Patrick Mouratoglou: From Serena to Djokovic, What Makes the Best Players in the World?

This week we’re delighted to welcome Patrick Mouratoglou to the show. Patrick is one of tennis' most successful coaches, working with Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Holger Rune, Grigor Dimitrov, Simona Halep to name a few. Perhaps most famous for his collaboration with Serena Williams where they won 10 Grand Slams together, it’s regarded as one of the most successful coach-player relationships in tennis history.

Alongside this, Patrick is the founder of the world-renowned Mouratoglou Tennis Academy. The academy has nurtured hundreds of elite players including Coco Gauff, Holger Rune and Stefanos Tsitsipas through a personalized, high-performance training model. It combines cutting-edge facilities with academic programs, helping student-athletes from over 45 countries balance education and sport. The academy has become a global brand with satellite centers in China, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Dubai and the U.S.

Patrick’s new book ‘Champion Mindset’ takes the position of transferring everything he has learned in tennis to apply to everyday life. Believe it or not, what makes Serena so successful won’t be too far away from what can work for you, in business, performance, or just general life. I have put the link in the bio (not an advert!) because it’s one of the best books I’ve read. This is an inspiring conversation that I know you will love, whether a big tennis fan or just interested in the philosophies of nurturing top talent.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
01:25 From Shy Kid to Elite Coach
14:00 Opening a Tennis Academy at 26
23:06 Inspiring Confidence Without Proof
30:20 Preventing Confidence from Slipping Away
33:58 Balancing Ambition with Rationality
40:28 Never Be Afraid to Get Fired
48:47 Lessons from Coaching Naomi & Simona
50:07 Serena’s Unique Mentality
51:25 Handling Distractions from Sponsorships & Deals
54:57 Coaching Male vs Female Players
59:21 Disrupting Tennis with New Formats
01:01:31 Do Fans Follow Players More Than Sports?
01:06:11 Should Tennis Players Be Interviewed Post-Match?
01:09:50 Can Everyone Afford a Tennis Career?
01:14:21 Quick-Fire Round

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On today’s show we discuss:

1. Coaching the Greats:
Inside the 10-year partnership with Serena Williams that delivered 10 Grand Slams and is regarded as one of the greatest player–coach relationships in history.
Why courage, honesty, and “never being afraid to get fired” are central to coaching elite athletes.
Lessons from working with Naomi Osaka, Simona Halep, Holger Rune, Grigor Dimitrov and others and the unique challenges of guiding champions at different stages of their careers.

2. The Philosophy of Confidence:
Why success is built on stacking “little victories” and creating positive experiences every day.
How champions like Murray, Djokovic, and Serena win even when they’re not playing well and how to transfer that mindset to business and everyday life.
The art of knowing what to say, when to say it, and when to say nothing at all.

3. The Mouratoglou Academy & Champion Mindset:
How his academy became Europe’s biggest and now spans 14 global centers, producing players like Coco Gauff, Holger Rune, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The importance of combining world-class training with education to make tennis accessible beyond the elite.
Patrick’s new book Champion Mindset and why the same principles that drove Serena to greatness can apply to anyone in sport, business, or life.

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