Patrick Mouratoglou has argued Novak Djokovic is a better player today than in his stunning 2015 season because his game has evolved and his fitness level has not dropped.
The prominent coach declared Djokovic has “much more height” currently and feels the Serbian’s 2023 campaign matches 2015 – something he described as “unheard of” given his age.
Djokovic claimed seven titles from just 12 ATP tournaments entered this year as he won 56 of his 63 matches across all events (88.9%) and ended the season as world No 1 for a record-extending eighth time.
The 36-year-old won three of the four Grand Slam tournaments, while he was a beaten finalist at Wimbledon, losing a five-set epic to Carlos Alcaraz.
This was the fourth season in Djokovic’s career when he secured three Majors after 2011, 2015 and 2021, and it was the third time he made all four finals and won three, following the latter two years.
The Serbian claimed a record seventh ATP Finals title to surpass his great rival Roger Federer in his final tour event, meaning he won four of the five biggest titles in 2023.
In the latest episode of his Eye of the Coach series, Mouratoglou expressed why he thinks we are currently witnessing the best-ever version of Djokovic. “It’s interesting to think if the Novak of 2023 is a better player than the Novak of 2015. I think the Novak of today is better. His game evolved, his confidence evolved, he’s played so many more matches,” the Frenchman said.
“He has so much more height when looking at his game, looking at his opponent. He didn’t drop physically. If he had have dropped physically, then probably the Novak of 2015 would have been a better player than the Novak of 2023.
“But his fitness level I think is the same. He’s as fast, he’s as flexible, he’s as balanced when he hits his shots, he’s as resistant. So, he’s a better player today, yes.
“I think the 2023 season of Novak is one of the best of his career. As good as the best ones he had in the past, 2015 for example, which is crazy when you think about it, because there is almost 10 years between those seasons. At 36 years old, it is something unheard of.”
Mouratoglou, who coaches at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in France, has worked with Serena Williams, Simona Halep, Coco Gauff, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune.
