It looks like Serena Williams is taking part in a new type of tennis match. The 23-Gram Slam winner, who recently dropped out of Wimbledon following an hip injury, seems to be having a rather romantic relationship with her tennis coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.
The pair were spotted getting very cosy on the streets of the French town of Valbonne this week, as they dined out and stood cheek-to-cheek while peering at listings in the window of a realtors.
Tennis star Serena Williams has been spotted getting close to her coach, Frenchman Patrick Mouratoglou, while on a day out in Valbonne, southern France
Williams was spotted with her hand in the back pocket of Mouratoglou’s trousers in a comfortable gesture that shows their relationship could be more than just professional.
In return, he placed his arm gently on her back as they strolled, barely inches apart, along the Riviera town’s streets. While enjoying lunch at a restaurant, Mouratoglou affectionately touched Williams’ shoulder as they appeared locked in conversation and oblivious to the activity swarming around them.
The pair peered at listings for properties along the French Riviera during their stroll
Mouratoglou runs a tennis academy in France and has been working with Williams since her early departure from French Open this summer. ‘She said, “I want to win Wimbledon, I want to start now.” That’s simple. That’s how it started,’ he said.
Serena Williams rested on coach Patrick Mouratoglou, deep in conversation
Serena has since won Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and gold at the Olympics, proving they are a good match. Mouratouglou has also sat in player’s box during matches.
Serena Williams and her coach were barely inches apart as they walked through the streets
And now these pictures fuel rumours that they are also a good love match, with French tennis site PKTennis reporting: ‘Mouratoglou and Williams are seeing each other.’
And the pictures of them gazing into the window of Bruce International Properties, which sells property on the French Riviera, could suggest just how well their relationship is going. Williams has previously been linked to actor and rapper Common, with whom she split in May 2010 after two years of dating.
Not-so professional relationship: The couple were seen enjoying lunch – and a clinch – at a nearby restaurant
The breakup came less than two weeks after Common, who is ten years her senior, told chat show host Ellen DeGeneres he was planning to marry the tennis champion.
There have previously been rumours they are dating, and these pictures show just how close they are
Prior to her relationship with the entertainer, Serena dated actor Jackie Long and was also linked to film maker Brett Ratner. Hopefully she has more success with Mouratoglou, who has proven a good match for a fair few tennis players, garnering grand slam finals and more than a dozen junior titles.
Lunch date: They were unaware of the activity swarming around them as they dined out
Her U.S. Open win against Victoria Azarenka at start of the month became her fourth championship win at Flushing Meadows and 15th Grand Slam title overall.
‘I honestly can’t believe I won.,’ she said during the trophy presentation. ‘I really was preparing my runner-up speech, because I thought, “Man, she’s playing so great”.’
The look of love: Serena gazes at Mouratouglou, who runs a tennis academy near Paris
It came months after she had an unexpectedly quick exit from the French Open in May, which marked the American’s only first-round exit in 49 career major tournaments.
