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Rafael Nadal was quick to delete his response to Patrick Mouratoglou, after the former coach to Serena Williams gave an incredibly hot take on Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and the legends of the sport. After Novak Djokovic defeated Sinner in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, Mouratoglou took to Instagram to share a controversial opinion that the Italian and Alcaraz are playing better tennis than Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer.

He said: "For those who think that Djokovic beating Sinner in the semi-final of the Australian Open means that the big three is playing better tennis than Alcaraz and Sinner; this is a very short view. Let me explain. You take one match, and you make a rule out of it. Just remember that Sinner had won the five previous matches they played against each other. Just one match will not make me change my mind about what I've seen for the last two or three years."

The 55-year-old then went on to list various attributes in Sinner which surpass Djokovic's before noting how Novak's mental strength and fortitude are what made the difference at the Rod Laver Arena on the night. He capped off his video by adding: "Novak is not a better tennis player than Sinner, but he's the biggest competitor in their history, and he was better than Jannik Sinner in that match."

Quick to give his personal take, Nadal's account took to the comments section in a now-deleted response to share a string of laughing emojis and those with a face with a hand over its mouth. The Spanish legend has also previously been vocal that until Alcaraz and Sinner retire, there should be no comparisons between the two stars and the Big Three.

Elsewhere, Boris Becker was also spotted in the replies to Mouratoglou, explaining: "Patrick, I think you're alone with your opinion," before the commentator responded: "I never made an opinion based on what people think but out of my own opinion. Only dead fish swim with the stream."

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While he saw success in the semis of the Australian Open against Sinner, Djokovic ultimately found long-time rival Alcaraz too hot to handle during Sunday's final - losing the match 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5. It came as the seventh Grand Slam title of the Spaniard's career thus far and his first on Australian soil.

Speaking on-court about Djokovic after his win, the 22-year-old said: "I think he deserves an ovation for sure. When you're talking about how I'm doing the things, amazing things...but what you're doing is really inspiring.

"Not for only the players, the tennis players, but for the athletes around the world. For me as well. You have to put in the right work, hard work every day with your team, every tournament you go [to], and playing such great tennis. For me, I just enjoy so much watching you play.

"It's been an honour sharing the locker, sharing the court and, as I say, watching you play. So thank you very much for what you are doing because, as I said, it's really inspiring to me."