The Remarkable Journey of Coco Gauff: How Tennis Coach Patrick Mouratoglou's Early Belief in a 10-year-old Prodigy Has Paved the Way for Greatness

After meeting 10-year-old Coco Gauff for the first time, Serena Williams' former coach Patrick Mouratoglou was convinced that she had a bright future ahead of her. "Her determination, self-assurance, and unwavering desire to succeed made me believe that she possessed all the necessary qualities to become a top player," shared the French coach, who is also the founder of the Mouratoglou Academy and Ultimate Tennis Showdown, in an interview with CNN Sports' Patrick Snell.

Upon her departure from the office, I remarked to the group of individuals, "We must bring her along; she has immense potential." Gauff, who had never journeyed beyond the borders of the United States, made a lasting impact on Mouratoglou upon her arrival at the French Riviera academy.

He mentioned that the fitness test was astounding considering her age and her competitive spirit during matches against other players was remarkable. Despite being technically inferior to some opponents, she managed to defeat them due to her strong drive. The 19-year-old has experienced a remarkable beginning to her tennis journey, accumulating victories in both singles and doubles and making a name for herself on the global stage as a teenager.

Gauff and Mouratoglou have known each other for almost 10 years and worked together in an unofficial capacity ahead of this year's French Open.

Christophe Saidi/Sipa/AP

History maker

"Coco's journey to making history started at an early age," stated Mouratoglou. "Remarkably, at just 13 and a half years old, she reached the finals of the US Open in the juniors category. And at 14, she emerged victorious in the juniors division at Roland Garros."

Gauff skyrocketed to fame when she broke records as the youngest individual in the Open Era to qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon. Not only did she astound the world by defeating tennis legend Venus Williams in their first round encounter, but she also progressed all the way to the fourth round before being eliminated by the eventual champion, Simona Halep.

Gauff's early triumph foreshadowed what was to come. She recently achieved her most significant win yet, triumphing over the current top-ranked player, Aryna Sabalenka, in a grueling three-set match to secure the singles title at the 2023 US Open. This inaugural major victory serves as the most recent advancement in a rapidly progressing career.

Gauff can now call herself a grand slam Champion.

Elsa/Getty Images

Gauff's resolute mindset fuels her success - refusing to be deterred by a discouraging first-round defeat at Wimbledon, she set her sights on a comeback, proclaiming, "Defeat pushes me to strive even more." The next month, she achieved remarkable triumphs at tournaments held in Washington D.C. and Cincinnati. Being heavily favored to excel in New York, Gauff gracefully handled the pressure of high expectations and the weight of being a hometown favorite, ultimately seizing the title of a grand slam champion.

"She developed the ability to handle [the pressure] at a young age, which partially explains how she managed to secure her first grand slam final victory at a mere 19 years old," Mouratoglou remarked.

Despite not officially coaching Gauff throughout her professional career, the 53-year-old has collaborated with her in the past (most notably prior to this year's French Open) and she has been training at his academy for a remarkable span of nine years.

"She has enormous room for improvement - a positive aspect, by the way - across various elements of her game. However, considering her determination, her exceptional team, her unwavering motivation, and her impressive abilities, I firmly believe that she has the potential to secure several additional major victories," expressed Mouratoglou.

"While Americans often say, 'The sky's the limit,' I personally do not perceive any boundaries for her, and I would refrain from setting any limits upon her."

Serenas influence

Mouratoglou is no stranger to working with champion-level talent, having previously guided Serena Williams to 10 major titles and a career golden slam.

Gauff has previously expressed her admiration for the Williams sisters, who she looked up to while growing up. Mouratoglou acknowledged the significant impact the siblings have made as pioneers in the sport. He also pointed out that the new US Open champion, Gauff, aligns with the example they have set.

According to him, the Williams sisters have served as a major source of inspiration for African Americans and the Black community as a whole. Prior to their rise, there were very few individuals of color who had reached the pinnacle of the sport.

The absence of individuals who resemble you makes you feel like it is not a suitable environment for you. The remarkable impact that Venus and Serena have had on people of color in the sport has opened up incredible opportunities.

The sight of someone who shares your appearance achieving major victories and leaving a mark in history, particularly when there are two of them, gives you a sense of hope that maybe you, too, can accomplish something similar. Their achievements serve as a powerful source of inspiration.

Williams won 10 grand slam titles while working with Mouratoglou.

Renowned photographer Scott Barbour, under the Getty Images brand, captured the essence of Mouratoglou's sentiments towards the exceptional Serena Williams, whom he reveres as a figure transcending the realms of tennis. Alongside his illustrious partnerships with male tennis luminaries Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune, Mouratoglou celebrates Williams as an extraordinary force.

Mouratoglou stated that she has been a strong advocate for women, their rights, mothers, and equality in general. He also mentioned that she consistently speaks out on these issues and has played a significant role in gaining more respect for women in sports.