Serena Williams has prompted new retirement rumors after parting ways with her long-time coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, who has been granted permission to work with rival player Simona Halep.
Williams, 40, was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open at the start of the year due to a hamstring injury and has not played since June of last year.
Serena Williams’ ten-year coach has announced they will part ways after she ‘opened a door’ for him to work with Halep instead, amid mounting speculation over her impending retirement from tennis.
After meeting with Williams, Mouratoglou was given permission to work with the Romanian star ‘at least temporarily,’ and claims he has’missed coaching’ while Williams has been out of the game.
‘I realized how much I’ve missed coaching in the last eight months,’ he stated in a message on Twitter. ‘It is my life’s passion, and I still believe I have so much to give.’
‘Simona came to the Mouratoglou Academy for a training block before Indian Wells. I dropped in on a few of her practices and watched her work out.
‘At the conclusion of the week, she inquired if I might coach her.’ I have the utmost regard for her, but at the moment, it was not an option.
‘A few weeks later, I had a conversation with Serena, and the door opened for me to work with someone else, at least temporarily.’
‘I’ll keep you informed about what’s coming up next.’
Halep replied to the article with a fist emoji to convey her joy at the prospect of working with him.