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Serena Williams’ ex-coach rips into ‘dumb’ claim about Venus Williams’ recent win

Patrick Mouratoglou says it is absolute nonsense to even think that Venus Williams won a main-level match because the current WTA Tour is bad or anything like that.

In July, the organizers of the WTA 500 tournament announced the seven-time Grand Slam champion as a wildcard recipient. However, some instantly had issues with that, arguing that giving it to a 45-year-old who hadn’t played in nearly a year and a half was a complete waste of a wildcard.

Williams heard all of the chatter and let her racket do the talking, impressively beating 22 years younger Peyton Stearns 6-3 6-4. While the majority applauded the former world No. 1’s performance, some of the critics started pushing another narrative – that the American managed to win only because the WTA Tour level was so bad.

JUST IN: Serena Williams Breaks Silence on Venus Williams but

Mouratoglou, who worked with Serena Williams for a decade, couldn’t believe what some had to say about Venus’ win and decided to strongly address it.

Mouratoglou: Venus Williams is a champion and knows how to compete more than anyone

“Some people will say Venus Williams won the match because the WTA level is low. This is BS. The level is not low, it’s just that Venus is a champion. She’s a huge competitor. She’s been at such a high level for so many years, even though she’s out of competition for 16 months. When she comes back, she knows how to compete more than anyone. Of course, when you’re 45, the physical decreases,” Mouratoglou explained in a video uploaded to his Instagram account.

By beating 53rd-ranked Stearns, Williams registered her first singles since beating Veronika Kudermetova in 2023 Cincinnati.

“She knows she can win the match and she thinks she should win the match,” the French coach added.

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After beating Stearns, Williams lost to Magdalena Frech in the Washington round-of-16 and also fell short to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the Cincinnati first round. On Wednesday, the US Open organizers handed the former world No. 1 a main draw wildcard.

Serena Williams Breaks Silence on Venus Williams but It’s Not About Her Game

Tennis just got one of its legends back on the WTA court! Venus Williams made a strong comeback after 16 months away, following health concerns and a knee injury that kept her sidelined. But now? She accepted a wildcard at Washington. She didn’t make it past the R16, but it was still big news to see the seven-time Grand Slam champion back with a racket in hand. Now, after wrapping up her Cincinnati run in the first round, she still has plenty to celebrate — and finally, so does Serena!

Since her comeback, Serena Williams has stayed quiet about her sister’s on-court return. But on August 13, Mattel announced the newest addition to their Inspiring Women Series — a second Venus Barbie! Serena saw the post and couldn’t resist resharing it to her story, writing, “Love this.” It might not be about her older sister’s return to competition, but rather what the Barbie itself represents.

The new Venus Williams Barbie is dressed for history. It features a green gem necklace inspired by the accessories she wore during her 2007 Wimbledon triumph, plus a wristband, tennis racket, and ball. The launch follows the brand’s move in May 2024 to add Venus to the Inspiring Women Series in celebration of Barbie’s 65th anniversary.

“Wimbledon 2007 was a huge moment in my career — not just because I won, but because of what was happening off the court,” Venus told USA TODAY Sports ahead of the doll’s August 15 release. “Championing for equal prize money wasn’t just about me, it was about pushing for change for all women in sports. To see that moment honored with a Barbie doll is incredibly special. I hope it inspires young girls to speak up, believe in themselves, and know they have the power to change the game too.”

And now, with Serena celebrating her sister’s milestone, could we be in for more from tennis’s most iconic sibling duo? Only time will tell! But while Serena hasn’t spoken up, her husband has!

After her first singles win against Peyton Stearns at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, it was no small feat. She took it in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, wrapping it up in just 1 hour and 37 minutes. Alexis Ohanian quickly jumped on his Instagram Story to celebrate the 45-year-old, writing, “LFG @venuswilliams,” alongside a photo highlighting her victory.

Right now, Venus is gearing up for the US Open mixed doubles event with Reilly Opelka, and fans can’t wait! With her legendary doubles record, it’s the perfect pairing for drama and excitement. Their partnership is also drawing attention off the court, with her bond with Opelka making headlines. And when it comes to her doubles career, Serena has been a huge part of that story. So much so that even their former coach has predicted something ahead of the US Open for them.

Childhood coach points to a possible Serena and Venus Williams reunion

Rick Macci, the childhood coach who first molded Venus and Serena in the early ’90s, knows exactly what their reunion on court would mean. On July 23, he took to X with a bold prediction: “Could be the greatest show on earth and must see TV if Serena and Venus accept a wildcard to play doubles at the U.S. OPEN.” He added, “Serena back on the courts stroking and not joking and maybe ready to use that brutal Slice serve on the BIG APPLE. @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams.” And honestly, he’s not wrong.

We’ve seen the power of these two before, the kind that could glue millions to their TV screens, especially at the Slams. Back in 2001, their phenomenal US Open campaigns pushed a women’s singles Slam final into prime time for the very first time. That night, 22.7 million people tuned in to watch their epic clash, where Venus took the crown in straight sets.

When it comes to drawing numbers, Serena has her own magic. Remember 2015? The women’s singles final at the US Open sold out more than a week in advance, all because Serena was chasing history, trying to sweep all four majors in a calendar year, something not done since Steffi Graf in 1988. And then came her farewell match at the 2022 US Open, pulling in 4.8 million viewers on ESPN, the network’s biggest US Open audience in its 43-year history.

Between them, the sisters own a 14-0 record in doubles Slam finals and a jaw-dropping 30 majors combined in singles. At their peak, Venus and Serena were an unstoppable force. Now, with the US Open just two weeks away, the mere possibility of seeing them share a court again is enough to set the tennis world buzzing.