Serena Williams' former coach Patrick Mouratoglou has revealed how he helped the former women's number one overcome one of her greatest career challenges.
During the 2016 US Open, Williams suffered a semi-final defeat against Roberta Vinci and Mouratoglou explained how the loss had a huge psychological impact on the 23-time Grand Slam winner. Mouratoglou also revealed that he needed Williams to rediscover her identity to overcome the difficult period.
"I taught Serena Williams to think like Serena again. She had forgotten that. So, she loses the US Open semifinal against Roberta Vinci and it had a huge impact on her. Even though it is one defeat after four Grand Slams won in a row, and she was in the semifinal of the fifth."
But Mouratoglou said the process to help Williams was not easy and the effects of the 2016 US Open continued to impact her performance in later Grand Slam finals.
"Then, she is in the Roland Garros final, playing extremely badly and the previous losses are still having an impact. She can make it to the final as she has the tennis and physical qualities, but to win a final requires a specific headspace. Serena didn't have it"
Before the 2016 French Open final against Garbine Muguruza, Mouratoglou felt he needed to connect Williams to her roots so she could produce her best performance.
"I'll never forget the 30 minutes before the Roland Garros final. I said to her 'You have forgotten who are, I need to remind you so sit down. I'm going to tell you your story.' I tell her about her life. To make her realize how strong she is and how everything always depends on her."
Williams lost the final at Roland Garros against Garbine Muguruza. But she went on to win Wimbledon in 2016 and the Australian Open in the 2017 season - the final two Grand Slam titles of her 26-year career.
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