Patrick Mouratoglou believes that Andy Murray could potentially motivate Novak Djokovic as he seeks new inspiration in his game. However, Mouratoglou, who also coaches Naomi Osaka, emphasizes that Djokovic will face significant challenges from rising star Jannik Sinner moving forward. The 37-year-old Djokovic was notably outplayed by Sinner in the semifinals of the Australian Open earlier this year, prompting speculation about a shift in power dynamics within men’s tennis. Sinner’s subsequent victories at both the Australian Open and the US Open, alongside Rafael Nadal’s success at the French Open and Wimbledon, have further fueled this narrative.
As Sinner and fellow young talent Carlos Alcaraz continue to dominate the ATP tour, Djokovic finds himself without a Grand Slam title in a single season for the first time since 2017. Heading into the 2025 season, he is no longer universally regarded as the player to beat in major tournaments. In response, Djokovic has made changes to his team, indicating a desire to adapt his approach in the coming year.
Mouratoglou shared his thoughts on Murray’s potential impact during an interview with Tennis Majors’ Eye of the Coach. “Is Andy the right person to motivate him? I would say yes and no. While he may not have the loudest personality, he is very intelligent and can provide valuable insights on how to challenge Novak to find new motivation,” Mouratoglou stated.
Mouratoglou also discussed the difficulties Djokovic may face against Sinner, who has proven to be a formidable opponent. Sinner has defeated Djokovic twice in late 2023 and won their encounters at the Australian Open and Shanghai Masters. Additionally, he secured a straight-set victory over Djokovic at the Six Kings Slam, a high-stakes exhibition event.
In their 2024 matchups, Djokovic experienced a straight-set loss to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final but managed to edge out the Spaniard in a tightly contested two-set final at the Paris Olympics. As the 2025 season approaches, Mouratoglou anticipates that defeating both Sinner and Alcaraz will remain a formidable task for Djokovic. He noted, “The challenge is immense because the levels of Alcaraz and Sinner are impressive. It might be harder for Novak to beat Jannik than Carlos, as Sinner doesn’t give anything away. He possesses skills similar to Novak’s, covering the court well and taking the ball early.”
Djokovic, who dominated Wimbledon from 2019 to 2022, faced a setback in 2023 when he lost to Alcaraz in a five-set final, falling short of a fourth consecutive title. This year, he again reached the Wimbledon final but was overwhelmed by Alcaraz, who won decisively with a score of 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4).
After the final, Djokovic acknowledged that Sinner and Alcaraz were currently outperforming him. “Reaching the Wimbledon final boosts my confidence, but I recognize that I need to elevate my game to compete with the best players, including Jannik and Carlos. I’m aware that I need to improve significantly to have a chance against them in Grand Slam events and the Olympics,” he remarked.
In the weeks following Wimbledon, Djokovic rebounded by defeating Alcaraz in the Olympic final but suffered a loss to Sinner in Shanghai in October. As he prepares for the 2025 season, Djokovic’s ability to adapt his strategy against Sinner and Alcaraz will likely be crucial to his success.
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