Patrick Mouratoglou has a long history of success when coaching professional tennis players.
After all, the Frenchman helped to guide Serena Williams to multiple Grand Slam triumphs over a decade-long period. The pair won 10 Grand Slam titles together between 2012 and 2022.
Now coaching four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, Mouratoglou provides regular analysis of tennis’ broader news cycle, including on player performances, comments made by his peers and how the game is developing.
Tennis has certainly changed over the last few decades, with players like Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer helping to transform the game into a more spin-based contest, rather than the flat-hitting that was often prevalent before the turn of the century.
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Mouratoglou has spotted another recent change in the tennis landscape, and took to his Instagram page to express his thoughts on the matter.
Patrick Mouratoglou says Carlos Alcaraz’s body type is an ‘exception’
Speaking on his Instagram page, Mouratoglou noted a shift in the body types amongst top ATP Tour players.
During the video essay, Mouratoglou highlighted the changing profile of players in terms of height and body composition, while pinpointing Carlos Alcaraz as an ‘exception.’
Mouratoglou said: “Clearly there is a change in terms of body type of the tennis player for the last years.
“They are taller and taller, they are thinner and thinner. Look at the top guys, I mean there is one exception, Carlos Alcaraz, but all the other guys, whether its Djokovic, Sinner, Zverev, Tsitsipas, Medvedev. I mean all the guys are really thin, very tall.
“Huge serve, huge power! Because when you’re able to accelerate at the same speed as someone who is smaller but with longer arms, I mean the ball goes much faster. And Mensik is tall, Michelsen is tall. All those guys have the same body type and I think it’s the modern body type.
“So yes, the new generation is like this. Of course, Fonseca is one of those. Incredible power, incredible forehand, going so fast. So yes, that’s the new tennis.”
Carlos Alcaraz confirms his withdrawal from the Toronto Open
On Sunday, Spanish outlet Marca reported that Carlos Alcaraz would not play at the Toronto Open. This was confirmed on Monday evening by Alcaraz himself, who apologised to his fans in Canada.
On X [Twitter] Alcaraz said: “After many consecutive weeks of competition without rest, I will not be able to play in Toronto this year.
“I have small muscles issues and I need to recover physically and mentally for what comes next. To the tournament and to my fans in Canada I am very sorry, I will see you next year!”
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There has been much discussion regarding the ATP Tour schedule. The tour was recently told their schedule ‘doesn’t work’ after Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Jack Draper and Jannik Sinner all withdrew from the Toronto Open.
Draper, who was shocked in the Wimbledon second round by Marin Cilic, has also withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open, citing a left arm injury.