Legendary Rafael Nadal didn’t agree with renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou’s comments when the latter compared the current level of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik with the Big Three’s level in their prime.
Nadal said the Frenchman’s analysis is flawed as it didn’t make any sense to compare a player when he is in his prime versus a player, who is at the fag end of his career.
After Novak Djokovic registered an epic five-set win against Jannik Sinner in the semifinals of the Australian Open, Mouratoglou said the fans who think that the Big Three had a better level than Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner, are short-sighted.
In a recent Instagram post, Mouratoglou said: “For those who think Djokovic’s win over Sinner in the Australian Open semifinals means the big three plays better tennis than Alcaraz and Sinner: that’s a far too simplistic view,”
“Jannik is faster, hits harder, takes the ball earlier, and serves better than Novak. Novak has the strongest mentality in tennis history, and that’s what made the difference.”
“Novak isn’t a better tennis player than Sinner, but he is the greatest competitor in history, and he was better than Jannik Sinner in that match.”
In an interview with ESPN, Nadal responded to those comments by saying: “I don’t see the controversy. I don’t want to generate controversy, but the point is that the analysis of that gentleman is wrong.
“Because it’s as if you analyse today’s [Lionel] Messi with the Messi who played in Barça or the Cristiano Ronaldo who plays today with the one he played in Real Madrid, this is simply my point of view.”
“In the end, everyone makes their own career and I never said that some are better than others, the career of each one will mark who has been better, and all are great ambassadors for our sport.
“And I think we have to be happy to have someone like Novak, who is still up there after so many years on the circuit.
“Having Carlos (Alcaraz) is a blessing, because he is a great player who represents us all over the world.
“And on top of that he is taking tennis to an incredible level and I think we can only enjoy and appreciate it, that’s all.”
