Patrick Mouratoglou discusses impact of Serena Williams: "She changed tennis"

Patrick Mouratoglou has discussed the impact that Serena Williams has had upon tennis as she celebrated her 40th birthday this past weekend.

Mouratoglou believes that both Serena and her sister Venus not only changed it on the court but also from a commercial angle as well.

“She changed tennis,” he told Agence France-Presse.

“She brought an athletic dimension that there was not there at all, she opened the doors, with her sister Venus, to a whole generation of players because it was a white sport.

“She invented tennis intimidation because she has a presence that makes others fear her. For a very long time, it was impressive.

“She also brought the business to women’s tennis. Before her, the business was very small and with her it became huge because she has such an aura, she has become such a marketing object, too, that huge contracts are possible for the players.”