Find out: Coach Mouratoglou discloses what Serena Williams needs to do to win on clay
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Serena Williams last won a major in the Australian Summer of 2017. That was her 23rd Grand Slam, and with that she beat the record of 22 Grand Slams held by Steffi Graf. Now she was just one behind the all time record of 24 Grand Slam wins, held by Margaret Court.
A complicated childbirth followed, and Serena returned to the court soon after. But it’s been more than four years now and the Champion has failed to add any more Grand Slams. She has had her opportunities, most recent one of which was at the Australian Open 2021. A Semi-Final encounter, and the stage was set for Serena to win the match and go into the Final and clinch her 24th. But, Naomi Osaka had other plans. Serena was beaten in straight sets.
Serena took the loss very badly, and was really disappointed. Infact, she got so emotional at the post match that she made her way out of the interviews. Her coach Patrick Mouratoglou has a positive take on such things. He believes that in case of big disappointments, one needs to look at the positives. He told Serena that her fitness was really great at the tournament.
Patrick Mouratoglou said, “It’s always difficult to take some positives when you have a big disappointment like that but there are some positives and I told her that her fitness was really great and that’s the key and we have to keep working like that.”
Mouratoglou’s mantra for success on clay courts for Serena Williams
Patrick Mouratoglou believes that on clay courts specially, Serena needs to be extra fit. He says that’s because of the slow nature of the surface. The slow surface renders Serena’s serve a little ineffective, so she has to fight tooth and nail to win the rallies and win the other points.
But, Mouratoglou believes that if Serena is really fit, she is as dangerous on clay as on any other surface. The coach signed off by saying that if Serena is on top of her physical game, she is good enough to win any Grand Slam.
Patrick Mouratoglou believes, “I think she can really play very good on clay, she just has to be really very fit because on clay the serve is not as efficient and you have to work much more.” He added, “ Every rally is a fight. But I feel if she’s really, really ready, physically 100 per cent, then she can be very dangerous on clay as well.”
He continued, “The level is high but I still believe that, when Serena is 100 per cent at the top of her physical form, she can win any Slam.”
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Auri Ghosh
(652 Articles Published)