Patrick Mouratoglou caused quite the stir with his comments about Novak Djokovic…
On Instagram, Mouratoglou said the following about the 24-time Grand Slam champion after he beat Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open.
“For those who think that [Novak] Djokovic beating [Jannik] Sinner in the semifinal of the Australian Open means that the big three is playing better tennis than [Carlos] Alcaraz and Sinner… This is a very short view,” he said.
“Let me explain.
“First of all, you take one match, and you make a rule out of it.
“Just remember that Sinner had won the five previous matches they played against each other. One match will not make me change my mind about what I’ve seen for the last two, three years.
“Jannik moves faster, hits harder, takes the ball earlier, and serves better than Novak.
“But, Novak is the strongest mental in tennis, in history, and that’s what made the difference. That’s what made his whole career.
“Sinner won 12 more points throughout the whole match than Novak, but he lost because Novak won the big ones, the ones that counted the most.
Where does that performance rank out of Novak Djokovic’s best of all time?
“Novak is not a better tennis player than Sinner, but he’s the biggest competitor in history, and he was better than Jannik Sinner in that match.”
It’s safe to say the Frenchman’s comments didn’t go down well, as the likes of Boris Becker, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray all disagreed with Mouratoglou.
Another tennis icon, Serena Williams’ former coach, Rick Macci, has now shared his reaction to Mouratoglou’s post.
Rick Macci says Novak Djokovic is ‘outstanding’ in reaction to Patrick Mouratoglou’s comments
Weighing in on the debate, Macci took to X.
“Asked again in a podcast about Mouratoglou doubling down and chirping that Novak does nothing outstanding,” he said.
Are you more or less confident that Novak Djokovic can win his 25th Grand Slam now?
“Everything in life is in the eye of the beholder.
“The Joker does everything outstanding and more.
“What you may see is very different than Rick Macci.”
Despite being over a decade older than everyone else in the top 10, Djokovic remains one of the few players who can genuinely compete with Alcaraz and Sinner.
ATP top 10
| Rank | Name | Country | Age | Points |
| 1 | Carlos Alcaraz | Spain | 22 | 13,650 |
| 2 | Jannik Sinner | Italy | 24 | 10,300 |
| 3 | Novak Djokovic | Serbia | 38 | 5,280 |
| 4 | Alexander Zverev | Germany | 28 | 4,605 |
| 5 | Lorenzo Musetti | Italy | 23 | 4,405 |
| 6 | Alex de Minaur | Australia | 26 | 4,080 |
| 7 | Taylor Fritz | USA | 28 | 3,940 |
| 8 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | Canada | 25 | 3,725 |
| 9 | Ben Shelton | USA | 23 | 3,600 |
| 10 | Alexander Bublik | Kazakhstan | 28 | 3,235 |
Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner’s head-to-head record (5-6)
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2026 Australian Open – SF | Novak Djokovic | Jannik Sinner | 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2025 Wimbledon – SF | Jannik Sinner | Novak Djokovic | 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2025 French Open – SF | Jannik Sinner | Novak Djokovic | 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 |
| 2024 Shanghai Masters – F | Jannik Sinner | Novak Djokovic | 7-6, 6-3 |
| 2024 Australian Open – SF | Jannik Sinner | Novak Djokovic | 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 |
| 2023 Davis Cup – SF | Jannik Sinner | Novak Djokovic | 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 |
| 2023 ATP Finals – F | Novak Djokovic | Jannik Sinner | 6-3, 6-3 |
| 2023 ATP Finals – RR | Jannik Sinner | Novak Djokovic | 7-5, 6-7, 7-6 |
| 2023 Wimbledon – SF | Novak Djokovic | Jannik Sinner | 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 |
| 2022 Wimbledon – QF | Novak Djokovic | Jannik Sinner | 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 |
| 2021 Monte-Carlo Masters – 2R | Novak Djokovic | Jannik Sinner | 6-4, 6-2 |
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz’s head-to-head record (5-5)
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2026 Australian Open – F | Carlos Alcaraz | Novak Djokovic | 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 |
| 2025 US Open – SF | Carlos Alcaraz | Novak Djokovic | 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 |
| 2025 Australian Open – QF | Novak Djokovic | Carlos Alcaraz | 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2024 Olympics – F | Novak Djokovic | Carlos Alcaraz | 7-6, 7-6 |
| 2024 Wimbledon – F | Carlos Alcaraz | Novak Djokovic | 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 |
| 2023 ATP Finals – SF | Novak Djokovic | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2023 Cincinnati Open – F | Novak Djokovic | Carlos Alcaraz | 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 |
| 2023 Wimbledon – F | Carlos Alcaraz | Novak Djokovic | 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 |
| 2023 French Open – SF | Novak Djokovic | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 |
| 2022 Madrid Open – SF | Carlos Alcaraz | Novak Djokovic | 6-7, 7-5, 7-6 |
Djokovic sits directly behind Sinner and Alcaraz in the world rankings, and has a combined head-to-head record of 10-11 against the pair.
He may have a chance to level that head-to-head at 11-11 before too long…
Novak Djokovic could play Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in Qatar
Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Sinner are set to return to ATP Tour action at the Qatar Open.
Competing as the top three seeds, the trio will be favorites to lift the iconic eagle trophy.
Djokovic is a former two-time champion, while Alcaraz lost in the quarterfinals on debut last year, and Sinner has never appeared at the event.
Should they all perform as expected, Djokovic will meet Alcaraz or Sinner in the semifinals.
Only time will tell who will emerge victorious in Doha, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.
The 2026 Qatar Open begins on Monday, February 16.
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