Patrick Mouratoglou’s partnership with Serena Williams began in 2012 under unexpected circumstances. Following a shocking first-round exit at the French Open, Serena only sought a practice court in Paris. After 45 minutes on court with Mouratoglou, she asked him to coach her.
From there, he rebuilt her confidence, instilled a “culture of victory,” and together they won 10 Grand Slams and Olympic gold. Mouratoglou recalled that their bond was “special from the start,” but also admitted that Serena herself was the one who kept their team strong when things grew difficult.
In a candid interview with EssentiallySports, Mouratoglou reflected on their highs and lows. After the birth of Serena’s daughter, Olympia, in 2017, results faltered. Despite reaching four Grand Slam finals, she couldn’t clinch the record-tying 24th title. Mouratoglou once considered stepping aside, telling Serena she might need a new coach. But her response stunned him: “You can’t say that! We are the best team—we’ve always been.” For him, that moment highlighted the trust and loyalty that fueled her dominance, including 319 weeks at world No. 1.
Between 2012 and 2022, their achievements were monumental. Serena claimed 10 majors under his guidance—five Wimbledons, three US Opens, a French Open, and an Australian Open—bringing her total to 23. She also completed a second career Grand Slam, added Olympic doubles gold, two WTA Finals titles, and finished five seasons ranked world No. 1. Mouratoglou’s coaching helped transform her from champion into a global icon.
Their split came in 2022, when Serena hesitated about returning to full-time competition. With Roland-Garros approaching, Mouratoglou gave her an ultimatum: train or free him to coach elsewhere. When Serena stayed uncertain, he moved on, later teaming up with Simona Halep and most recently Naomi Osaka. Serena, meanwhile, closed her career at the US Open that year with a heartfelt farewell. While the 24th Slam never came, her partnership with Mouratoglou cemented her legacy as one of the sport’s greatest.
