Serena needs ‘new strategy’
Serena Williams needs a new approach if she wants to win a record-tying 24th grand slam title, according to her coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Mouratoglou said the 38-year-old American must ‘‘change her strategy’’ and ‘‘face reality’’ after four lost finals at the majors since giving birth to a daughter in September, 2017.
Williams was knocked out in the third round of the recent Australian Open, by China’s Wang Qiang, a player she had thrashed last year at the US Open by allowing her just one game.
Mouratoglou, who has coached Williams since 2012, said that she still had the fire in her but that some things must change.
‘‘We have to accept the fact that it is not working,’’ Mouratoglou said. ‘‘Maybe come back with a different angle, a different strategy and different goals so she can make it.
‘‘We have to face reality, but she is positive that she can make it otherwise she probably wouldn’t be on a tennis court anymore. She believes she can make it and I believe it too. She’s not that far, but we have to change a few things.’’
Williams has only one title since her return two years ago, last month in Auckland, for a career tally of 73.
Her last win at the majors was at the 2017 Australian Open when she was eight months pregnant. She has since lost finals at the 2018 and 2019 US Open and Wimbledon tournaments, has not gone beyond the fourth round at the French Open and the quarters in Australia.
Williams admitted after her Melbourne loss she made ‘‘too many errors to be a professional athlete’’ but also insisted ‘‘I definitely do believe [in more major titles] or I wouldn’t be on tour.’’