Star coach Patrick Mouratoglou has revealed he would have liked to coach a long-retired Grand Slam champion
The Frenchman, who most recently worked with Naomi Osaka, was speaking on a recent podcast when he made the selection.
Mouratoglou has a wealth of experience in the game, having paired with Serena Williams from 2012 to 2022, helping guide the American to 10 Grand Slam singles titles.
Therefore, he is well placed to comment on the current affairs of tennis, as he does with regularity.
However, Mouratoglou’s latest comments have seen him delve into the past.
Patrick Mouratoglou would have liked to coach Pat Rafter
Speaking on the Business of Sport podcast, Mouratoglou identified Australian star Pat Rafter as the player he would have most liked to coached, if he had been afforded the chance.
During his stellar career, Rafter won back-to-back US Open titles in 1997 and 1998, while achieving the status of world number one in 1999.
Mouratoglou “Patrick Rafter. I loved his game. The serve and volley, he was super physical. I loved how he was playing, it was crazy.
“I loved the way he handled himself in matches and his attitude. And he did stuff that was very rare.
“One day, he was in Marseille and had a big guarantee to play, because he was top three in the world. He lost in the first round, and he sent the guarantee back and wrote a letter saying that ‘I did not play my level, I don’t deserve the money.’
“He sent it back. I don’t think anybody else ever did this in the history of tennis. I thought the guy was really special.”
Pat Rafter’s Wimbledon misery
For all he achieved in the sport, Pat Rafter was unable to capture an elusive title, despite his strength on the grass surface.
The Australian had demonstrated proficiency on grass throughout his career, winning the ‘s-Hertogenbosch Open three times.
However, Rafter failed to win the Wimbledon title, despite twice reaching the final.
In 2000, Rafter ran into American superstar Pete Sampras. The American won the contest in four sets, 6–7, 7–6, 6–4, 6–2.
A year later, Rafter again made the final, this time facing unseeded Goran Ivanisevic. The Croat stunned Rafter, defeating the Australian in five sets, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 9–7.
