Patrick Mouratoglou Finally Breaks Silence on Lack of ‘Superstars’ on WTA Tour Controversy

Patrick Mouratoglou thinks Coco Gauff is the biggest star on the WTA Tour at the moment because she won the French Open.

Patrick Mouratoglou Finally Breaks Silence on Lack of ‘Superstars’ on WTA Tour Controversy

Patrick Mouratoglou (Image via Vogue)

Serena Williams‘ former coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, had claimed that at present there are no ‘superstars’ on the WTA Tour. His comments came in the aftermath of the French Open scheduling controversy.

Women’s matches were not scheduled on the prime-time slot and French Open director Amelie Mauresmo stated that men playing five-setter is the reason why their matches were scheduled during the night session. She added that the tournament has to make scheduling decisions based on the interest of the fans and as women play best-of-three, their matches may end quickly. Mouratoglou too agreed.

He said fans would rather prefer watching Carlos Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic over five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek. His comments were not well received, but despite that, he defended his claim and reiterated that current top players on the WTA Tour are not superstars like the Williams sisters and Maria Sharapova.

There is a real difference between being a top player, playing incredible tennis, and being a star. I explained that women’s tennis at the moment lacks superstars. There is one big star in women’s tennis, which is Coco Gauff. In terms of aura, it is higher than anyone at the moment.
Patrick Mouratoglou said on Instagram

Gauff came from a set down to beat World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka to clinch her career’s first French Open singles title. It was her second Major singles title after the 2023 US Open she lifted by beating the Belarusian.

I’m thinking about Serena, Venus [Williams], Sharapova, and it can happen to men’s tennis also to have some eras where you don’t have stars. It happened in the past between [Pete] Sampras, [Andre] Agassi, and Roger [Federer] and Rafa [Nadal]. There were no superstars of that level in men’s tennis.
Patrick Mouratoglou added

Check out his post here:

Mouratoglou also advocated for the introduction of the best-of-five sets in women’s tennis. He believes women would shut up the critics about the prize money and schedule debates, if they start to play best-of-five format in Grand Slam events.

Patrick Mouratoglou congratulates Coco Gauff after her French Open triumph

Coco Gauff is now the youngest American woman to clinch a French Open title since Serena Williams in 2002. Patrick Mouratoglou, who now coaches four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, was also a part of Williams’ entourage from 2012–2022.

Coco Gauff Roland Garros
Coco Gauff (Image via Roland Garros)

At the Patrick Mouratoglou Academy, Gauff used to train when she was a child. After her victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the French Open, Mouratoglou took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message.

Watching you reach this milestone today brought back the memory of the very first time I saw you at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy – just ten years old, already so driven, so determined, such a fighter.

Check out his post here:

Gauff reached three back-to-back finals before tasting success in the ultimate clay-court tournament. Before this season, the 21-year-old had reached the championship match in 2022 but couldn’t beat the now four-time Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek.

The French Open was Gauff’s first title since the 2024 WTA Finals. She also won the French Open doubles title last year along with Katerina Siniakova (beat Jasmine Paolini and her compatriot Sara Errani). Gauff won 18 matches on clay this season (the most on the WTA Tour) and behind her sits Sabalenka with 17 wins as the 27-year-old clinched the Madrid Open and reached the finals of the Stuttgart Open and the French Open.

The grass season has started and Gauff will be aiming to win her first title on the surface. At Wimbledon, Gauff has never progressed beyond the fourth round (reached it three times). Last year, her campaign ended after her defeat to compatriot Emma Navarro.

Also read: Juan Carlos Ferrero Delivers Warning to Carlos Alcaraz Despite Historic Roland Garros Triumph