Over the course of her legendary career, Serena Williams clinched seven of her 23 Grand Slam titles on the grass courts of Wimbledon.
After securing her first crown at the All England Club in 2002, she went on to tally two more than her older sister, Venus Williams, and record the joint-second most in the Open Era.
The American was dominant in South West London, but one year, she struggled in the early stages of her Wimbledon campaign.
Her coach at the time, Patrick Mouratoglou, decided to tell her a lie, which ultimately saw Williams hold the famous trophy aloft.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty ImagesThe lie Patrick Mouratoglou told Serena Williams at Wimbledon
In a post on Instagram, Mouratoglou recalled: “I don’t remember which year but she played Wimbledon, and she was missing all the volleys at the start of the tournament.
“Because she was missing at the net, she was scared to move inside the court. It’s automatic when you miss at the net, you’re not fast enough to go take it and hit a winner.
“I thought ‘oh, if she continues to play like this, we’re in trouble’. So after the match, I remember she was biking and we always talk after the match.
“I said to her: ‘When I see a short ball, I am so comfortable, I sleep on my two ears’. [Williams replied] ‘Why do you say that?’
“I said: ‘Because you win 80% of the points at the net’, which was not true. ‘I thought I was terrible at the net.’ That’s what she told me.
“She started to play without any fear forward because she believed it. She started to be really efficient, and she won 80% of the points at the net until the end of the tournament, and she won Wimbledon.
“This thing that was not true happened to be true. I believe a lot in that.”
Serena Williams’ achievements with Patrick Mouratoglou as coach
Mouratoglou first began working with Williams in 2012 and was with her until she retired during the 2022 season.
With the Frenchman in her corner, she won two Australian Open titles, three Wimbledon championships, two Roland Garros crowns, and emerged victorious at the US Open three times.
In 2012, Williams completed the Career Golden Slam when she earned a gold medal in singles at the London Olympics.
Alongside Mouratoglou, she also completed the Career Grand Slam again and won three WTA Tour Championships.