Coach Patrick Mouratoglou is of the opinion that the so-called changing of the guard which was mooted when Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon was anything but.
Speaking for Tennis Majors' Eye of the Coach podcast, the former coach of Serena Williams and current of Holger Rune said that he sees them sharing Grand Slams, but that the Spaniard won't prevent the 23-time Grand Slam champion from adding to his tally.
Djokovic will return for the first time in two years to Flushing Meadows and will aim to regain the title after a smattering of interesting winners in recent years including Daniil Medvedev and Dominic Thiem.
With the Calendar Grand Slam often on the line, Djokovic has been unable to get over the line. But Mouratoglou believes the pressure now switches over from him being the ultimate favourite to playing more freely.
“I don’t think Carlos has an edge on Novak. Both players are very close in terms of level. I think Novak can play much better than he did in the Wimbledon final. He was very nervous. Will Carlos prevent Novak from winning any more Slams? I don’t think so. Will he take some & Novak takes some? I think so," said Mouratoglou as per Tennis Majors.
“I feel that being this ultimate favorite all the time and playing for history, it has to be a burden," he continued.
"So now in a way that Carlos is a favorite as well, Novak will feel more free the next time he plays him."
Mouratoglou says Alcaraz won’t stop Djokovic from winning Slams: “I don’t think Carlos has an edge on Novak. Both players are very close in terms of level. I think Novak can play much better than he did in the Wimbledon final. He was very nervous. Will Carlos prevent Novak from…
