"Djokovic is no better than Sinner": Nadal’s reaction displaces all

Tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou sparks discussion after a post analyzing the match between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open. The South Tyrolean&#8217s defeat has reignited the debate over who considers Carlos Alcaraz and the Azure to be superior to the Big Three and who disagrees and considers them only the best in an era in which the quality of opponents has drastically declined. Mouratoglou is part of the first group and defends the Alcaraz-Sinner duopoly.

Luca Franzosi

“For those who think that Novak Djokovic’s victory over Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semifinals means that the Big Three still play better tennis than Alcaraz and Sinner, I say that this is a very myopic view. Let me explain: first of all, you take a match and turn it into a rule. But remember that Sinner had won his previous five matches against Djokovic. One match is not enough to change my mind about what I have seen in the last two or three years”.

“Also, Jannik moves faster, hits harder, anticipates the ball and serves better than Novak. But Djokovic has been mentally stronger, he is the strongest mentally in the history of tennis. And that’s what has made the difference. That’s what he’s built his entire career on. Sinner won twelve more points than Novak over the entire match, but he lost because Novak won the important ones, the points that mattered most”.

“Novak is not a better tennis player than Sinner. He is the greatest competitor in history. And in that match, he was better than Jannik Sinner”, Mouratoglou concluded the argument thus. His post sparked debate, and among the most surprising reactions came that of one of the Big Three, Rafael Nadal, winner of 22 Slams.

The’former Manacor tennis player posted five emoticons, a smiley face putting his hand in front of his mouth, one putting it in front of his eyes, and three laughing.

Shortly afterwards, the Spanish star deleted his response, but his opinion seemed clear to all.