WTA: Mouratoglou: “Serena has returned too soon”

Serena Williams returned to the tour too early after her pregnancy, her coach says. However, he sees them ready for the French Open.

An invitational tournament in Abu Dhabi, a Fed Cup double – and then finally the actual return in the singles in Indian Wells. Serena Williams approached her comeback seemingly cautiously, and her appearance in the Californian desert at the beginning of March looked quite promising. Two victories, against Tsarina Diyas and Kiki Bertens, then a defeat against Sister Venus – after what Williams had been through, more than okay.

Recently, however, the 23-time major winner was missing again. After her opening defeat in Miami against Naomi Osaka, Williams cancelled her starts in Madrid and Rome due to illness – but the background was obviously different: the 36-year-old has been training again in Nice with success coach Patrick Mouratoglou since 30 April. “After her pregnancy, Serena had to rebuild her body,” the Frenchman told the WTA website. When she came to him, it was noticed that she was not yet ready for the tour. That’s why Madrid and Rome were left out. “It takes her five weeks to be in full working order.” The whole program was unpacked – from nutrition to fitness to tennis. “I am confident that she will be ready for Roland Garros,” says Mouratoglou.

But the starts in Indian Wells and Miami would also have been good. “Serena clearly came back too soon. She wasn’t ready, but she wanted to feel the competition, so she played even though she wasn’t at 100 percent. It was a good experience, because it made her realize what work still lies ahead of her to be really ready.”

So Williams will be competing at the French Open (from 27 May) and aim for Grand Slam title number 24 – and thus try to set Margaret Court’s all-time record.