‘She’s a Fighter’: Coach Patrick Mouratoglou Looks Back at When Mike Tyson Trained Coco Gauff

Cori Gauff, at the age of seventeen, is the WTA World No. 22. Hers is a name that needs no introduction. In fact, Coco Gauff holds the record for being the youngest player to ever enter the Top 100 of the women’s tennis rankings.

It’s difficult to believe she is this young when one looks at the star play. Moreover, this early in her career, she already has three WTA doubles titles to her name. Furthermore, she also won 2 WTA singles titles.

Patrick Mouratglou is one of tennis’ most well-known coaches. Mouratoglou’s team includes Gauff. Moreover, he has also been Serena Williams’ coach for nearly a decade.

‘The coach’ looks back at Iron Mike training Coco Gauff

Coco’s remarkable talent and skills have been recognized not only in the world of tennis but outside as well. Back in 2019, at the Patrick Mouratoglou academy, Gauff was treated to a special surprise by The Coach.

Coach Mouratoglou surprised the academy and especially Gauff when he brought in a special guest. “The Dynamite Kid” Mike Tyson himself came to the academy to spar with Coco Gauff during her training.

The coach looks back fondly at the moment from over two years ago. In fact, he reposted the old video on Instagram and talked at length about Gauff. Not only does he praise her tennis skills, but he also talks about her mental attitude and strength.

 “When I first met @cocogauff (she was 10), what stroke (struck) me the most was her mindset. This girl is a fighter, this girl is a competitor,” he praises her.

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Then, he shares what he looks for in his players. “I don’t only scout players for their shots, but also for how they think, act, and compete.”

Furthermore, asserting his confidence in Coco Gauff, Mouratoglou puts the entire women’s circuit on notice. “Watch out for her. She is already 20 WTA, but the best is yet to come!” he says.

Coco had a remarkable 2021 season

Coco Gauff has had a remarkable 2021 season. At the mere age of 17, she became the youngest American to make her Top 25 debut since Serena Williams in June 1998.

She also reached her first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal this year at the French Open. In fact, this was also the first time for her that she entered a Grand Slam whilst officially seeded. Moreover, Coco even reached her first Grand Slam doubles final alongside compatriot Caty McNally at the US Open.

On top of all of that, Coco was also the youngest player, after Maria Sharapova in 2004, to achieve a fantastic feat. Not only did she win the singles titles at the Emilia-Romagna Open in Parma, but she also won the doubles titles. Sharapova did it at the Birmingham Classic.

Undoubtedly, when one of the greatest coaches in tennis today puts the world on notice about an up-and-coming player, he means it. Cori Gauff looks all set and determined to dominate the circuit in a few years.

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