Coach Patrick Mouratoglou has built “the ultimate tennis GOAT” and the tennis player he has built has various attributes of the Big Three: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, was mentioned three times, as Mouratoglou said his ultimate GOAT would have the Swiss’s overall talent, volley and footwork.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, heard his name twice when Mouratoglou said his ultimate GOAT would have the fighting spirit and tenacity of the Spaniard. Djokovic, who lifted his 21st Grand Slam title at last Wimbledon, was also mentioned three times, as Mouratoglou added the Serb’s return, backhand and athleticism to his ultimate GOAT.
Furthermore, Mouratoglou revealed that his ultimate GOAT would have Nick Kyrgios’ serve, Stefanos Tsitsipas’ forehand and Daniil Medvedev’s movement. Nadal has won two Grand Slams this year, Djokovic’s only Grand Slam victory this season came at Wimbledon, while Federer is yet to play in 2022.
Giving his take on what’s to come, Mouratoglou suggested that Djokovic could be the Big Three most likely to achieve more Grand Slam success. “Rafael Nadal is playing some of the best tennis of his life, recently beating Novak in the French Open quarters, but he is still struggling a lot with his injuries,” Mouratoglou said in a video posted on Instagram.
“Novak is the youngest of the three and he is in great physical condition. So he has a chance to play at the highest level for a few more years, however he might not be in a position to compete in the next two Slams -in the US Open and the Australian Open – meaning his next shot at a title could be at Rafa’s house at the French Open next year.”
John McEnroe on Rafa Nadal
Consultant on the mythical BBC, John McEnroe is accumulating punchlines at the moment. Yesterday, when asked about the differences between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the American left-hander delivered his analysis.
“Rafa and Roger have totally opposite approaches on the idea of the GOAT. Djokovic talks openly about wanting more and more and Nadal acts like nothing matters but making an effort at every point in every game. It seems to have worked out pretty well for both of them, judging by history and the number of Grand Slams they have won.
Sometimes I guess it can be tiring for opponents to hear Rafa say: ‘I didn’t feel my foot, I didn’t even feel it’
