Patrick Mouratoglou has revealed how he will really feel if his former player Serena Williams returns to professional tennis.
Mouratoglou coached Williams for 10 years until April 2022, before the 23-time Grand Slam champion retired later that year.
Despite playing her last match at the US Open over three years ago, rumours about Williams returning to tennis have been circulating after she re-entered the drug testing pool, which is required to compete.
As speculation over Williams’ return ramps up, Mouratoglou has revealed how he will really feel if she does come back.
Patrick Mouratoglou says if he would be surprised if Serena Williams made a comeback
Mouratoglou previously played down Williams coming back to tennis when asked about the possibility last year.
However, with the evidence and speculation continuing to die down, Mouratoglou appears to have changed his mind.
You can bring one tennis legend out of retirement. Who do you pick and why?
When speaking to L’Equipe, Mouratoglou admitted that he would no longer be surprised if she came back to tennis.
While he no longer has plans to be a full-time coach, Mouratoglou claimed he would be ‘so happy’ to see Williams back on court.
“With her, anything is possible. If anyone is capable of attempting such a comeback, it’s Serena,” said Mouratoglou.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she returned. She loves challenges too much, and if she decides to go for it, she won’t back down. I believe in her, and it would make me so happy to see her back on the courts.”
Serena Williams would finish 2026 ranked — in the world if she came out of retirement
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Serena Williams’ record with Patrick Mouratoglou as her coach
Mouratoglou coached Williams for nearly 10 years, and helped guide her to a lot of the success she achieved over the years.
This includes Williams winning 10 Grand Slam titles, enabling her to become the woman with the most major singles trophies in the Open Era.
Mouratoglou was also on Williams’ team for 11 WTA 1000 title wins, three victories at the WTA Finals and her singles gold medal win at the London 2012 Olympics.
| Serena Williams titles won with Patrick Mouratoglou | |
| Grand Slam titles won | 10 |
| WTA 1000 titles won | 11 |
| Olympic singles gold medals won | 1 |
| WTA Finals titles won | 3 |
| WTA 500/250 titles won | 7 |
| Overall titles won | 32 |
However, it was not all positive for the pair, with Mouratoglou and Williams involved in controversy during the 2018 US Open final that she lost to Naomi Osaka.
It is still unclear as to whether Williams will return to tennis yet, and as to what capacity that would be in, with many suggesting that it could be for doubles alongside her older sister Venus.
What is now clear is that Mouratoglou would be fully in support of Williams returning to the WTA Tour.
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