“My answer this year could be very different. I would say 28,” is what Patrick Mouratoglou proudly predicted about Novak Djokovic’s grand slam lead in July this year. The Serb experienced a roller coaster ride throughout the ongoing season. This included winning no titles, having to keep himself out because of a terrible knee injury, and others. However, the misery was compensated for his massive run at the Paris Olympics. While Djokovic is arguably a tennis GOAT, renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou thinks he knows something that could have leveled up the Serb’s game.

In an October 18 interview with Talking Tennis, Naomi Osaka’s new coach and former mentor to Serena Williams, Mouratoglou was asked what areas he would have focused on if he had the chance to coach Novak Djokovic. Despite praising Djokovic as “the greatest of all time,” Mouratoglou believes there’s still room for growth. “What I think he could have done better, which is tough to say because he’s the greatest of all time, I feel sometimes he’s not aggressive enough in his game,” Mouratoglou said.

The renowned coach suggested that Djokovic could dominate even more by stepping into the court earlier and taking the initiative in rallies. “He’s probably the guy who covered the court in the best possible way, not only because of his movement but also because of the fact that moving at a very high pace to the sides, he was able to counterpunch. He’s the biggest counterpuncher I think of all times. But I think even for guys like him, counterpunchers, it’s important to also lead the rallies as much as you can.” Mouratoglou made it clear that in tennis, “little details make big differences.”

When discussing Djokovic’s future, Mouratoglou also believes the 37-year-old could remain at the top for another three or four years. He acknowledged that Djokovic’s motivation took a hit after seeing his long-time rivals Roger Federer and Andy Murray retire and Rafael Nadal’s performance decline. “Everybody felt like it was the end for Rafa, Novak felt it too. For sure, it hit his motivation really hard,” Mouratoglou explained.

However, Djokovic found new motivation as rising stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner began to challenge him. Besides the minor flaws, there are some who believed that it is time for the Serb to retire. Being bold enough, Djokovic had a perfect answer for them.

Novak Djokovic has some bad news for critiques

After winning three Grand Slam titles in 2023 and becoming the all-time Slam leader with 24 victories, Novak Djokovic had to go through a challenging 2024 season. The Serbian tennis star ended the season without securing a single major for the first time since 2017. This marked one of his most difficult years in recent memory. Despite this, Djokovic was still able to maintain his lead in the Grand Slam race, with Rafael Nadal confirming his retirement with 22 major titles.

Unexpected defeats and physical struggles hindered Djokovic’s performance in 2024. He was stunned by young Italian star Jannik Sinner in the semifinals at the Australian Open. Djokovic reached the quarterfinals during the French Open but had to retire due to injury. At Wimbledon, Carlos Alcaraz overpowered him in the final. The surprises continued at the US Open, where Djokovic faced a shocking third-round exit after a defeat by Alexei Popyrin. Despite the setbacks, Djokovic remains motivated and hungry for more victories.

In an interview with La Nacion, he said, “Deep down, I still feel like I have a few more Grand Slams to win. That’s what drives me to compete.” Djokovic highlighted his passion for playing for Serbia, particularly in the Davis Cup, and his belief that tennis remains his platform to share important messages. He added, “I still enjoy the process and it brings me all these benefits, so why not?” As the legend is still not ready to give up, it still remains to be seen how long he will be extending his lead.