Serena Williams’ former coach insists Jannik Sinner has one shot that’s the best he’s seen in the last decade

Patrick Mouratoglou, the renowned coach who guided Serena Williams through some of the most successful years of her career, has heaped high praise on current ATP star Jannik Sinner, singling out one stroke in the Italian’s arsenal as the most impressive he’s witnessed in the last ten years.

Speaking in a recent interview, Mouratoglou reflected on Sinner’s rapid rise to the top tier of men’s tennis and highlighted the sheer quality of his two-handed backhand.

“Jannik’s backhand is the best I’ve seen in the past decade,” Mouratoglou said. “It’s not just technically perfect — the timing, the preparation, and the precision are incredible. He can hit it flat, with spin, cross-court, down the line, and he almost never misses.”

The French coach, who has worked with some of the greatest champions in tennis, including Serena Williams, Simona Halep, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, explained that Sinner’s backhand is more than just a reliable shot — it’s a true weapon. Its combination of power and control allows the 22-year-old to dominate rallies, dictate play from the baseline, and counterattack even when under pressure.

Sinner’s 2024 season has already been a standout, with multiple titles and a run of high-profile wins over top-ranked opponents. Mouratoglou believes the backhand has been central to this success and could be the key to winning future Grand Slam titles.

“When you have a shot like that, it gives you a huge advantage,” he added. “You can build your whole game around it. I believe Jannik has the potential to be world No. 1 and win multiple majors.”

Tennis analysts have often compared Sinner’s backhand to those of Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka, but Mouratoglou’s comments place it in a league of its own — a remarkable compliment considering the level of shot-making seen on the ATP Tour in the last decade.

As Sinner prepares for the final stretch of the season, including the US Open, the spotlight will be on whether his celebrated backhand can deliver him his first Grand Slam trophy. If Mouratoglou’s assessment is anything to go by, it might just be a matter of when, not if.