"I always thought he would become the greatest" - Patrick Mouratoglou selects member of Big Three he would have liked to coach
ATP
The era of the Big Three of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic is slowly coming to an end. Renown coach Patrick Mouratoglou gave his thoughts on the dynamic trio, and revealed which member he'd have liked to coach on the ATP Tour.
Federer retired in 2022, Nadal announced he will be retiring at this year's Davis Cup in November, and Djokovic has reduced his schedule as he focuses solely on Grand Slam titles. With all three men holding at least 20 Major titles and the World No.1 ranking at some point during their careers, it must take someone special to be a part of their respective coaching teams.
Mouratoglou reveals he would have liked to coach Djokovic
The Frenchman has worked with several top stars in the past, ranging from WTA legend Serena Williams to Simona Halep, Holger Rune and currently Naomi Osaka. In an interview with Talking Tennis, Mouratoglou was asked which member of the legendary Big Three he would have liked to work with.
“I think they are all, the three are so unique. Any of the three I would have liked for sure; if I had to pick one I would I pick Novak,” Mouratoglou said. “I said this several years ago, ‘I think he’s gonna become the greatest’, when he had only 15 Grand Slams. I mean only, sorry it’s a lot, but compared to what he has now.
“They are the three best players of all time, so to work with one of them is something so special, but if I had to pick one, I would pick Novak because I always thought he would become the greatest.
“First because he would play longer, his body is healthier than the two others’ body. And I feel that his motivation to become the greatest was so huge. And if you looked at how many Grand Slams per year he was winning, I thought at some point he was gonna become the greatest, and he did it.
"So for that reason, as we are involved in this competitive world, and [if] you work with one of the three, you want to work with the one you think if gonna become the greatest.
“I’m not saying he’s playing better than the others, I don’t want to be offensive to the others when I say that. But at some point, to name someone the greatest, it has to be with achievements. And in terms of achievements, he’s the greatest."
“They are the three best players of all time, so to work with one of them is something so special, but if I had to pick one, I would pick Novak because I always thought he would become the greatest.
“First because he would play longer, his body is healthier than the two others’ body. And I feel that his motivation to become the greatest was so huge. And if you looked at how many Grand Slams per year he was winning, I thought at some point he was gonna become the greatest, and he did it.
"So for that reason, as we are involved in this competitive world, and [if] you work with one of the three, you want to work with the one you think if gonna become the greatest.
“I’m not saying he’s playing better than the others, I don’t want to be offensive to the others when I say that. But at some point, to name someone the greatest, it has to be with achievements. And in terms of achievements, he’s the greatest."
Read also
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Either Lena has a chronic internal ailment (i.e., colitis, enteritis, Crohn's, or some type of lower abdomen issue) -- or she is once again dealing with 'Vukovitis'. Mental stress can indeed cause lower body pains. No matter... whatever is truly going on sucks. "Virus" excuse is getting a bit old -- and often -- at this point.
mandoist09-11-2026 - Ironically, Martina became a U.S. Citizen about the same time as the Orange Convicted Felon & Abuser was just beginning on his road to losing all Daddy's Millions!!mandoist09-11-2026
- "Another fresh start is in the cards." Thanks for the Humor!! I'm guessing this is the minimum one can do to keep all your sponsors hanging-on in perpetuity?mandoist09-11-2026
- Vukov is doing this to Lena... AGAIN!!!!! WTA's autonomous collective should be dismantled for allowing Vukov to re-emerge from his hand-slapping suspension. Just ask WTA employees how that's been going lately as they witness his continued verbal abuses. Women's Pro Tennis should start over.mandoist08-11-2026
- Can't help but suspect Vukov is back to his old self again. Thank you, WTA. Perhaps you can give them a "Battling Couple of the Year Award 2026" ??mandoist08-11-2026
- Wtf? Why is there no reason? And what about the men's?Bel08-11-2026
- One step by another step -- WTA continues to 'lose the plot'. Too many hi-tech microphones being installed at most venues!!! Remove them (especially those along the hallways, sidewalks, and pathways throughout the venues. Not to mention (most of all) remove the mic's from the Players/Coaches Box.mandoist06-11-2026
- Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.mandoist06-11-2026
- Don't you just love this young lady!? We fans often expect athletes to be supermen and superwomen, often forgetting that they WILL GET TIRED! I love Alex's perspective. Tiredness for an athlete should never be viewed as a negative, especially if you are healthy, taking care of your body and mental health and putting in the work. What a mature perspective. Good for you, Alex!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Jess is absolutely correct! But the disrespect is a trait I have noticed in most of the Russian players. Mirra is good but very immature and lacks humility. Conceivable needs to get a handle on that!Rapunzel05-11-2026
