Novak Djokovic’s secret weapon isn’t his forehand or backhand—it’s what’s happening between his ears, according to renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
The Serbian star was the last to arrive at tennis’s Big Three party. When Djokovic won just his second Grand Slam, Roger Federer already had 16 trophies and Rafael Nadal had collected 9.
But Djokovic never seemed intimidated.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| rs Novak Djokovic | 37 | 8,360 | 18 - 6 |
He not only challenged the two legends—he eventually surpassed them. Djokovic now holds winning head-to-head records against both rivals and has claimed more Grand Slam titles than either of them.
So what made the difference?
Mouratoglou recently shared a revealing story with Tennis365 about Djokovic’s first encounter with Federer that perfectly captures what sets him apart.
“I remember the first time when Novak came onto the tour and Rafa and Roger were winning everything. All the other guys were thinking these two are unbeatable and then this young guy from Serbia comes onto the screen and he is about to play Roger in one of the first rounds of the Grand Slam.”
“He was getting interviewed before the match and Novak said ‘I’m going to beat him.’ Straight away the reaction to these comments was really negative and people were asking who was this guy who thinks he can beat the great Federer.”
The backlash was immediate. Who was this newcomer claiming he could defeat the mighty Federer?
When a journalist suggested he sounded cocky, Djokovic’s response was telling.
“He was polite and said: ‘I’m not cocky, I’m just confident in my abilities.’ Well, he went on to prove it. Time and again. He became world No 1, he beat both Roger and Rafa time and again and ended up with the best record of the three.”
Mouratoglou believes many tennis fans struggle to acknowledge Djokovic as the greatest because they simply like Federer and Nadal more.
“Mentally Novak is the strongest of the three. He has won the most Grand Slams and has achieved the most of the three, by far by the way. It doesn’t please people when you say he is the best because the other two are more liked than Novak, but this is undeniable now. He is the greatest of all time.”
What’s truly fascinating is how Djokovic’s mental strength transformed his career.
“When you look at Novak’s game and compare it to Roger and Rafa, you say how can this guy with this game have a better record than the other two, but it is because he is the best of all time mentally.”
That unshakable self-belief isn’t something that can be taught, according to Mouratoglou.
“You can’t teach confidence like he had. You just have it and this is a big topic in my book. It is not a question of teaching confidence, but you can do things to build it in a person.”
It’s a powerful reminder that in sports—and perhaps in life—what happens in your head often matters more than what happens with your hands.
