Latest news with #PatrickMouratoglou
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Serena Williams' former coach questions Novak Djokovic's mentality in Grand Slam pursuit
Novak Djokovic winning Grand Slams became a habit in the 2010's and even the early 2020's, but now the world is adjusting to a new normal. The Serbian hasn't won a major since the U.S. Open in 2023. Famous tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou had a theory about the drought that he talked about with Nick Kyrgios. The former coach of pros like Serena Williams and Holger Rune believes it's not Djokovic's old age but his mentality that is holding him back from a 25th Grand Slam. "He's just realized that he would be the best of all times because Rafa was out and the thing he was fighting for 15 years, suddenly there's no more goal,' Mouratoglou said on the Ultimate Tennis Show podcast. "I think he completely lost the motivation, which is easy to understand, which is normal." Mouratoglou, who is known for making brash statements, does have a point. Djokovic has the most Grand Slams of any male tennis pro in history. After winning the 2024 Olympics, he has every major title in tennis. Has that impacted his drive to win? That's what Mouratoglou seems to think. Djokovic is 38 years old and there's a better possibility that old age has led to a decline in his performance. Still it's an interesting case to make that the Serbian has less incentive to win with nobody nipping at his heels. Even if that's true, Djokovic has made Grand Slam semifinals in all three majors this year. He is able to compete at the highest level even if there's questions about his decline. The only way Djokovic can silence this conversation? By winning another Grand Slam. MORE: Ons Jabeur makes shocking announcement about her tennis future
Grazia USA
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Grazia USA
Game, Set, Match: Serena Williams' Famed Coach Launches A Tennis Centre In The UAE
Photo: Getty We're well and truly in tennis mode just off the back of another spectacular Wimbledon tournament in London. And it appears the spirit has made its way closer to home right here in the UAE, as the coach behind seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams is opening up his very own tennis centre in the capital city. Patrick Mouratoglou, who was previously coach to Serena up until her retirement in 2022, and currently instructor to Naomi Osaka, has opened up the Mouratoglou Tennis Center on Hudayriyat Island. Bringing world-class courts, elite education, and serious sporting energy to Abu Dhabi. Nestled within the 321 Sports complex, the centre includes six ITF-certified courts, tailored training programmes, and a world-class team at the forefront. It's a sleek new destination where high performance meets world-class coaching, creating fresh opportunities for players of all ages and skill levels to train like the best or at least, with the best. Led by Bram Dhaen, who has been part of the Mouratoglou legacy for a while now, the centre brings the status and precision of a global tennis powerhouse to the capital, joining a community of elite training hubs internationally's most coveted places, from the French Riviera to Bali and beyond. Hudayriyat Island has already made its name within the sporting industry, home to cycling circuits and world-class surfing experience, and now with the new addition of the Mouratoglou Tennis Center, things have stepped up. So, if you want to learn to serve like Serena, this new Abu Dhabi tennis retreat is your starting point for game, set and match.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Naomi Osaka didn't ‘feel anything' after latest tight Grand Slam loss at Wimbledon
THE ALL ENGLAND CLUB, LONDON — Naomi Osaka said she felt numb after her third-round defeat to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at Wimbledon Friday. Osaka won the first set and looked on her way to a first fourth-round appearance at the All England Club, before eventually succumbing to a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat. She is yet to reach the second week of a Grand Slam since returning to the tour for the 2024 season, following the birth of her daughter, Shai. Advertisement Asked to compare how she felt after this latest loss with her devastation at losing to Paula Badosa in the first round of Roland Garros in May, Osaka said: 'In Paris, I was very emotional. Now I don't feel anything, so I guess I'd prefer to feel nothing than everything.' On that occasion, after losing another tight three-setter, Osaka had to briefly leave the interview room in tears. She explained that close defeats hurt more than they used to, because she expects more of herself now that she's in her second year back on the tour. She described how they impact those around her, including her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. 'I hate disappointing people,' Osaka said. 'So even with Patrick, I was thinking this just now… But he goes from working with the greatest player ever (Serena Williams, who Mouratoglou coached for a decade) to, like, 'What the f— this is?' You know what I mean? Sorry for cursing, I hope I don't get fined, but…' Osaka was more sanguine on Friday, but still upset, explaining that part of her disappointment was that she thought she could go on a run here. 'I think it's 'cause I actually thought I could play well, like, in general,' Osaka said — at a tournament where the draw has opened up with so many seeds exiting early. Advertisement 'Not saying I didn't play well, but make a deep run here. I wanted to do better than I did before. Also, I felt like I was trying so hard.' Since returning to the tour, Osaka has struggled to hit the heights of the early part of her career, when she won four Grand Slams and became the world No. 1. She has been in better form of late, winning a WTA 125 tournament (one rung below the main tour) in France in May and then re-entering the world's top 50. This week she matched her best performance at a major since the start of her comeback. Osaka's getting closer to her best level, but she keeps losing tight matches. Six of her last seven defeats have been in three sets, and all six of them have featured a 6-4, 7-5, or 7-6 scoreline in the final set. The upcoming hard-court swing, first across the U.S. and Canada and then China and Japan, is where Osaka has tended to thrive. But last year it was a disappointment and she said she didn't want to raise expectations and then feel let down. Advertisement Osaka, who admits she is too hard on herself, added: 'I'm just going to be a negative human being today. I'm so sorry. I have nothing positive to say about myself, which is something I'm working on.' Pavlyuchenkova, a former world No. 11 and French Open finalist who is ranked No. 50, will play Britain's Sonay Kartal in the fourth round on Sunday. Osaka's next event is scheduled to be the Citi Open in Washington D.C in late July. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Tennis, Women's Tennis 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
04-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Naomi Osaka didn't ‘feel anything' after latest tight Grand Slam loss at Wimbledon
THE ALL ENGLAND CLUB, LONDON — Naomi Osaka said she felt numb after her third-round defeat to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at Wimbledon Friday. Osaka won the first set and looked on her way to a first fourth-round appearance at the All England Club, before eventually succumbing to a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat. She is yet to reach the second week of a Grand Slam since returning to the tour for the 2024 season, following the birth of her daughter, Shai. Advertisement Asked to compare how she felt after this latest loss with her devastation at losing to Paula Badosa in the first round of Roland Garros in May, Osaka said: 'In Paris, I was very emotional. Now I don't feel anything, so I guess I'd prefer to feel nothing than everything.' On that occasion, after losing another tight three-setter, Osaka had to briefly leave the interview room in tears. She explained that close defeats hurt more than they used to, because she expects more of herself now that she's in her second year back on the tour. She described how they impact those around her, including her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. 'I hate disappointing people,' Osaka said. 'So even with Patrick, I was thinking this just now… But he goes from working with the greatest player ever (Serena Williams, who Mouratoglou coached for a decade) to, like, 'What the f— this is?' You know what I mean? Sorry for cursing, I hope I don't get fined, but…' Osaka was more sanguine on Friday, but still upset, explaining that part of her disappointment was that she thought she could go on a run here. 'I think it's 'cause I actually thought I could play well, like, in general,' Osaka said — at a tournament where the draw has opened up with so many seeds exiting early. 'Not saying I didn't play well, but make a deep run here. I wanted to do better than I did before. Also, I felt like I was trying so hard.' Since returning to the tour, Osaka has struggled to hit the heights of the early part of her career, when she won four Grand Slams and became the world No. 1. She has been in better form of late, winning a WTA 125 tournament (one rung below the main tour) in France in May and then re-entering the world's top 50. This week she matched her best performance at a major since the start of her comeback. Osaka's getting closer to her best level, but she keeps losing tight matches. Six of her last seven defeats have been in three sets, and all six of them have featured a 6-4, 7-5, or 7-6 scoreline in the final set. Advertisement The upcoming hard-court swing, first across the U.S. and Canada and then China and Japan, is where Osaka has tended to thrive. But last year it was a disappointment and she said she didn't want to raise expectations and then feel let down. Osaka, who admits she is too hard on herself, added: 'I'm just going to be a negative human being today. I'm so sorry. I have nothing positive to say about myself, which is something I'm working on.' Pavlyuchenkova, a former world No. 11 and French Open finalist who is ranked No. 50, will play Britain's Sonay Kartal in the fourth round on Sunday. Osaka's next event is scheduled to be the Citi Open in Washington D.C in late July.
Times
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Times
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.
