Moratoglou sparks controversy again: If Djokovic truly wanted to win, his 25th Grand Slam would already be secured

Famous tennis coach Moratoglou’s recent remarks have reignited controversy: "The sole obstacle stopping Novak from winning Grand Slams is his drive."

“If he trains and is ready, he can step onto the court. Admittedly, his recovery isn’t as fast as it once was, but he can comfortably advance to the quarters or semis,” Moratoglou questioned Djokovic’s motivation in his pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam title during the interview.

He believes the Serbian tennis star lacks sufficient hunger to make history; otherwise, he would have already achieved this milestone.

Moratoglou stated, “Novak is the most mentally tough player in history. If he desires something, even when the standard is extremely high and he’s at a low point, he can elevate himself to that level.”

Regarding Djokovic’s motivation for the 25th Grand Slam, Moratoglou commented, “To me, Novak can’t match Jannik (Sinner) unless he is mentally very eager to win.” However, he admitted, “Right now, I don’t sense that desire. I don’t hear that voice.”

Moratoglou used Djokovic’s performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics as an example to support his view: “When he wanted the Olympic gold, his level was different from the rest of the season.”

At that time, Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the final to claim the only Olympic gold missing from his career, completing the Golden Slam.

This stark contrast convinced Moratoglou that motivation is the key factor determining Djokovic’s performance: “Everything depends on motivation. He knows this better than anyone. He holds all the keys, we don’t.”

Djokovic himself has never shied away from aiming for his 25th Grand Slam. In a 2025 interview with Piers Morgan, he candidly stated, “I realize that, at my best right now, they (Alcaraz and Sinner) are stronger than me. That’s the reality.”

Despite the challenges, Djokovic’s competitive spirit remains unshaken: “I have always believed in things that seem almost impossible. I do have doubts about beating these two players in Grand Slams. But when I step on the court, I don’t care who’s on the other side.”

However, since winning the 2023 US Open, Djokovic has played in nine Grand Slam tournaments, reaching the finals at the 2024 Wimbledon and 2026 Australian Open but losing both. Notably, the 2025 season was exceptional — the first year since 2017 that he failed to reach any Grand Slam final.

Meanwhile, Alcaraz and Sinner have won the last nine consecutive Grand Slam titles, signaling a significant shift in the men’s tennis landscape.

Moratoglou’s opinions have sparked intense debates among tennis fans on social media, dividing them into several camps.

Supporters of Moratoglou argue, “He hit the nail on the head. Djokovic’s Olympic performance proves he still has top-level competitiveness, but his Grand Slam motivation is clearly not what it used to be. Having already won 24 Grand Slams, achieving a Career Golden Slam and a Golden Slam, it’s hard to find that all-or-nothing drive again.”

However, a fan defending Djokovic said, “For a 38-year-old veteran to maintain world-class level is already miraculous. Djokovic’s win over Sinner at the 2026 Australian Open shows he still craves victory. Moratoglou always makes controversial remarks to attract attention; previously, he claimed Sinner is a better player than Djokovic, which is an unfair comparison.”

Some neutral analysts suggested, “This may not simply be about ‘having motivation’ or ‘lacking motivation.’ Djokovic is going through a tough transition phase; he himself calls it the ‘final chapter’ of his tennis career. His struggle is a common challenge for all great athletes late in their careers: how to find new motivation and goals after having achieved so much.”

Regarding the 25 Grand Slam titles, perhaps Djokovic’s own words after the 2026 Australian Open are the best response: when asked what advice he would give his younger self, he replied, “I often got too nervous on court. Sometimes the pressure was overwhelming. Patience is important... Believe in yourself, believe in the process.”(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)