In the latest episode of Netflix’s Tennis docu-series, Break Point, viewers were in for a surprise as Serena Williams‘ former coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, made a rather bold statement regarding the difficulty of beating Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon.
Mouratoglou claimed that conquering the Serbian champion at the prestigious grass-court tournament is “probably the highest mountain to climb for any tennis player.” However, this assertion did not sit well with tennis fans worldwide, particularly those who hold Rafael Nadal‘s awe-inspiring performances at Roland Garros in high regard.
Mouratoglou’s statement meets instant social media backlash
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Mouratoglou’s statement immediately faced backlash as fans pointed out the undeniable dominance of Rafael Nadal on the clay courts of Roland Garros. The fans argued that defeating the Spanish powerhouse at the French Open is unquestionably a more tedious task than beating Djokovic at Wimbledon. This led to a flood of memes and trolls mocking Mouratoglou’s claim.
Patrick Mouratoglou (speaking on episode 7 of Netflix’s ‘Break Point’):
“Beating Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon is probably the highest mountain to climb for any tennis player”
Even more difficult than Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros? 🤔🧐 pic.twitter.com/X71mbwdLe0
— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) June 21, 2023
The above tweet started the thread for trolls to take a dig at Mouratoglou’s opinion on Break Point season 2.
Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros:
– 14 titles won
– Record of 112-3
– A winning percentage of 97.Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon:
– 7 titles won
– Record of 86-10
– A winning percentage of 90.Nice bait Patrick, hopefully, you get your clicks and likes now 🤗 https://t.co/Djnn3AVuOA pic.twitter.com/CkHHqPe2Jv
— Zain (@ItzzZain10) June 21, 2023
A fellow Nadal fan backing up Nadal’s supremacy with stats.
All the respect of the world for Djokovic's achievements on grass, 7 titles, probably soon 8, equalling Federer, it's unbelievable, but Rafa's numbers in Roland Garros are much better and will always be better. https://t.co/PkSjbxikBu
— Flavietto99 🇮🇹☮️ (RAFA 22 🏆)⭐️⭐️ (@FlavioBert899) June 21, 2023
Another Nadal fan takes a dig at Mouratoglou.
He never misses a chance to downplay rafa, does he?😭 https://t.co/rWYgdP5Xms
— Manoj (@RafaMaxVirat) June 21, 2023
A fan talks about Mouratoglou downplaying Nadal.
PMc (or his bro), MW, PM
Dumb, Dumber, Dumbest
I can't decide who should win that award. 🙃 https://t.co/lAI1dnCjo2
— VamosRafa💞Siempre (@iamladanth) June 21, 2023
Another fan trolling Mouratoglou.
Nadal didn't win 14 Roland Garros titles so this idiot could spit out this crap https://t.co/H2PWq75Es1
— Henry Tudor Stan Account (@HenryTudorStan) June 21, 2023
A fan cited Nadal’s example to refute Mouratoglou’s claim.
Give this man his dose of Copium please https://t.co/Ca0ziEPV2x
— veljko (@VeljkoVujic) June 21, 2023
Another fan trolling Mouratoglou.
Bad take… Rafa at Roland Garros is way harder https://t.co/hG89jWvIcI
— N_Cornew (@tanqueraytony) June 21, 2023
Another fan backs Nadal’s supremacy.
No one takes your mud seriously. Sit down https://t.co/s0UC1bYMUX
— Shyam (@DhonifiedRebel) June 22, 2023
According to the fans, while Djokovic is a highly celebrated figure right now and is definitely one of the GOATs, Nadal’s unparalleled success on the clay courts of Roland Garros cannot be understated. Year after year, Nadal has displayed an extraordinary level of skill and determination, making it exceedingly difficult for his opponents to even dent his formidable armor. Nadal’s record at Roland Garros is nothing short of legendary, having never lost a final at the tournament.
It is crucial to recognize that the opinion expressed by Mouratoglou is subjective and rooted in his own experiences and observations as a coach. As a figure who has worked closely with Serena Williams – one of the game’s all-time greats, Mouratoglou’s perspective carries weight. However, it is equally important to respect the opinions of fans and their attachment to the legacies forged by players like Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros.
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Ultimately, the debate over whether beating Djokovic at Wimbledon or Nadal at Roland Garros is more challenging is likely to remain subjective, and it is worth noting that both tournaments have produced some of the most memorable moments in tennis history.
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