In the fast-paced world of tennis, where every loss is magnified and every decision dissected, Patrick Mouratoglou has stepped up to defend the next generation of stars. The legendary coach, known for shaping Serena Williams into a global icon, recently took to social media to address critics targeting Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

The 2025 season has been nothing short of extraordinary for Alcaraz. He has already played 74 matches this season (winning 67 out of them)‌ and won 8 titles (including two Grand Slam triumphs). But despite all these successes, his recent two losses, i.e., against Taylor Fritz at the Laver Cup in September and against Sinner at the Six Kings Slam final, have raised the eyebrows of a few tennis fans. Addressing those concerns, Mouratoglou recently shared a video clip on his IG account, saying, “I’ve seen some commentaries online of people who were worrying about Carlos because he lost two matches lately.”

Patrick Mouratoglou told them to “calm down” a bit and went on to add, “I think it’s the same phenomenon when Carlos plays an exhibition and when he’s in the second round of a Grand Slam. He feels he’s really way above his opponent, so he accepts losing his focus and losing the set. Because he knows that first of all, the fact that it’s one set all is going to give him extra motivation and the flame will come back, and second, when there is no flame, he doesn’t find the resources.” According to the Frenchman, this is what explains Carlos Alcaraz’s ups and downs in some matches.

He believes Alcaraz is a player who needs the internal flame to give his best. So, when he feels threatened, he can give his best, and when he’s over-motivated and knows he can’t afford to lose his focus, he has the flame, according to Mouratoglou. And when it doesn’t count that much for him, he doesn’t have the flame. Mouratoglou gave an example of Alcaraz’s recent triumph in Tokyo and said that because it was ATP and it counts for the ranking, there was a bit of excitement. But when it comes to the Six Kings Slam, he felt it wouldn’t have mattered much for the Spaniard, other than the staggering prize money, and he claims Alcaraz doesn’t play for money.

But the 55-year-old renowned tennis coach didn’t stop there. In another LinkedIn post, he addressed the controversy surrounding Carlos Alcaraz’s fiercest rival, Jannik Sinner’s decision to withdraw from the 2025 Davis Cup. In a sport where judgment often comes faster than the serve, Mouratoglou’s words serve as a calming reminder: patience, perspective, and respect are essential when evaluating emerging talents.

After seeing Sinner’s withdrawal from this year’s Davis Cup, we saw Italian legend Nicola Pietrangeli call this decision a “real slap in the face for Italian sport.” Then, in Italy, there were even calls for the withdrawal of all his official awards and honors. Seeing all these criticisms, Mouratoglou wrote, “Leave Jannik Sinner alone.”

He further elaborated on this, saying, “I’ve read that he might even skip Paris to focus on the ATP Finals even if that no longer seems to be relevant today, based on his latest quote in Vienna. And yes, to some people, that sounds shocking, especially when you see him play an exhibition but not a Masters 1000 or the Davis Cup. But let’s take a step back. I actually think it’s a good thing. Not that he skips Davis Cup specifically, but that top players today finally have the freedom to make their own choices.”

According to the Frenchman, for too long, tennis players have been living under a mandatory schedule. But players aren’t machines; they know their bodies, they know when to push, when to rest, and when it’s time to protect their future. 

Having said that, he also spoke about the “prestige” of Davis Cup and how it comes at the very end of an exhausting season. So, he understands the disappointment of Italian fans, but at the same time, he also stated that Jannik Sinner has earned the right to choose what’s best for him, and he feels Sinner’s decision should be respected.

For Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, it’s not about the occasional loss or a controversial decision—it’s about the journey, the growth, and the legacy they are building, one match at a time.

However, this wasn’t the first time that we’ve seen Patrick Mouratoglou speak fondly about these two. For example, in June this year, during an interview, he drew an interesting comparison of ‘Sincaraz’ with the ‘Big 3.’ Mouratoglou claimed, “The level of Sinner and Alcaraz is higher than that of the Big 3. Not much more, but it is higher.” But who ‌between these two is better than the other, according to him?

Patrick Mouratoglou gives Carlos Alcaraz a slight edge against Jannik Sinner

In the ever-evolving world of men’s tennis, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have ascended rapidly. As per ATP’s record book, together they’ve faced each other fifteen times in their careers, but Alcaraz has gotten the better of the Italian ten times. Their match-ups, prowess, and contrasting styles have ignited debate about who stands ahead in the next generation.

In January this year, Patrick Mouratoglou revealed his pick between these two superstars. He said, “Jannik is not above everyone; I don’t think he is above Carlos. When Carlos is at his best, there is a real match, and I’m not sure who is going to win, and nobody can say who will win.” He highlighted that all of their matches have been pretty close and extremely uncertain. But amid all this, Alcaraz won some of the big ones against Sinner.

If we draw a comparison, the 22-year-old Carlos Alcaraz has already won 6 Grand Slam titles, while that number is just 4 for the 24-year-old Italian. This year, they divided the major titles, two each. What’ll happen next year?

Seeing Alcaraz’s incredible trajectory, fans are now wondering if he’s eyeing closing the gap with the 24-time Grand Slam champion, Novak Djokovic. When Alcaraz was asked a question on a similar topic during the Six Kings Slam, he said, “There are a few [records] that I would love to break, obviously the most Grand Slams; I think everybody wants to do that. Or having the most weeks at number one. I think that one from Djokovic is something crazy. I think it’s 400 and something. I think those two records could be fun to break. It is tough to say one.”

Alcaraz seems to have now set his goal for the rest of his career, but is the 24 Grand Slam titles record really feasible for the Spaniard? Let’s hear it from the 23-time Grand Slam winner!

According to Serena Williams, “At this point, anything is possible. When [Roger] Federer started, no one thought he could surpass [Pete] Sampras, and he did. Then Rafa did the same, and then [Novak] Djokovic. Carlos is very young; he has great rivals, but of course it’s possible. Records are there to be broken.”

But do you agree with the American legend? Share your thoughts on the possibility of Carlos Alcaraz matching Novak Djokovic’s staggering Grand Slam record in the near future.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallySports. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta