Since Novak Djokovic told Piers Morgan on ‘Uncensored’ that he refuses to be his son’s tennis coach as he wants to just be his father, many people have openly talked about it giving their own opinion. The latest to do that is Serena Williams’ former longtime coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who has described Novak’s decision as “courageous”, with a warning that combining fatherhood with coaching can sometimes end up being “dangerous” for family.
Djokovic’s son, Stefan, is revealed that has shown interest in tennis, but still, his father does not want to take the role of being his coach. The 24-time Grand Slam champion said he wants to preserve their father-son bond, as he knows similar examples have completely threatened other tennis families.
Mouratoglou, speaking on his Instagram accounts, said he strongly agrees.
If it’s what he wants, I will support it 100%,” Mouratoglou said, praising Djokovic’s approach.
“But when you want to be the coach… You want to be part of it. I think it’s very dangerous
“It can destroy the relationship”, Mouratoglou warns
Mouratoglou found in Djokovic’s comments words of wisdom, as he also sees the risks of coaching one’s own child, which can lead to damage emotional boundaries.
There is no distance, no emotional distance, so they are living the thing with the same negativity, and it can destroy the relationship
He also referenced the other side, examples of tennis prodigies shaped by their parents, but noted that the success stories tend to overshadow the emotional damage that can happen behind the scenes.
I think it’s very dangerous. Sometimes it works; there are great examples of parents who have succeeded when the parent is the coach
Djokovic’s refusal to coach Stefan shows how the Serbian legend understands the potential risks of the situation.
Djokovic prioritizes parenting over competition
Someone as successful as Djokovic made it clear that his son’s happiness is his very priority, not his potential future in tennis. Many applauded that mindset, saying Djokovic is approaching parenthood with rare clarity for an elite athlete. He does not want to force his son to play tennis despite his being one of the greatest to ever play it.
However. Mouratoglou agrees that tennis is “a great school of life” for children too, whether or not they become professionals. But he emphasized that a parent’s role should be one of support, not pressure.
As a parent, you want your children to find their own path
Mouratoglou sees Djokovic’s decision as a great example of balance between the parenting role and the desire for professional success, becoming the ideal philosophy by prioritizing emotional connection over competitive control.
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