Novak Djokovic lets the tournament in Rome whiz after two early bankruptcies at the tennis masters in Monte Carlo and Madrid to save strength for the Grand Slam in Paris. Trainer star Patrick Mouratoglou make these decisions be careful.
Patrick Mouratoglou, long-time coach by tennis superstar Serena Williams and current coach of the four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, was surprised by Novak Djokovic’s last appearances in the ATP circus. “I have questions,” he said in a video post that he shared on his Instagram channel.
“I was surprised how Novak played in Monte Carlo and then in Madrid. A guy like him, if he doesn’t feel like playing, if he has no motivation, shouldn’t play. Because he didn’t look like he was trying to win,” said the Frenchman.
Mouratoglou seemed as if Djokovic was “not prepared in physical terms”. “But the question then is: why did he play? I don’t understand that. Motivation is such an important factor for him,” he explained.
Djokovic is waiting for the next tournament victory
The 24-fold Grand Slam winner did not win a single tournament in 2025, his last big triumph was to win the gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games last summer. At the end of March, Djokovic had reached the final at Miami in Miami, otherwise he divided regularly in the first rounds.
With the Masters in Monte Carlo and Madrid, it was over after two sets at the start. He then canceled the tournament in Rome (May 7th to 18th). Up to the French Open (May 25th to June 8th) there is no longer a big tournament for preparation.
Ex-professional Jim Courier had last questioned the decision. “It is worrying because it is actually the best place to get shape for Roland Garros,” argued the 54-year-old at “Tennis Channel”: “The conditions are pretty similar.”