Serena Williams’s former coach Patrick Mouratoglou has rated Novak Djokovic over Roger Federer in terms of consistency at the age of 36.
Mouratoglou admitted that Roger Federer was in great form between 2017 and 2019 but he lacked the consistency that can be seen in Djokovic now.
Novak Djokovic at 36, won three out of the four Grand Slams and also reached the finals of the fourth. He won two Masters titles, the ATP Finals, and also ended the year as the No.1 player. Looking at Djokovic’s form, he feels that he is physically as good as he was a decade ago.
“Often hear what Roger did between 2017 and 2019 is as good as what Novak is doing now, and that Roger was a better player in 2017, 2018 than before. But at 36, 37, Roger was not able to win three out of four Grand Slams and be consistent all year long and be really, one step above all the players. This didn’t happen.”
– Patrick Mouratoglou in an interview
In 2017, 36-year-old Roger Federer won the Australian Open and the Wimbledon Open but skipped the French Open and he made it to the quarterfinals of the US Open. The 2018 Australian Open was the 20th and the last Grand Slam that the Swiss managed to win.
Mouratoglou feels that Federer was a better player in 2018 due to his backhand. But despite this, there is a difference between Federer in 2017-19 and Djokovic in 2023.
“The difference is Novak, he’s physically as good today as he was when he was 26. That’s a huge difference. When you are at that level physically, you can be consistent all year long and beat all the best players in the world on a consistent basis. That’s a big difference.”
– Patrick Mouratoglou in an interview
‘Novak Djokovic is competing against history’ -Tracy Austin
Novak Djokovic was praised by the former World No.1 Tracy Austin for his achievements in 2023.
His achievements are no short of a dream, as the Serbian won three Grand Slams at the Australian Open, French Open, and the US Open, won two Masters Titles at Cincinnati and Paris, an ATP 250 at Adelaide International, and the ATP Finals trophy.
Tracy said that Djokovic’s 24 Grand Slams and eighth-year-end No.1 finish are ‘unreachable’. She mentioned during the French Open that Djokovic is not just playing against his opponents but also ‘against history’.
“At Roland Garros, Novak played six tiebreakers- 55 total points. Not once on those 55 points did he make an unforced error! As we know, in tennis, some points are bigger than others. And when it’s most important, Novak just locks down. He’s at the stage now where he’s competing not just versus his opponents, but also against history.”
– Tracy Austin at the 2023 French Open
