Rafael Nadal disagrees with Novak Djokovic comments but says he isn’t trying to stir controversy

Rafael Nadal has weighed in on the debate sparked by Patrick Mouratoglou’s social-media post about Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open semifinal win over Jannik Sinner, stressing that while he disagrees with the French coach’s assessment, he has no desire to create controversy.

Mouratoglou, the former long-time coach of Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, argued on Instagram that Djokovic’s four-set victory did not prove the sport’s “Big Three” era produced a higher standard of tennis than the current generation led by Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. “For those who think Djokovic’s win over Sinner in the Australian Open semifinals means the big three plays better tennis than Alcaraz and Sinner: that’s a far too simplistic view,” Mouratoglou wrote. “Jannik is faster, hits harder, takes the ball earlier, and serves better than Novak. Novak has the strongest mentality in tennis history, and that’s what made the difference. Novak isn’t a better tennis player than Sinner, but he is the greatest competitor in history, and he was better than Jannik Sinner in that match.”

Nadal, who captured 22 Grand Slam titles before retiring after Spain’s 2024 Davis Cup Finals campaign, initially responded to the post with a string of laughing emojis. Speaking later to ESPN, the 38-year-old clarified that the emojis reflected his view that Mouratoglou’s analysis missed the mark.

“I don’t see the controversy. I don’t want to generate controversy, but the point is that the analysis of that gentleman is wrong,” Nadal said. “Because it’s as if you analyse today’s Messi with the Messi who played in Barça or the Cristiano Ronaldo who plays today with the one he played at Real Madrid – this is simply my point of view.”

Nadal praised Alcaraz as “a blessing” for Spanish and global tennis, adding that the 21-year-old “is taking tennis to an incredible level.” While acknowledging that both Alcaraz and Sinner possess generational talent, Nadal emphasized longevity and consistency as the true measures of greatness. With Djokovic’s record 24 major titles looming as the benchmark, the Spaniard noted that sustained health and year-after-year contention will determine whether the sport’s emerging stars can approach similar heights.