"This thing that was not true happened to be true": Patrick Mouratoglou recalls interesting method he used to help Serena Williams win Wimbledon title

Famous tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou has revealed that he had to lie to help the former world number one Serena Williams win a Wimbledon title.

The 42-year-old is often regarded as the greatest player in the history of women’s tennis in the Open era, having won as many as 23 Grand Slam titles.

Mouratoglou, who worked with Serena as the head coach for a long time, helping her win numerous Grand Slams, was recently quoted in a report in which he recalled an incident in which he had to lie to help the Michigan-born star win a Wimbledon title as she was struggling with playing close to the net.

"Serena, I don't remember which year she played at Wimbledon and she was missing all the volleys at the start of the tournament,” said the 53-year-old “And because she was missing at the net, she was scared to move inside the court. And I mean it's automatic, when you miss at the net and you are not fast enough to take it and hit a winner. And I thought well, if she continues to play like this, we are in trouble.

"So after the match, I remember she was biking and we always talk after the match. And I said to her, 'When I see a short ball, I am so comfortable, I can sleep on my two ears.' 'Why do you say that?' (she asked). 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. 'I was terrible.' She started to play without any fear forward. Because believed it she started to be really efficient. And she won 80% of the points at the net until the end of the of the tournament and she won Wimbledon. This thing that was not true happened to be true.”