Talking Tennis With Patrick Mouratoglou

👋 Hey Tennis Fans!

There’s one man who’s been there when Serena Williams lifted Grand Slams and stood by Naomi Osaka through some of the toughest moments of her career. That same man is now shaping the next generation of players through his academy, helping young talents find their footing as they step into the spotlight. You’ve probably already guessed the name. After all, there aren’t many in the tennis world who don’t know who Patrick Mouratoglou is.

We sat down with Patrick for everything tennis. And we’re now here to share what we’ve learned. So here you go, a special exclusive just for you, loyal Break Point readers… starting, of course, with Mouratoglou's take on tennis’s most heated ongoing debate: the Big 3 versus the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry!

Passing the Torch: Patrick Mouratoglou on How Sinner & Alcaraz Are Rebooting the ‘Big 3’ Era

When two players driven by a fierce rivalry and an unwillingness to lose step onto the court, the atmosphere is transformed. For Patrick Mouratoglou, the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry is not simply louder; it’s expectant, it’s more charged: rallies stretch into tests of nerve, and the crowd lives each point like a cliffhanger. As he observes, what they offer is a distinct evolution, not a mere replacement of the past. “I think they brought tennis to even another level,” he says, and watching them play, it’s clear why.

Mouratoglou is quick to dismiss the prevailing notion that tennis is in decline following the era of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. “All the commentators were saying, ‘Oh my God, it’s going to be terrible when they’re going to stop,’” he recalls. But rather than mourning the end of an era, he reframes the conversation, insisting that ‘change is good.’ The emergence of Alcaraz and Sinner isn’t about mimicking their predecessors; it’s about setting a new standard.

This drive to evolve is central to their rivalry. After losing to Sinner at Wimbledon, Alcaraz didn’t sulk; he scrutinized the match, pinpointing areas to improve. “He got pushed by this loss… he decided, ‘I need to progress,’” Mouratoglou explains. The US Open showcased the result: a more refined Alcaraz, adjusting his tactics, constructing points more effectively, and refining his serve-return game. This mindset, where every loss is a lesson, elevates not only the players involved but the entire sport.

As Sinner and Alcaraz push each other to new heights, younger players follow suit, raising their training standards. Coaches rethink their strategies, and match preparation evolves to anticipate an opponent’s constant progress. Mouratoglou’s UTS (Ultimate Tennis Showdown) is an example of how the sport is responding to these shifts, offering a new format designed to engage younger audiences. For Mouratoglou, the message is clear: “If you don’t progress wherever you are… other players are going to progress, and they’re going to pass you,” he warns. Progression is no longer optional; it’s a necessity. And in this dynamic, there’s room for more.

There is also the narrative tension that keeps longtime fans invested, and the question Mouratoglou leaves dangling is deliberate. Could there be a third, Djoker-level phenomenon emerging between them? He doesn’t say yes as prophecy, leaving room for possibility. This masterstroke refuses to reduce the moment to a binary old-vs-new story, instead fostering suspense.

Now that being said, you tell us…

Interestingly, that was just a small part of the wisdom Patrick Mouratoglou unpacked. He also spoke about the craft behind Djokovic’s granite will, Osaka’s Serena-like engine, and more. And you can read (and watch) all of it below!

Want more? Here’s the entire Exclusive sit-down between EssentiallySports and Patrick Mouratoglou. From his journey, beginning with a tough childhood to becoming a top coach, to his insights on building a champion's mindset and shaping legends like Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, it’s almost definitely unmissable.

For even deeper insights into the mindset that drives winners, check out Mouratoglou's book Champion Mindset: Coach Yourself to Win at Life.