Simona Halep will work with Serena Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou on a full-time basis. Williams has been coached by Mouratoglou since 2012 but has not played since Wimbledon last year, after sustaining a leg injury. The American’s absence has meant Mouratoglou has had little to do and the Frenchman admitted he has missed coaching over the past eight months. The 51-year-old, who has also worked with the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas and rising star Coco Gauff, will now work with two-time major winner Halep permanently after speaking with Williams."I had a conversation with Serena, and the door opened for me, at least short term, to work with someone else," he wrote on Twitter. 

Mouratoglou finally agrees to coach Halep 

Halep has wanted to work with Mouratoglou for some time and the Frenchman says he initially turned down the chance to coach the Romanian. 

However, after speaking to Williams he changed his mind and has now agreed to work permanently with the world number 20. 

"Simona came to the Mouratoglou Academy before Indian Wells for a training block. I swung by at a few of her practices, watched her train," he said.

"In the last eight months, I realized how much I missed coaching. It is the passion of my life, and I still feel like I have so much to give."

Williams won 10 of her 23 major singles titles with Mouratoglou but has given no indication as to when she may return. 

Yet, she has stressed that breaking Margaret Court’s all-time major record is no longer her main concern. 

Halep’s history of changing coaches

While some players stick by the same coaching team for much of their careers, Halep has tended to switch up her mentor on a regular basis 

The Romanian has worked on multiple occasions with Darren Cahill, a former top 25 player that has coached the likes of Andre Agassi and Andy Murray. 

But between these stints with the Australian, the former world number one has also been coached by Daniel Dobre, Adrian Marcu and Wim Fissette –– the latter being the former coach of Kim Clijsters. 

However, her most successful partnership was undoubtedly with Cahill, who helped Halep reach number one and win her maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open in 2018. 

Halep eyeing return to world’s top 10 

After enduring a torrid 2021 due to injuries, Halep vowed to revive her career and return to the world’s top 10. 

And so far this season, things appear to be going well for the Romanian. Indeed, Halep won the Melbourne Summer Series 1 back in January and reached the semi-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships. 

The 30-year-old also reached the fourth round of the Australian Open but lost to Alize Cornet in three sets. 

With the French Open fast approaching, Halep will hope Mouratoglou can help guide her to a second Roland-Garros title.