Coach Patrick Mouratoglou emphasizes the significance of superstar athletes such as Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal in the world of tennis. However, he also believes that their occasional losses contribute positively to the sport.
Mouratoglou, who is renowned for his collaboration with Williams over a decade, had the opportunity to witness the immense attention and interest that the American tennis legend used to attract. While Williams and Roger Federer have retired, Djokovic and Nadal continue to compete, and the excitement surrounding their matches remains unchanged.
Nevertheless, in men’s tennis, some emerging players have made remarkable breakthroughs and won Grand Slam titles in recent years. Most notably, 22-year-old Jannik Sinner became an Australian Open champion, and 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz has already secured two Slam victories.
According to Mouratoglou, this combination of established superstars and rising talents creates an ideal balance. He believes that having competition among these players introduces “uncertainty” and enhances the overall appeal of the game.
“I believe that every sport requires the presence of superstars. These individuals transcend the sport itself and attract new fans. They fill stadiums, and their importance cannot be overstated,” expressed Mouratoglou in a video shared on Instagram.
“I vividly recall the excitement surrounding Serena’s matches. The same level of anticipation is present now with Novak and Rafa, despite Rafa’s unfortunate absence.
“This attention brings a significant amount of focus to the sport. However, I find it exhilarating to witness the emergence of both superstars and young players. It is not ideal if the champions always emerge victorious. There must be an element of suspense and unpredictability.”
In his video, Mouratoglou acknowledged that Nadal has been relatively inactive in the past year. Nonetheless, he predicts that the 14-time French Open champion will be a strong contender during the clay season.
After witnessing two young players, Alcaraz (Wimbledon) and Sinner (Australian Open), claim two out of the last three Grand Slam titles, this year’s French Open promises to be particularly intriguing. Many will be eager to see if another young player can emerge victorious once again.
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org