lighthearted response from Rafael Nadal.
Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, defeated two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in a five-set semifinal at the 2026 Australian Open in Melbourne. The victory reignited discussions among fans about whether the sport's traditional Big 3—Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer—outshine the emerging talents of Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Experienced coach Patrick Mouratoglou, formerly with Serena Williams and Holger Rune, addressed the hype in a LinkedIn post. "One match. One result. And suddenly, a big conclusion," he wrote, rejecting claims that Djokovic's win proves the Big 3's dominance. He noted that Sinner had previously beaten Djokovic in five straight encounters, underscoring the Italian's edge in modern tennis fundamentals.
Mouratoglou highlighted Sinner's advantages: "He moves faster. He hits harder. He takes the ball earlier. He serves better." In the match, Sinner landed 75 percent of his first serves, winning 80 percent of points on them and 52 percent on second serves—stats reflecting a more advanced style than Djokovic's.
Despite this, Djokovic prevailed through superior competition. "Novak is the greatest competitor in the history of tennis," Mouratoglou stated. The Serb captured 42 pressure points to Sinner's 23, even as Sinner won 12 more total points. "Jannik was far from his best level, and yet, on that day, he would have beaten the vast majority of top players," the coach added.
Mouratoglou concluded that the result underscores mindset and tactics over raw skill alone. His view that Alcaraz and Sinner play at a higher level drew laughing emojis from Nadal on Instagram, adding a touch of humor to the ongoing debate.
