Serena Williams and Cori Gauff’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou has been managing a fantastic tennis academy in France where he managed to attract and nurture a lot of talents. Unfortunately, Patrick has been hit like all of us by the Coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, he had to make the tough decision to close his school indefinitely.
This was the official statement:
“Dear all.
The unprecedented health crisis affecting the major part of the world led us to take exceptional measures to ensure the safety and health of our tennis-and-school students.
On Friday, March 13, we decided to close down the school indefinitely, in accordance with French President Emmanuel Macron’s action.
On Saturday, March 14, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced the closing of all non-essential’ living areas, forcing us to close the boarding house as well as all Mouratoglou Resort services
Since this announcement, our absolute priority has been to organize the student-athletes’ return to their respective homes to anticipate possible containment measures. If this situation were to last weeks and months, which seems very likely. I believe the children belong next to their families.
Finally, on Monday, March 16, President Macron placed the entire French territory under a lockdown order.
I want to give my utmost respect and gratitude to the school staff, the coaching staff, the Academy’s staff and more particularly the boarding school staff and its managers for their dedication and efficiency. They have shown rare reactivity, professionalism and sense of responsibility and have been doing an exceptional job of finding solutions on a daily basis.
I also want to thank all the parents for their trust, their goodwill and their support during this period of crisis.
All students are now safe at home, and since we don’t know yet how much time this containment situation will last, we implemented distance follow-up to ensure educational and sportive continuity.
On the academic side, an online video platform has been created in record time and will ensure educational continuity, as well as strengthen the link between teachers and students.
On the sports side. Frederic Lefebvre, the Academy’s Fitness Director, designed an at-home fitness program that meets all players’ needs and abilities. This program will be updated on a regular basis. As for tennis and fitness coaches, they will stay in touch regularly will their players.
We’re facing an extreme, unexpected situation, and we have responded quickly and responsibly. Our first imperative was to guarantee the safety of our young players, and now it is to ensure the continuity of the academic and sports programs so that once the situation stabilizes and children return to the Academy, it is as if they had never left
Take care, and talk soon.
PATRICK MOURATOGLOU”
Serena Williams’s ranking and performance in 2020
Ranked world no.9, Serena played her last match on the 8th of February when she lost to Anastasija Sevastova 7-65 3-6 7-64 in the Rubber 4 of the Fed Cup.
At present, this year Serena Williams has a 8-2 win-loss record. Serena has won 1 title in Auckland.
Cori Gauff’s ranking and performance in 2020
Now the world no.52, Cori played her last match on the 26th of January when she lost to Sofia Kenin 6-75 6-3 6-0 in the 4th round of the Australian Open.
Serena Williams and Cori Gauff have never played each other.