Serena Williams Was Not Ready For Major Finals, Coach Explains

Serena Williams made her fourth Grand Slam final since returning to the game after giving birth to daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian but the result was the same as the first, second and third. The American lost in straight sets to teenager Bianca Andreescu in straight sets.

The 23-time women’s singles Grand Slam champion is looking to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 major titles but that looks more unlikely as time passes. Williams’ greatness will never diminish despite her recent struggles but it shows that a once insurmountable opponent is now vulnerable and can be beaten.

Williams’ long-time coach Patrick Mouratoglou insists that the only reason she has lost the four finals is because the American is still not at her best after returning to the game since child birth in 2018. He insists that the only reasons she made four Grand Slam finals, which in itself is a great feat is because “she was Serena.”

"She reached three Grand Slam finals because she was Serena, not because she was ready,” Mouratoglou said, as quoted on Tennis World USA. “In New York she was doing well, much more ready, she moved well. She could do a lot of things she could not do in the last two years."

Williams won 22 of the first 25 major finals she reached since capturing her first Grand Slam title in 1999 but she has since lost six of the eight summit clashes in Grand Slams. The soon-to-be 38-year-old has made it clear that she has no intention of hanging up her racket anytime soon, indicating an assault on the majors in 2020 is well on the cards.

Meanwhile, Williams has admitted that the toughest era she has played in was when sister Venus Williams was at her best. The 23-time major champion’s biggest defeats during her prime came against her older sister, while she also named Justin Henin and Kim Clijsters as formidable opponents.

"I have to say, Venus. Obviously, I lost to her the most,” Williams said, as quoted on Tennis World USA. “She's won the most Grand Slams in that era. I don't know. I mean, probably Henin and Clijsters were great. Probably? They were really great. But then there's Lindsay, also an amazing player. Very tough to play against. You know, Hingis was also an incredibly tough opponent to play.”