Leading tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou has declared that Novak Djokovic has proven that mentality is the “most important thing” in tennis as he labelled the Serb “the strongest” of the Big Three.
Djokovic has collected most of the most significant records in men’s tennis during his remarkable career.
The 37-year-old has won a men’s record 24 Grand Slam titles, having surpassed his great rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer — who rank second and third with 22 and 20 majors respectively.
Speaking to Eurosport France, Mouratoglou claimed Djokovic initially had a “very average game” and argued this makes his ascension to the very top all the more incredible.
“When you look at the three greatest, whether it pleases you or not, there is one of the three who is the greatest of all,” assessed the Frenchman. “He was world number one the longest, he won the most Grand Slams, the most Masters 1000, he beats them everywhere. It’s Novak.
“When you look at the three, there are two who occupied the position when Novak arrived. Everyone said they were unbeatable. Novak arrived with a very average game.
“Even today, at the end of his career, when you look at Rafa’s game, Roger’s game, Novak’s game, it’s incredible that Novak is the strongest of the three, the one who broke all the records.
“It shows that the most important thing is not in the tennis, in the racket. Obviously you need tennis, but the most important thing, what really makes the difference, is the state of mind, the mentality.
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“I know it bothers some people to say that, but it’s the most important thing, by far.”
Mouratoglou also addressed the suggestion that statistics are not the only factor in the GOAT debate.
“I completely agree with the idea that numbers aren’t everything, of course,” he continued. “Maybe in 50 years, people will say that Federer left an infinitely greater mark than Novak.
“However, when we have to designate the best player of all time, we have to base it on achievements. If we base it on another criterion, it’s completely subjective, it no longer means anything. The very idea of the top level is ‘who is the best?’
“Players compete against each other; at the end of each week, there’s a best of the week; at the end of each year, there’s a best of the year. So, it’s a false debate. If the question is: who is the best? Then it’s Novak.”
Mouratoglou currently coaches Naomi Osaka, while he has previously worked with Serena Williams, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune.
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