Patrick Mouratoglou, the coaching mastermind who helped guide Serena Williams to the summit of tennis, is opening up about the complex reality behind her remarkable weight loss transformation. In a string of recent interviews, including a candid conversation with The Guardian, Mouratoglou shared insights into the sometimes fraught, always driven partnership that defined a decade of Williams' legendary career. His reflections come on the heels of Williams’ own public admission that she turned to GLP-1 weight loss medication after years of post-pregnancy struggles—a revelation that’s sparked debate both inside and outside the tennis world.
Mouratoglou, who coached Williams from 2012 through her retirement in 2022, didn’t mince words about the challenges they faced together, especially after the birth of Williams’ first daughter, Olympia, in September 2017. "Tennis is a sport in which you can’t afford to be overweight," he explained, drawing on years of experience at the highest level. For Mouratoglou, the issue was never about aesthetics—it was about performance, efficiency, and the razor-thin margins that separate champions from also-rans. "Even one kilo extra could change the entire game," he told The Guardian. "When you run full speed in one direction and then stop and come back, one pound can make a real difference."
But those conversations weren’t always easy. Williams, a fiercely proud competitor and one of the sport’s most decorated athletes, didn’t always appreciate her coach’s bluntness. "We had a few fights about it. I remember she did not like when I said that because she thought I was judging her," Mouratoglou recalled. "I told her, this is not about how you look. It’s my job to care about your tennis. If you want to make history, we have to be efficient on every level." The tension was palpable, but so too was the mutual trust that underpinned their working relationship. According to Mouratoglou, that trust was the secret sauce behind their shared success: "Complete and reciprocated trust. We understood each other and pushed one another."
Williams’ post-pregnancy journey was anything but straightforward. Despite relentless training, a disciplined diet, and the iron will that had propelled her to 23 Grand Slam singles titles—10 of them with Mouratoglou by her side—she found herself unable to shed the extra pounds. The frustration mounted, especially as she prepared to return to the court as a mother in her mid-30s. "I had never been in a place like that before, where I worked so hard and still couldn’t get down to where I needed," Williams admitted in a recent interview. "I never took shortcuts in my career, but my body had changed."
After the birth of her second child, Adira, in August 2023 with husband Alexis Ohanian, Williams’ struggle to regain her former fitness only intensified. The years of effort, the repeated setbacks—it all took a toll. Ultimately, she made the difficult decision to consult a professional, who recommended GLP-1 medication as a possible solution. For Williams, the choice wasn’t made lightly. "I had to ensure this was not a shortcut," she said. She pored over the research, asked tough questions, and only moved forward when she was convinced it was the right step for her health and career.
The results were dramatic. Williams lost 31 pounds, a transformation that she says gave her a new lease on life. "I just can do more. I’m more active. My joints don’t hurt as much," she shared. The improvement in her quality of life was so profound that Williams decided to speak openly about her journey, hoping to inspire others who might be facing similar struggles. Her candor, however, was met with a mixed reception.
Enter Jameela Jamil, the British actress and activist, who took to social media to criticize Williams’ endorsement of GLP-1 medication. Jamil’s concerns weren’t about Williams’ personal choices, but about the broader implications of celebrities promoting powerful pharmaceuticals to the public. "The thing I feel most uncomfortable about here is that celebrities have access to doctors that most others don't have access to," Jamil argued. She warned followers not to take celebrity endorsements at face value, pointing out that Williams had described GLP-1 as a kind of "miracle cure" without sufficiently addressing potential side effects or the challenges of access and affordability. Jamil’s comments sparked a wider conversation about the responsibilities of high-profile athletes and the ethics of health-related endorsements.
For Mouratoglou, the debate over weight loss methods is less important than the outcome. When asked if he wished Williams had been able to achieve her current physical condition five or six years earlier, he replied with characteristic directness: "I’m not the type of guy who’s looking back and having regrets. But, yeah, if she would have been in this position physically, the results would have been better." Still, he refuses to dwell on what might have been, preferring to focus on the remarkable achievements they shared and the lessons learned along the way.
The Williams-Mouratoglou partnership is already the stuff of tennis legend. Together, they scaled the heights of the sport, navigating injuries, comebacks, and the relentless pressure of maintaining world No. 1 status. Their journey was marked by both triumph and tension, but always by a shared commitment to excellence. Williams relied on Mouratoglou’s unvarnished honesty, and he, in turn, trusted her relentless drive. "If we could get to No. 1 together before, we could attain it again," Williams once said, underscoring the deep bond that fueled their quest for greatness.
Williams retired from professional tennis in 2022 after a storied 27-year career, leaving behind a legacy that will be studied and celebrated for generations to come. Her openness about the challenges she faced—on and off the court—adds a new dimension to her story, one that resonates with athletes and fans alike. Mouratoglou’s reflections, meanwhile, offer a rare glimpse into the demanding, sometimes uncomfortable realities of elite sport, where success is measured in fractions and every detail matters.
As the debate over weight loss drugs and athlete endorsements continues, one thing is clear: Serena Williams’ journey is far from ordinary. Her willingness to confront difficult truths, embrace new solutions, and share her struggles publicly is a testament to her enduring impact—not just as a champion, but as a role model navigating the ever-evolving intersection of sport, health, and celebrity. The conversation she’s sparked isn’t likely to fade anytime soon, and neither is her influence on the world of tennis.
