Patrick Mouratoglou, the former coach of Serena Williams and current mentor to Naomi Osaka, shared his thoughts on Novak Djokovic’s future in tennis. The Frenchman, known for his work with top players, believes the Serbian will not prolong his career as long as Roger Federer did.
Djokovic, 37, suffered an early exit at the BNP Paribas Open, falling to Botic van de Zandschulp in his opening match. The defeat followed first-round losses at the Qatar Open and his retirement in the Australian Open semifinals. His recent struggles have raised questions about how much longer he will compete at the highest level.
When asked if Djokovic would play beyond 41, as Federer did, Mouratoglou dismissed the idea. “False,” he told the Tennis Channel in a video shared on his social media. “Novak will end his career earlier than 41 years old, I think, but it all depends on his motivation. I don’t feel his motivation is going to last four more years.”
Djokovic acknowledges his struggles
Following his loss in Indian Wells, Djokovic admitted that maintaining his usual level has become increasingly difficult. “I’m disappointed that I lost, but I guess, you know, if you put things in that larger perspective, of course I’ve had an incredible career,” he told the press. “Being consistent for so many years, obviously you have high expectations of yourself.”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion recognized that his form has fluctuated over the past couple of seasons. “Things have been different for me the last couple of years. I’ve been struggling to play on the desired level. Every now and then, I have a couple good tournaments, but, you know, mostly it’s really a challenge. It’s a struggle for me.”
Djokovic also acknowledged the difficulty of adjusting to this stage of his career. “So it is what it is. You know, I guess nothing can prepare you for that moment, in a sense. You have to experience it and try to deal with it in the best possible way.”
What comes next for Djokovic?
Djokovic has expressed his intention to play at the Miami Open, but his plans remain uncertain. Given his recent performances, questions remain about whether he will follow through and how he will approach the rest of the season.