Coach Patrick Mouratoglou thinks Carlos Alcaraz “does not have an edge” on Novak Djokovic despite the Spaniard’s impressive Wimbledon final win. In this year’s Wimbledon final, Alcaraz surprised Djokovic 1-6 7-6 (6) 6-1 3-6 6-4 to end the Serb’s 34-match winning streak at The Championships and prevent the 36-year-old from winning his fifth consecutive title at The All England Club.“I don’t think Carlos has an edge on Novak.
I think both players are very close in terms of level. I think Novak can play much better than he did in the Wimbledon final. I think he was very nervous,” Mouratoglou said on the latest episode of Tennis Majors’ Eye of the Coach.
Mouratoglou: Djokovic will feel more free the next time he faces Alcaraz
Going into the Wimbledon final, Djokovic was considered the favorite and the pressure was on the Serb to deliver. But now that Alcaraz has managed to beat Djokovic in a Grand Slam final, Mouratoglou believes the pressure has shifted on the Spaniard’s side.“I feel that being this ultimate favorite all the time and playing for history, it has to be a burden.
So now in a way that Carlos is a favorite as well, Novak will feel more free the next time he plays him,” Mouratoglou explained.Following his French Open win, Djokovic reached a record-breaking 23 Grand Slam titles. Going forward, Mouratoglou expects Djokovic to add more Grand Slam success to his name before retiring.“Will he (Alcaraz) prevent Novak from winning any (more) Grand Slams? I don’t think so.
Will he take some and Novak takes some? I think so,” Mouratoglou said. After losing this year’s Wimbledon final, Djokovic gave credit to Alcaraz and said he would like to meet the Spaniard again in the final of this year’s US Open. It remains to be seen if Djokovic will get his wish and meet Alcaraz in the final at Flushing Meadows.
