Serena Williams’ former coach sends message to Coco Gauff as she wins the French Open

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Coco Gauff battled back to win her second Major title at the 2025 French Open.

The 21-year-old faced world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the final, suffering an early setback, losing the first set 6-7 [5-7].

Refusing to let the opportunity slip through her fingers, Gauff fought back to beat Sabalenka 6-7, 6-2, 6-4.

Defeating Sabalenka, Gauff became a two-time Grand Slam champion, adding to her triumph in New York two years earlier.

Reacting to Gauff’s Roland Garros win, Serena Williams’ former coach sent the American a message on social media.

Patrick Mouratoglou is ‘proud and honored’ to have been part of Coco Gauff’s journey to French Open title

Taking to Instagram, Patrick Mouratoglou sent a heartfelt message to the newly-crowned French Open champion.

“Coco Gauff, what a journey it’s been so far. Watching you reach this milestone today brought back the memory of the very first time I saw you at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy – just ten years old, already so driven, so determined, such a fighter,” said Mouratoglou.

“Everyone at the Academy and the Champ’Seed Foundation who supported you for many years feels proud and honored to have been part of your path.

“You’ve earned this moment through years of hard work and dedication. You, your family, and your team deserve every bit of today’s success.”

Gauff traveled to France in 2014 to begin her training at the world-renowned Mouratoglou Tennis Academy.

He helped support her through his Champ’Seed foundation, which provided funding for talented junior players who didn’t have financial resources for high-level training.

In the comments of Mouratoglou’s social media post, one fan criticised the Frenchman for taking credit for Gauff’s win.

“Always putting yourself in the shot, aren’t you Patrick [Mouratoglou]?” they said.

Defending himself and reflecting on the time he and Gauff spent together, Mouratoglou quickly snapped back.

“Sorry to have discovered her when she was ten years old and helped her all the way…” he said.

Coco Gauff becomes first multiple-time American Major winner since Serena Williams

Mouratoglou coached Williams for over a decade, guiding the WTA legend to ten of her 23 Grand Slam titles.

Fans of American tennis were desperately looking for Williams’ successor as she began to slow down at the end of her career, and although several players won Majors, it didn’t look like anyone was set to double their tally.

Beating Sabalenka for a second time in a Major final, Gauff became the first American since Williams to win multiple Grand Slam titles.

There’s a long way for Gauff to go before we start comparing her career to Williams’, although their Grand Slam journeys have been eerily similar.

Both Gauff and Williams won their first Grand Slams in New York, adding a second to their collection at the French Open a few years later.

• Serena Williams – Won 1999 US Open, Won 2002 French Open
• Coco Gauff – Won 2023 US Open, Won 2025 French Open

Gauff will be hoping those similarities continue as Williams quickly added to her trophy haul in 2002.

After winning her second Major at the French Open in 2002, Williams began to dominate at Grand Slam events, completing the Career Grand Slam less than 12 months later.

Beating her sister Venus Williams in four straight finals, Williams became a five-time Grand Slam champion.

Looking to repeat Williams’ feat, Gauff will soon head to Wimbledon in search of more Major success.

The young American has yet to reach the quarterfinals at the All England Club, but could be well poised to do so in 2025.

Beginning the grass season full of confidence, there’s truly no reason why Gauff shouldn’t be considered one of the favorites to win her first Wimbledon title this year.

The previous two champions of the event, Barbora Krejcikova and Marketa Vondrousova, look anything but serious contenders for the title, having struggled with injury recently, so who better than Gauff to take advantage?

Only time will tell how Gauff will perform at SW19 in 2025, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action when the tournament begins on Monday, June 30.