Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter here, living the dream in Miami. I’m super excited to share some insights from the tennis world that I think you’ll find really interesting.
Recently, I came across an interview with Patrick Mouratoglou, the new coach of Naomi Osaka. In one of his recent videos on Instagram, he shared an anecdote about his work with Holger Rune. Mouratoglou emphasized that talent is not the lowest common denominator for top players like Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner. Instead, he highlighted the importance of work ethic in achieving success in tennis.
Mouratoglou explained, “The only way to win is through work. Having talent gives people bad habits, because the truth is, again, to be great at something, you have to put in a lot of effort. It hurts your ability to fight and winning becomes less important than maintaining your talent. If you learn to work really hard because you have no other choice, that attitude will carry over into everything you do.”
This concept resonates deeply with many top players who have achieved greatness through relentless practice and dedication. It’s not just about natural ability; it’s about the willingness to put in the hard work required to excel.
Osaka herself has spoken about her new partnership with Mouratoglou at the media day of the China Open in Beijing. She expressed her confidence in his coaching style and her hope for a long-term partnership. “I call him coach now,” she said. “There’s a lot of interest in my corner right now, but yeah: he’s my coach. I hope for the long term. I like the way he coaches, I think it’s going to be interesting.”
Mouratoglou’s influence extends beyond Osaka’s career; his long-standing partnership with Serena Williams is a testament to his coaching prowess. Williams has praised Mouratoglou’s personality and coaching style, highlighting how he managed to make her feel more comfortable on the court despite her initial nervousness.
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