Former coach of Paolini: Musetti’s level far surpasses Sinner and Alcaraz, Djokovic unlikely to claim 25th Grand Slam title currently

Paolini’s former coach and fellow Italian Forlan recently gave high praise to his compatriot Musetti’s potential in an interview. He stated that “his level is better than Sinner and Alcaraz,” and predicted that Musetti could challenge for the world No. 3 spot by 2026.

He said, “On clay courts, Lorenzo has only been defeated by Alcaraz and Draper. His 2025 season was impressive, and his strength and potential are unquestionable, but whether he can win a Grand Slam depends on many factors.”

This coach, who once trained Paolini, has a profound understanding of Italian tennis. He especially emphasized Musetti’s competitiveness on clay but admitted that his pupil still needs to improve his physical condition and mental toughness, particularly as he often shows signs of fatigue in the latter stages of a long season.

However, the 2025 season was indeed a peak in Musetti’s career. The Italian player achieved breakthrough results in several important tournaments, reaching the finals in Monte Carlo, Chengdu, and Athens, as well as the semifinals in Rome, Madrid, and Roland Garros, and the quarterfinals at the US Open. Thanks to this series of outstanding performances, Musetti’s world ranking reached a career-high sixth place.

The authoritative Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport even named Musetti the “Italian Athlete of the Year,” an honor that surpassed his compatriot and world No. 2 Sinner.

Although Forlan is confident about Musetti, tennis analysts hold different views regarding his future prospects.

Some analysts believe Musetti may struggle to remain in the world top ten in 2026. The main concern is his lack of adaptability to hard courts, which dominate the annual calendar. Additionally, his playing style is seen as not aggressive or proactive enough to control matches against top players. This inability to elevate his game when it truly matters makes some observers cautious about his ability to stay in the top ten.

Besides that, Forlan also expressed a rather pessimistic view on Djokovic’s chances of winning his 25th Grand Slam title.

“It might happen, but only if some unusual circumstances occur: like Alcaraz performing poorly in early rounds or Sinner suffering physical issues as he did in Shanghai,” Forlan analyzed.

He further noted, “Of course, if Djokovic faces both opponents in the semifinals or finals, he knows very well that winning the match is almost impossible.”

Djokovic was stopped at the semifinals in all four Grand Slams during the 2025 season. After losing to Alcaraz at the US Open, he admitted, “It will be extremely difficult for me to overcome the hurdle of Sinner and Alcaraz in five-set Grand Slam matches in the future.”

Renowned coach Mouratoglou, who helped Serena Williams win 10 Grand Slam titles, shared unique insights on Djokovic’s predicament.

“It’s unbelievable that Novak was still at the top of the tennis world just two years ago. In 2023, he was undoubtedly the strongest: winning three Grand Slams and reaching the finals in all four majors. But now things have changed: the real problem is not whether his body has weakened, but that he seems to believe it has. This shift in belief is new,” Mouratoglou said.

Mouratoglou believes Djokovic’s greatest strength lies in his “unshakable confidence,” and if that inner belief fades, his physical condition will decline as well.

Forlan’s remarks sparked lively discussions among tennis fans. One commenter said, “Forlan’s words make sense; Musetti’s one-handed backhand is indeed beautiful and makes his matches enjoyable to watch. But his gap with Sinner and Alcaraz mainly lies in consistency and big-match temperament, which are not just technical issues.”

Another fan expressed, “It’s bittersweet to see Djokovic admit he can no longer compete physically in five-set battles against the younger generation. But he has already created enough miracles, and even if he doesn’t reach his 25th Slam, it doesn’t diminish his legendary status.”

Yet another viewer analyzed from a data perspective: “Musetti’s win rate against Top 10 players is below 30%, while Sinner and Alcaraz are both above 50%. Techniques may vary, but the ability to convert that into wins is the ultimate measure of a player’s level.”

So, what do you think about this? Feel free to share your opinions and views in the comments section.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)