Serena Williams, The Veteran, is Ready to Become Wimbledon Champion

Written by: Staff on 6th July 2012

Serena Williams, The Veteran, is Ready to Become Wimbledon Champion

epa03296667 Serena Williams of the US celebrates her victory over Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in their semi final match during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 05 July 2012. EPA/JONATHAN BRADY |

Serena Williams is set to become the first Wimbledon ladies champion over the age of 30 since Martina Navratilova 22 years ago and she gained the impetus for her swift rejuvenation after losing in the French Open first round came at the respected Mouratoglou Tennis Academy just outside Paris .

Frenchman Patrick Mouratoglou, owner and operator of the academy in the suburb of Thiverval-Grignon and currently the on-the-road coach of star pupil and Williams’ close friend Grigor Dimitrov, was co-opted as a coaching consultant to Serena. And he has been present in her Players Box throughout the Championships.

Mouratoglou revealed: “Serena called me after the French Open and said: ‘I’d like to train for a few days. Can I come?’ I think we spent eight days or so, and we stayed very much in contact after that, talking almost every day. I like her a lot. And when she came to Wimbledon , she asked me to come. Things happened naturally.”

The Williams parents Richard and Oracene remain the official coaches to the 13 times Grand Slam champion and Mouratoglou is credited with an advisory role. After her stint at the French academy, Serena flew home to Palm Beach Gardens in Florida but insisted on linking up with Mouratoglou before the start of the Championships.

“Perhaps she’s looking for another eye, a complementary one because she still has her team and still has her father with her,” continued Mouratoglou. “She’s won everything this player, but she wants to win again and continue to progress, because she’s aware that tennis is constantly evolving, and if you stop progressing there are others who will pass ahead of you.”

Serena blazed past Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the semi-final, winning 6-3, 7-6 and hitting 24 aces. Facing up to Saturday’s final, where she will meet third seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, Serena said: “I’ve been working so hard; I really wanted this. I got a little tight in the second set. I think I was looking too far into the future.

“I have so much appreciation for every moment on the court. I really take pride in playing, especially playing such big, amazing tournaments like this.”

Topics: British tennis news, Martina Navratilova, Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena William, Sports, Tennis News, Wimbledon Champions, women tennis news