Jo Wilfried-Tsonga Takes Another Dig at Patrick Mouratoglou After Novak Djokovic’s Win Over Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open

Novak Djokovic defeated Jannik Sinner for the first time in more than two years at the 2026 Australian Open.

Jo Wilfried-Tsonga Takes Another Dig at Patrick Mouratoglou After Novak Djokovic’s Win Over Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Patrick Mouratoglou (via X/WeareTennis/Swish Tennis/Jannik Sinner)

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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga took a sharp swipe at tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou after Novak Djokovic defeated Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals of the 2026 Australian Open. Tsonga and Mouratoglou have been in a heated debate for the past few weeks on whether Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner would have dominated the Big 3 era the way they are doing currently.

A few months ago, Univers Tennis asked Tsonga if Alcaraz was stronger than Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Djokovic. The former World No.5 noted that he cannot give a definite answer to the question, but stressed that the era Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic played in was more competitive than the current tennis era.

Mouratoglou reacted to the interview with a video posted on Instagram. The tennis coach revealed that he disagrees with Tsonga’s analysis of the Alcaraz and Sinner era. He claimed that the likes of Alex de Minaur, Jack Draper, Taylor Fritz, and Felix Auger-Aliassime are difficult to beat and that saying Alcaraz and Sinner dominate the current era because the players are weaker is not true.

The former Serena Williams coach added that Tsonga was only at his best in one season during his career. Tsonga replied to Mouratoglou, stating that the Big 3 era cannot be compared with the current tennis era. However, the debate between the two Frenchmen seems to have come to an end after Djokovic stunned Sinner in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

Sinner had beaten Djokovic in five consecutive matches and 10 successive sets before their meeting on Friday (January 30). In fact, Djokovic was not expected to go beyond the third set in the match following his lucky qualification to the semi-finals after Lorenzo Musetti retired in their quarter-finals clash.

But the 38-year-old beat Sinner 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in four hours. Following the victory, Tsonga took to social media to hit back at Mouratoglou.

Tennis has changed.

Tsonga wrote in his Instagram story while posing with a victory hand sign

The last time Tsonga reached the final of a Grand Slam was at the Australian Open in 2008. The former World No.5 faced Djokovic in the championship match, as both players were seeking their maiden major title. Djokovic defeated Tsonga in four sets to win the title at Melbourne Park. At the time, Djokovic won the Australian Open, Alcaraz had not yet celebrated his fifth birthday, but both players will face off in the 2026 edition of the tournament final on Sunday (February 1).

Alexander Zverev says the current tennis era is faster than the Big 3 era

Alexander Zverev remains one of the few players on tour to have played against Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic at their best levels. The German star reached his first Grand Slam quarter-finals in 2018. He has also tasted the current dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner on tour.

Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev (via ATP Tour)

That places him in an ideal position to judge the comparison between the two eras of the sport. At the ongoing Australian Open, he was asked during one of his press conferences via Tennis Majors which of the eras was more competitive. The 28-year-old pointed out that the current era of tennis is faster and quicker than the previous era.

It’s a more complicated question because back then, the slams were somewhat established. Australia, Novak was winning. Roland-Garros was kind of Rafa’s slam to lose. Wimbledon it was always between Roger and Novak. There were not maybe as many openings. That does not mean that tennis is worse now. I think tennis got better. I think tennis got quicker, faster, more physical.

Zverev failed to reach the final of the Australian Open after falling to Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals. In what began like an easy runaway victory for Alcaraz after winning the first two sets, the German star responded fiercely in the third and fourth sets, before the Spaniard held his nerve in the fifth. Alcaraz defeated the World No.3 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6(3)-7, 6(4)-7, 7-5 in five hours and 30 minutes.

Also Read: Rafael Nadal Reveals Who he Will Support Between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open Final