Simona Halep news: Mouratoglou explains why he decided to work with Romanian as he sets out goals

Patrick Mouratoglou missed coaching “big time” and that was the main reason for his decision to start working with Simona Halep – with the blessing of Serena Williams.

The Frenchman has been 23-time Grand Slam winner Williams’ mentor for nearly a decade and they won 10 majors during that period.

However, the 40-year-old Williams has not played competitive tennis since June last year after she picked up a serious injury during the first round at Wimbledon.

It has left Mouratoglou on the sidelines and when Halep came knocking on his door, he initially told her he was unavailable, but then decided to have talks with Williams.

Excited for a new chapter. Let’s get to work @pmouratoglou pic.twitter.com/U9Zbn5Gtth

— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) April 7, 2022

In an interview with Tennis Majors, he revealed: “When Simona was in Indian Wells, I decided to go see Serena to discuss the situation and see what was her own situation and what could be mine, if she was still counting on me or not, did she know exactly when she would restart playing, you know, all those things. So I went there to the US only to speak to her, which I did. And after this discussion, I knew that at least short-term I could start working as a coach with somebody else.

Ashleigh Barty retirement a huge blow for tennis

Novak Djokovic returns

Drive to attract more female coaching talent

Tennis365's clay-court season preview

Rafael Nadal's big concern

The future of the Big 3 in tennis

Zverev lucky to escape after controversy

Is Nick Kyrgios good for tennis?

Social media influencers in tennis

Can Swiatek dominate the game?

“I went to see Simona was and we had a discussion there. I did tell her that then I was available and then she said she was interested to work