Tennis's most outspoken man on Serena, doping and the secrets of coaching
P atrick Mouratoglou is the coach behind ten of Serena Williams's grand-slam titles and almost as many controversial opinions.
Williams's extraordinary meltdown during the 2018 US Open final against Naomi Osaka after the home favourite was penalised because of the Frenchman's on-court coaching? 'Extremely unfair … a terrible job … the chair umpire probably felt it was his moment of glory.'
The authorities' treatment of Simona Halep, who failed a drugs test while being coached by Mouratoglou in 2022? 'Ridiculous … a scandal … they ruined her career.'
The WTA's decision to suspend Elena Rybakina's coach, Stefano Vukov, who is accused of mentally abusing the former Wimbledon champion? 'Who are they to judge that … it's dangerous … it goes too far.'
Mouratoglou, 55, will be alongside Osaka, the former world No1, at Wimbledon next week. Holger Rune (No8) and Grigor Dimitrov (No21) are past pupils, while Coco Gauff (No2) first trained at his academy in France when she was ten years old.
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