Coach Patrick Mouratoglou reveals details of split with tennis legend Serena Williams

Patrick Mouratoglou, the former coach of Serena Williams, revealed what he told the tennis star after deciding to work with Simona Halep.

Mouratoglou announced earlier this week that he would be working with Halep on a full-time basis.

He coached 23-time Grand Slam winner Williams since 2012, but the American star has not played since June after she injured her leg at Wimbledon.

In a statement on social media, Mouratoglou said he had missed coaching over the past eight months.

“I had a conversation with Serena, and the door opened for me, at least short term, to work with someone else,” he wrote.

In an interview with Tennis Majors, Mouratoglou disclosed more information about the chat with Williams.

“I missed it big time,” he said. “Coaching is the passion of my life. It’s the job of my life. And when I went to see Serena to discuss before starting with Simona, that’s what I told her.

“I said, ‘Coaching is the passion of my life and it’s difficult for me not to work.’ So yes, I missed coaching big, big time.

“Honestly, since I’m back to coaching with Simona, I cannot be happier to coach this again. It’s an incredible satisfaction for me to do that job. It’s incredible.”

I am now the full-time coach of @Simona_Halep. pic.twitter.com/MRlkmeJyhw

Despite losing her coach, Williams suggested on social media she could return to action at Wimbledon, which is scheduled to run from June 27th to July 10th.

In a video posted on Instagram with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Williams said: “I’m here with Aaron Rodgers and we’ve been talking about my comeback and he’s been hyping me up and getting me ready for Wimbledon.”

Rodgers then asks about the US Open, to which Serena replies: “Wimbledon is before the US Open.