When a legend like Roger Federer speaks, the tennis world listens. His recent claim that court surfaces have become too slow and uniform sparked a firestorm of debate. But now, renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou has stepped into the ring, arguing that while Federer has a point, this isn’t a new problem, it’s a change that began decades ago and has fundamentally reshaped the sport for good.
Why Does Roger Federer Believe Court Surfaces Have Become Too Slow?
Federer ignited the discussion last month on “Andy Roddick’s Served” podcast, where he voiced concern that the lack of surface diversity on the ATP and WTA Tours is hurting the game. The 20-time Grand Slam champion argued that most courts now play slower than they did in the past, a shift that heavily favors baseline grinders over players with aggressive, net-charging styles.
In a move that stirred controversy, Federer even suggested that tournaments might intentionally slow down courts to create more marquee matchups, like those between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. This claim immediately triggered a wave of discussion among players, coaches, and analysts about the evolution of modern tennis.
Mouratoglou, celebrated for his work with Serena Williams and other top-tier players, addressed Federer’s comments directly in a recent Instagram video. He offered both agreement and a dose of historical perspective. “What Roger says makes sense, but it’s not new,” Mouratoglou said.
He explained, “When Roger was playing, it was already the case. In 2002, Wimbledon decided to really slow down the surface too. It’s a decision of all the governing bodies of tennis. Wimbledon was probably the fastest surface historically, and now it has become a surface that is sometimes even slower than Roland Garros.”
Furthermore, the French coach reflected on how those strategic changes reshaped how tennis is played at its highest levels. “We know that. What we regret is that it killed serve-and-volley players,” he explained. “But at the same time, it was important because you had guys that were serving too many aces. The game was getting boring on some surfaces. There are always both sides of the coin.”
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While Mouratoglou understands Federer’s curiosity about seeing today’s stars on faster courts, he pointed out that the same could have been said for Federer’s own era. That dynamic might have been interesting for players like Alcaraz and Sinner, but it’s a hypothetical that also applies to past champions.
“To say that it would be interesting to see Alcaraz and Sinner on a faster surface, yes, it would have been interesting,” he said. “As it would have been interesting also to see Rafa, Roger, and Novak on faster surfaces, which we didn’t see either. So it’s not a new thing.”
He also highlighted a significant downside to bringing back lightning-fast courts, especially with the modern rise of tall, powerful servers. “If we had kept the very fast surfaces, the serve of both Alcaraz and Sinner would be much more efficient,” Mouratoglou explained.
“But what about the other guys that are huge servers? It would be a completely different game, and I think it would be really boring because how do you return Reilly Opelka? How do you return Zverev? How do you return Shelton? At some point, you wouldn’t be able to return those guys anymore, and then the game would be very boring.”
Ultimately, Mouratoglou acknowledged Federer’s desire for more variety but seems to have accepted how the sport has evolved. He concluded by saying he does not regret the decisions, even if other solutions like shortening the service box or using slower balls were possible. For better or worse, he emphasized that these choices are now part of the game and must be accepted.
