"Roger Federer is Lionel Messi, Novak Djokovic is Cristiano Ronaldo"- Serena Williams' ex-coach Patrick Mouratoglou explains reason for crazy parallel
Serena Williams' former coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, drew parallels between tennis legends Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic with soccer stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He compared Federer to Messi, citing his natural talent, while likening Djokovic to Ronaldo, emphasizing his hard work.
In a recent Instagram post, Mouratoglou opened up about why he thinks Federer is like Messi and Djokovic is like Ronaldo.
“I was talking to a friend of mine yesterday, and we were saying that Federer is Messi, and Djokovic is Ronaldo," Mouratoglou said.
“Why? Because Federer is pure crazy talent and he just needs to feel what he’s doing. While Djokovic is the super hard worker that pays attention to every single detail,” he added.
Messi is widely admired for his natural flair and creativity. His technical ability has helped him win a record-breaking eight Ballon d'Or awards and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest soccer players.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, is known for his unparalleled work ethic. Even at 39, his commitment to fitness and training is unmatched. The Portuguese soccer icon's five Ballon d'Or awards and status as the all-time leading goalscorer demonstrate his relentless pursuit of greatness.
Federer is often regarded as a maestro of the game, showcasing an effortless elegance. His remarkable 20 Grand Slam titles helped cement his status as one of the greatest in tennis history.
In contrast, Djokovic is a testament to hard work and resilience. His relentless dedication to training and meticulous attention to detail have helped him earn a record-breaking 24 Grand Slam titles.
Toni Nadal compares Roger Federer to Lionel Messi but puts nephew Rafael alongside Cristiano Ronaldo instead of Novak Djokovic
Like Patrick Mouratoglou, Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni believes Roger Federer is similar to Lionel Messi. However, unlike the French coach, Toni believes his nephew Rafael is similar to Cristiano Ronaldo instead of Novak Djokovic.
In an interview with the Super Deportivo Radio, Toni said:
"The rivalry between Nadal and Federer is comparable to Messi and Ronaldo in terms of how they have endured over time," (translated from Spanish).
"But has two differences: Between Messi and Cristiano, there is a greater difference than between Nadal and Federer, and the other difference is that Rafael can do all the things Federer can do, whereas Ronaldo cannot do everything that Messi does," he added.
Federer retired from the sport in 2022 and was recently spotted at the 2024 Laver Cup. Meanwhile, Djokovic will return to tour at the Shanghai Masters and face Alex Michelsen in the second round on Saturday, October 5.