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via Reuters

via Reuters

Unless you’re a tennis fanatic, you probably haven’t come across this 53-year-old grey-streaked French tennis coach. However, Patrick Mouratoglou has always tried his best to be the center of attention with all his achievements and remarks. He has mentored some of the biggest names in the tennis world, including Serena Williams. However, his comments on the Olympic Games recently resulted in a huge backlash. Let us see what The Coach has for us this time.

Tennis was a part of the Summer Olympics since its inaugural in 1896, however, it dropped later on. But it came back in 1988 and now, with the Paris 2024 Olympic Games knocking at the door, the Frenchman did what he does best. He recently stirred a new controversy, saying tennis players across all the representing nations do not take the Olympic Games seriously. Is it so?

Djokovic agrees to disagree with Serena Williams’ former coach

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Mouratoglou claimed that winning Grand Slam titles is “100 times” more important to players than securing a gold medal for their nation. The world number one, Novak Djokovic recently gave an interview to Sportal, in which he expressed his views on this.

Djokovic said that he had seen Mouratoglou’s statement, and he didn’t agree with him fully. He said, “The Olympic Games are the oldest sporting events. Every sport that is Olympic, values ​​the Olympic Games, at least in my opinion, as one of the highest priorities. One of the greatest honors for an athlete is to represent your country at the Games.” He then shared his experience of carrying the national flag at such a prestigious event. It’s always a special moment for the Serb to play for his country and to channel this spirit to the next generation is even more special to him.

However, the 36-year-old also said that he agrees with Mouratoglou to a certain extent. He said that the mentality won’t be the same for a lower-ranked player as a higher-ranked professional. But to generalize that is wrong, and he is now looking forward to representing Serbia in the Paris Olympics next year. 

READ MORE: Despite Huge Respect for Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic Minces No Words as He Retorts Sharply to His Spanish Rival’s Accusation

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Mouratoglou’s ex-student, Williams, also might not be on the same page

The four-time Olympian and four-time Olympic medalist, Serena Williams, triumphed at the Games with her sister Venus Williams. Even Zeus would’ve been impressed with the successful stint of these two legendary sisters from America. But, when it comes to the current world number one in men’s singles, the Olympic gold medal is perhaps the missing piece of the puzzle. He won bronze though, way back in Beijing in 2008. But a player of this caliber must not settle for anything less, right?

This is exactly where all the controversies meet, especially after his early exit from the 2020 Olympics in semis to Zverev. He couldn’t hold his emotions after his devastating loss in Tokyo and abruptly ended the press conference. Fans are now looking forward to the Serb in the upcoming Olympics in Paris next year. Even Djokovic would like to address the source of this war of words in style and end all the debate with an illustrious & ‘complete’ trophy cabinet. Can the Serb do it this time? What do you think?

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