'Novak beats Rafa many times on clay' - Patrick Mouratoglou on why Djokovic is 'the best' ahead of Nadal

Top tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou has explained why he believes Novak Djokovic is still the best player in the world, even on clay and ahead of Rafael Nadal. Djokovic has not yet taken any of the available vaccines against Covid-19 and looks unlikely to do so, but he appears set to play at Roland Garros in May, despite not having been able to participate in numerous tournaments over the last few months including, most notably, the Australian Open.

Ad/> Nadal, meanwhile, memorably became the first male player to clinch 21 Grand Slam singles titles by winning the Australian Open in January, but he has since suffered an injury setback that may continue to hamper his preparations for his favourite tournament in Paris. TennisClay power rankings: Who can topple Swiatek, Djokovic?YESTERDAY AT 09:06 Djokovic beat Nadal in a classic battle on the red dirt at the French Open last year as he took his second Paris crown.

This year, however, he will have to find form in a very condensed period in the ATP Tour calendar if he is to find his best play once more. Renowned tennis coach Mouratoglou has shared his views ahead of Roland Garros on his Instagram page, and he made it abundantly clear that he still believes Djokovic is the best male player in the world, even on Nadal's favourite surface.

«Roland Garros is the most open it has been in the last 10-15 years,» Mouratoglou said in the video posted on Instagram. «If Novak Djokovic is able to win a lot between the start of the clay season and Roland Garros, then it won’t be that open because Novak, when he is at his best, even on clay, I think he is the best player in the world.