Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou has revealed he knew Coco Gauff would become one of the best tennis players in the world when she was just ten years old. After their first meeting nearly a decade ago, the coach was full of praise for the young American, whom he described as “the complete human being.”
Mouratoglou is one of the most famous and successful coaches in tennis and has helped some of the biggest names in the sport over the years. Players coached by the Frenchman include Stefanos Tsitsipas, Laura Robson and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
His most successful period was from 2012 to 2022, when he guided Serena Williams through one of the most dominant periods of her career. During her time with Mouratoglou, she won two Australian Open titles, three U.S. Open titles and three Wimbledon titles.
Having witnessed some of the greatest moments in tennis history, it’s no surprise that Mouratoglou discovered Coco Gauff’s potential at an early age. The coach recently recalled a meeting between the two when the tennis star was ten and he predicted she would become a superstar.
“I feel like she’s someone who’s very driven and confident in her abilities and she wants it so bad that I feel like she has what it takes to get to the top,” he told CNN. “When she leaves the office At the time, I told everyone: ‘This person, let’s take her with us, she’s going to be great.'”
Gauff subsequently joined the coach’s Mouratoglou academy on the French Riviera, where she impressed. “The fitness test was incredible for her age,” he added.
“His competitiveness when he plays against other players is impressive. “Because of her competitiveness, she is able to beat players who are technically better than her. “
“She learned to deal with (pressure) at a young age, which partly explains her ability to win her first Grand Slam final at just 19 years old,” Mouratoglou added.
The French coach’s instincts were apparently right, and Gauff has since taken the tennis world by storm. The 19-year-old has won six career titles, including the most recent Grand Slam title at this year’s U.S. Open.
Gauff hopes to add to her success at the China Open on October 2, where she will face Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round of 64.