When you think of the world’s top tennis champions, names like Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, and Holger Rune come to mind. They’re the faces on magazine covers and global ad campaigns, but behind them is a common force: world-renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou. Best known for his decade-long partnership with Serena Williams, he guided her to 10 Grand Slam titles between 2012 and 2022.
With the US Open in full swing, we sat down with the “Coach of Champions” in partnership with Motorola to talk about what he calls the champion mindset, the mental edge he’s helped the world’s best players sharpen on and off the court.
“For me, the difference between high-level players and true champions comes
down entirely to mindset,” he says. “Champions simply process the game, and life, differently.”
The 3 Steps to a Champion Mindset
When Mouratoglou refers to the Champion Mindset (which is also the title of his new book), he’s talking about the way champions process things. “Whether you’re an athlete, a lawyer, an artist, or a business leader, anyone can become a champion in their field if they adopt this way of thinking,” he says.
Have Unwavering Confidence
What truly separates champions is the certainty they carry about their own potential. Doubts may creep in like they do for anyone, but deep down, they trust their path to greatness. “They carry a deep feeling that they will become great. Their self-belief is far stronger than most, and that belief fuels everything: the way they train every single day and the way they fight until the very last point when they compete.”
Put the End Game Above Everything Else
There’s a selfishness to greatness. To make it to the very top, you have to put yourself and your sport or craft above everything else. Bodybuilders talk about this same sacrifice. While friends are out drinking, sleeping off hangovers, and indulging in Friday pizza nights, champions are in the gym, sticking to their meal prep, and prioritizing eight hours of sleep.
“Their whole life is about tennis,” he says. “They spend their day practicing and their free time watching tennis or thinking about it. It is a passion, it is not a job.”
Always Look Ahead
When you’re at the top, there’s no standing still. Champions are constantly chasing the next goal, the next match, the next personal record. That forward drive never stops.
“Their life process of moving towards their goal is what drives them on a daily basis,” he says. “As soon as they reach one milestone, they’re already chasing the next. That restlessness is what keeps them moving forward. They always want more.”
