Serena Williams’ Former Coach Slams Patrick Mouratoglou Over Iga Swiatek Comment

Tennis tempers are flaring, and this time it’s not on the court—it’s in the commentary box. Patrick Mouratoglou, the high-profile former coach of Serena Williams, is in hot water after making a bold—and some say dismissive—remark about Iga Swiatek’s current reign on the WTA Tour. And now, one of Serena’s ex-coaches has come out swinging, calling Mouratoglou’s comments “out of touch and disrespectful.”

So what exactly did Mouratoglou say? In a recent interview, he questioned the overall strength of the women’s field and suggested that Swiatek’s dominance is “more about timing than talent,” implying she’s benefiting from a “weaker era.” Cue the outrage.

Enter Rick Macci, the legendary coach who helped shape Serena and Venus Williams in their formative years. Never one to hold back, Macci fired off a scathing response: “To question Iga’s accomplishments is to ignore the evolution of the women’s game. She’s not lucky—she’s lethal. And Patrick should know better.”

Macci isn’t alone. Fans and analysts alike quickly rallied behind Swiatek, pointing out her three French Open titles, 100+ weeks at world No. 1, and her ability to adapt and win on all surfaces. Far from benefiting from a “weaker era,” Swiatek has consistently outclassed heavyweights like Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina—all players who wouldn’t exactly be described as pushovers.

The real irony? Mouratoglou himself coached Serena through some of her most dominant years—when many critics said she was only winning because the competition was weak. Sound familiar?

What’s really going on here? Some suspect Mouratoglou is stirring the pot to stay relevant in the sport’s ever-turning spotlight. Others say it’s just another example of the double standard women’s tennis continues to face: when a male player dominates, he’s praised. When a woman does it? She’s questioned.

Either way, the backlash has reignited the conversation about respect in women’s tennis and the way female champions are perceived compared to their male counterparts. And Iga Swiatek? She hasn’t responded—probably too busy grinding out another straight-sets win somewhere.

One thing’s for sure: she doesn’t need to clap back. Her racket speaks loud enough. But as the drama simmers, one has to wonder—how long before Swiatek starts turning doubters into believers the hard way? Ask around the locker room. Most of them already know the answer.