Novak Djokovic responds to Patrick Mouratoglou’s contentious Olympics comments

Novak Djokovic has given his verdict on comments from top coach Patrick Mouratoglou that the game’s top players do not take the challenge of the Olympic Games as seriously as winning a Grand Slam title.

Tennis in the Olympics has long been the subject of debate, with the chase for a medal in the greatest sporting event of them all not the biggest prize in the sport.

Winning Wimbledon or any of the Grand Slam events is viewed as a more significant achievement than Olympic glory, with Mouratoglou vocalising a view many have voiced with these comments.

“There is no real connection between tennis and the Olympic Games. A lot of tennis players don’t feel that it’s such an important event for tennis,” said Mouratoglou on Instagram.

“Initially, tennis was at the Olympics, then it got out, and finally, tennis was reintroduced… they feel that a Grand Slam is 100 times more important for a tennis player than the Olympic Games.

“If you look at a lot of other sports, there are not as many important competitions as in tennis. I am no specialist, but in swimming you have the European championship, the world championship and the Olympic Games every four years and all the other events are just to prepare for those ones.

“Tennis? No. Every year you have the Masters 1000, which are extremely important because your ranking depends on that mostly for all the best players.

“You have the Grand Slams who are incredible institutions. For most of the players to win one Grand Slam would be the highest achievement possible.

“And every four years there is the Olympic Games that look small, not as an event, but for tennis [it is] compared to the Grand Slams.

“We need time and history. When there will be a long time between tennis and the Olympic Games I think players will consider it different.”

Andy Murray may beg to different with Mouratoglou’s comments as he has won two singles Gold medals in the Olympics and world No 1 Djokovic has also made it clear that winning the Olympics is one of his last great goals in the sport.

In an interview with Sportal, Djokovic has offered a measured response to Mouratoglou’s comments.

“I saw his statement and I would not completely agree with him,” said Djokovic.

“The Olympic Games are the oldest sporting event. Every sport that is Olympic, values ​​the Olympic Games, at least in my opinion, as one of the highest priorities. One of the greatest honours for an athlete is to represent your country at the Games.

“I had the great honour of carrying the flag at the opening ceremony in London and for me the Games are a very special competition and it is a special feeling to be in such a rare competition. 

“It is played once in four years and in relation to that, it is probably not a priority for many tennis players. 

“I agree with Patrick in that part: that the attitude of most tennis players towards the Olympics. especially those who are lower ranked is not the same as towards the Grand Slams.

“I agree with that and it is true, but I personally would not fully agree with that because the Games mean a lot to me and I can’t wait to be at the Games.