Serena Williams ‘not obsessed’ with equalling Grand Slam record, says her coach Patrick Mouratoglou
Patrick Mouratoglou says Serena Williams has nothing left to prove and is “not obsessed” with equalling Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slams, but says the ultimate goals is to win more majors.
Tennis great Williams won the last of her 23 Grand Slams while pregnant at the 2017 Australian Open, but she made her comeback to the WTA Tour in 2018.
She has reached four major finals since her return from maternity leave, but came up short twice at Wimbledon and twice at the US Open.
‘It felt good to kind of clutch that in the end,’ says Serena Williams after battling past Aryna Sabalenka
At the start of every major, Williams’ hunt for No 24 is the major talking point, but her coach Mouratoglou insists she is not fixated on it.
“Does she need that validation (of winning a 24th Slam)? I don’t think she needs that validation,” he said.
“But, I mean, clearly she came back to tennis to win some other Grand Slams, so that’s for sure the goal.”
“Now, she’s not as obsessed with the 24 than most of the people in the tennis world, but definitely she wants to win Grand Slams.”
The 39-year-old Williams has been in excellent form so far at the 2021 Australian Open, winning her first three matches comfortably before battling to a three-set win over seventh seed Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round.
Mouratoglou feels the American has been moving a lot better in recent years.
“It’s something that we have put the emphasis on because in tennis that’s probably one of the most important things. If you are late on the ball, you can’t do what you want to do,” he said.
“It’s something that probably in the last two, three years, this had consequences for Serena.
“I think it cost her a few important matches, so we have decided to find a way to bring back the footwork that she used to have in the past. I feel like she’s done a great job.”
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