Patrick Mouratoglou is one of the most outspoken figures in tennis, regularly commenting on the technical aspects of the game.
Mouratoglou worked with Serena Williams for a decade between 2012 and 2022, helping the American legend to win 10 Grand Slam singles titles.
The Frenchman has also worked with Holger Rune and Simona Halep, before most recently coaching Naomi Osaka.
On Monday, Mouratoglou took to Instagram to rank his top five one-handed backhands of all time.
Boris Becker, a three-time Wimbledon champion, took issue with the positioning of one player in the rankings.
Photo by Clive Brunskill for Adidas/Getty ImagesBoris Becker cannot believe Patrick Mouratoglou’s ranking of Gustavo Kuerten
Patrick Mouratoglou has pinpointed Gustavo Kuerten as having the fifth-best one-handed backhand of all time.
The Frenchman ranked 2004 French Open champion Gaston Gaudio at four and Frenchman Richard Gasquet at number three.
Boris Becker, a six-time Grand Slam singles champion, expressed his shock at Kuerten being ranked below Gaudio and Gasquet.
Replying to the video, Becker said: “Surprising list… Guga Nr [number] 5… what?!?
“How many RG [Roland Garros] did he win with that backhand… 3!!!
“Nothing against Gaston [Gaudio] or Richard [Gasquet] but come on!!!”
Becker may have a point. Gasquet never won a Grand Slam during his career, and Gaudio’s one Grand Slam triumph pales in comparison to Kuerten’s three French Open titles, won in 1997, 2000 and 2001.
Furthermore, Kuerten achieved the status of world number one, while Gaudio and Gasquet reached career highs of five and seven respectively.
Mouratoglou said: “Number five, Gustavo Kuerten.
“His game style was very aggressive, staying close to the baseline. His backhand technique was very personal with a take back very high.
“But his shot was amazing. He was as efficient at shoulder high as when he was hitting the ball on the hip height.
“Number four, Gaston Gaudio.
“Gaston has always had a terrific one-handed backhand. Typically a clay court player, his backhand was developing a lot of power and spin. It was very secure and at the same time was doing a lot of damage.
“Number three, Richard Gasquet.
“His one-handed backhand is iconic, often played from a very far position behind the baseline and hit with extremely high quantity of topspin.
“Richard always finds short angles and then can hit the winner down the line anytime he wants.”
Patrick Mouratoglou says Stan Wawrinka has the best one-handed backhand of all time over Roger Federer
Mouratoglou has also vocalised another possibly controversial opinion by ranking Stan Wawrinka as having the greatest one-handed backhand of all time, above Roger Federer.
Mouratoglou said: “Number two, Roger Federer.
“I know some of you will say he’s number one. But think about it, his forehand was his best shot and he’s number two of all time for the backhand.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
“Not only he can hit the ball hard and early as he did even more towards the end of his career, but also he has this exceptional slice backhand that he masters and with which he did so much damage during his career.
“Number one, Stan Wawrinka.
“Stan has, I believe, the best one-handed backhand of all time. First of all, his ball is very heavy, deep, with a lot of spin.
“He’s able to use this shot to open the court, finding a shorter zone. His backhand down the line is deadly. He also masters the one-handed backhand open stance when he needs to.
“Finally, he can slice his backhand with a lot of control.
“Stan’s backhand is more than a shot, it’s a signature shot, a legendary shot.”