Jannik Sinner faces Alexander Zverev in the 2026 Mutua Madrid Open final
Patrick Mouratoglou’s comments rarely go unnoticed, and this time was no different. The French coach sparked debate once again by analyzing Jannik Sinner’s current dominance on clay following his titles at the Monte Carlo Masters and the Mutua Madrid Open.
Mouratoglou went beyond praising the Italian’s level and dared to compare it with some of Novak Djokovic’s best moments on the surface. According to the coach, Sinner’s game adapts even better to clay than Djokovic’s in the Serb’s most dominant seasons, such as 2011 and 2015.
Sinner during his press conference in Rome
“If you consider the two years when Novak had similar dominance, in both cases he did not win Roland Garros,” the Frenchman recalled, before drawing a distinction between their styles. “I think Jannik’s game on clay is better than Novak’s.”
For Mouratoglou, the key lies in specific technical details. “Jannik plays with much more margin over the net. The quality of his shots is different, and that is very important on clay,” he explained. In his view, this ability to generate heavier shots and sustain long rallies gives Sinner “a small extra advantage.”
The remarks quickly stirred debate, especially given Djokovic’s clay-court résumé. The Serb won three Roland Garros titles and claimed eleven Masters 1000 events on clay, while also defeating Rafael Nadal multiple times on the Spaniard’s favorite surface.
Patrick Mouratoglou
Nevertheless, Mouratoglou believes Sinner’s current level places him in another dimension on the tour. The Italian is enjoying the best stretch of his career, having won five consecutive Masters 1000 titles and establishing himself as the dominant force in men’s tennis.
After conquering Monte Carlo and Madrid, Sinner will arrive in Paris
