Serena Williams' coach Patrick Mouratoglou to work with Simona Halep
- Planet Sport writer
- 7 April 2022
Patrick Mouratoglou has added the Romanian tennis player to his schedule alongside the likes of Coco Gauff.
Ex-world number one Simona Halep will work with Serena Williams' coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
Frenchman Mouratoglou confirmed he will mentor her after Williams - who he has coached for the last 10 years - approved the request
Williams - a 23-time Grand Slam champion - is currently on the sidelines due to injury.
Mouratoglou has worked with other stars on tour, including teenage sensation Coco Gauff, Laura Robson and Stefanos Tsitsipas. He will take up his new role with Halep from May when she plays in Madrid.
"In the last eight months I realised how much I've missed coaching," Mouratoglou said on Twitter. "It is the passion of my life and I still feel I have so much to give.
"Simona came to the Mouratoglou Academy before Indian Wells for a training block. I swung by at a few of her practices, watched her train.
"At the end of the week, she asked me if I was available to coach her. I have the highest respect for her but it was out of the question at the time.
"A few weeks later, I had a conversation with Serena and the door opened for me, at least short term, to work with someone else."
I am now the full-time coach of @Simona_Halep. pic.twitter.com/MRlkmeJyhw
— Patrick Mouratoglou (@pmouratoglou) April 7, 2022
Halep split from her long-time coach Darren Cahill in September and has since been searching for a replacement. The 30-year-old, ranked number 20 in the world, is bidding to add to her Wimbledon win in 2019.
Williams' time with Mouratoglou saw her win 10 Grand Slam titles, an Olympic singles gold in 2012 and three WTA year-end world championships.
The American has made four Grand Slam finals since returning from maternity leave in 2018 but is currently ranked 240th after an eight-month absence due to injury.
