Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou recently shared some insights into the secrets of Novak Djokovic’s longevity and success.
Tennis is a physically demanding sport that requires speed, agility, endurance and strength. Most players peak in their 20s and start to decline in their early 30s. But not Novak Djokovic. The Serbian superstar has dominated the men’s game for nearly two decades, winning 24 Grand Slam titles, three career Grand Slams and spending a record 396 consecutive weeks at No. 1.
The Serbian did it all while overcoming injuries, controversies and personal challenges in one of the most competitive eras in tennis. But what makes Djokovic even more remarkable is that he shows no signs of slowing down. At 36, he’s still dominating the sport, winning races and setting new goals.
Mouratoglou, who coached Williams from 2012 to 2022, praised the Serb’s achievements and longevity in a video titled “36 is the new 26, isn’t it?”
The French coach said he has never seen a 36-year-old player maintain such excellent form as Djokovic and attributed his success to incredible seriousness and focus.
Mouratoglou said in an Instagram video: “I have never seen a 36-year-old player in such a state. The fact that he is very serious and focused makes him the best athlete because I think he is the most Good athlete.”
Mouratoglou also believes that as long as he has motivation and avoids injuries, the world’s number one can play until he is over 40 years old. He added that Djokovic’s body is “very young for his age.”
“I still think he can go over 40. I’m not saying he will do that because it’s also about motivation. Of course, he can get injured. Anyone can get injured. And I think his body is very good for him. Young. Age. Very young. I mean, it’s obvious. You see the way he moves on the court,” he said.
“His court coverage and his ability to recover are the result of years of discipline, working with the best professionals every day and always looking for new techniques to improve on,” he continued.
Novak Djokovic aims for record seventh title at Paris Masters 2023
Record six-time champion Novak Djokovic will face a tough challenge at the 2023 Paris Masters, the final ATP Masters 1000 event of the season. The Serbian star, who won his 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open in September, will be aiming for his seventh title in Bercy, where he has a 45-9 record Achievements.
The 36-year-old skipped the Asia Tour, getting a bye in the first round, and will start his campaign in the second round against Thomas Martin Echeverri or Miomir Kekmanovi Oddly, the latter is also his doubles partner in this tournament.
The competition will start on Saturday 30th October and end on Sunday 5th November. The match will be played on the indoor hard courts of the Accor Stadium in Paris. The total prize money for this event is 5.8 million euros.