Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty ImagesCameron GreenleesSat, January 17, 2026 at 8:30 PM UTC·2 min read

Patrick Mouratoglou has cemented himself as one of the greatest tennis coaches this century.

The Frenchman guided 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams to 10 major crowns and an Olympic gold medal.

Mouratoglou has also enjoyed success with Simona Halep and active ATP star Holger Rune during his career as a coach.

He is one of the very best at analysing the game, and recently, the 55-year-old took to social media claiming there is a legendary footballer who is an ‘amazing’ tennis player.

Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty ImagesPatrick Mouratoglou says Clarence Seedorf is ‘amazing’ at tennis

In a post on Instagram, Mouratoglou reacted to four-time UEFA Champions League winner Clarence Seedorf hitting backhands.

He said of the Dutchman’s game: “Generally speaking, amazing level of play. What an amazing football player and football coach, by the way.

“When you’ve been such an athlete, of course, in a way, it’s easier than someone who has never played sport because the first thing is, tennis is so much about movement and as you can see his movement is great.

“He’s having the right footwork also. His front foot is really positioned well before hitting that backhand.

Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images

“If I can give him one little advice, he’s moving his arm fully extended the whole time, which is not ideal to produce space and acceleration. It’s much better to start with the arm bend, then accelerate it.

“At the end, extend the arm because this acceleration, a bit like when you throw a frisbee, is really producing a lot of pace. So that would be a little advice.

“I cannot give you his UTR level seeing only the backhand, but what I can tell you is that is an amazing player.”

After Mouratoglou parted ways with Rune in 2024, he was soon appointed by four-time major champion Naomi Osaka, which marked his last coaching gig to date.

Under the wing of Mouratoglou, Osaka managed to make the final of the 2025 ASB Classic, and clinched a title at WTA 125 level in Saint Malo.

She did not manage to reach the heights she likely would have hoped to, however, and the two split in July 2025.

Osaka then hired Tomasz Wiktorowski and has since seen a return to form.