In 2015 Patrick Mouratoglou told The Straits Times that he refuses to conduct on-court coaching with Serena Williams because he feared it may make her ‘weaker’ during matches. Three years on and he has now publicly called for the process to be used in all tournaments.
Mouratoglou, who is regarded as one of the most prestigious coaches in the world of tennis, issue a detailed and comprehensive statement on Thursday calling for the induction of on-court coaching. A process that has been used on the WTA Tour since 2008, but not yet at any grand slam tournaments.
“Coaching is a vital component of any sporting performance. Yet, banning it almost makes it looks as if it has to be hidden, or as if it was shameful.” He wrote.
“Authorizing coaching and actually staging it so that the viewers can enjoy it as a show would ensure that it remains pivotal in the sport.”
The calls follow what was a dramatic US Open final between Serena Williams, who is coached by Mouratoglou, and Naomi Osaka. Williams engaged in a heated argument with umpire Carlos Ramos after she received a warning for coaching. Arguing that she was doing no such thing. Although video footage showed her mentor making gestures with his hands and he later said during an interview with ESPN that he was coaching but not directly to the former world No.1. Williams later clarified the comments by saying that there are ‘no signals’ between the two.
Grand slams are currently weighing up whether to implement on-court coaching in the near future. Backing the move, Mouratoglou argued that many coaches already mentor their players during matches in violation of the rules. Insisting that such a move would help ‘ensure that tennis sustain its development.’
“It is a very basic truth that a vast majority of tennis coaches are actually coaching on court, despite the rules. Look at how many times players look towards their boxes during a match. Some do it every singles point.” Said Mouratoglou.
“Occasionally the players are published for it, but for the most part they are not, because the federations are perfectly aware of the situation and don’t ask umpires for a strict application of the rule.”
A change in views?
Mouratoglou hasn’t always been a vocal supporter of on-court coaching. In fact, he has previously expressed concerns about the process multiple times in interviews between 2015-2017. Speaking to Tennis Now in 2015, the 48-year-old is consistent with what he has recently said. Arguing that coaching during matches engages the audience and he believes it should only be done in English. However, in that same interview he admitted that he was concerned about the impact it may have on players in the long term.
“Even though it can be useful short term for the player because it can help her win the match, I believe that it is negative long term for the players who then tend to expect the solution from the coach instead of learning to figure out solutions to win when things get tough.” He said.
During a 2017 interview with Reuters news, he said that he will refrain from speaking to Williams during matches. Fearing that it will have a negative impact on her ability to turn matches around. Although the Frenchman said he would only speak to Williams occasionally ‘if she completely lost it.’
“I don’t want her to start thinking she needs someone to turn a match when she’s in trouble. She’s been doing this better than anyone for 20 years. I don’t want her to start to think like this. It would hurt one of her main strengths and would be wrong.”
23-time grand slam champion Williams has been a vocal critic of the approach in the past. Once saying on-court coaching ‘takes away the integrity of tennis.’
In regards to his latest statement about the coaching method, Mouratoglou has stated that his opinion has no connection with Williams.
