Patrick Mouratoglou has admitted to coaching Serena Williams during the US Open final, but believes she never received his message.

Williams suffered a 6-2, 6-4 loss to Naomi Osaka in the decider in New York on Saturday evening.

However, the final was overshadowed by Williams receiving three code violations: one for coaching, a second for racket abuse and a third for verbal abuse that eventually led to a game penalty on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Mouratoglou said he had attempted to help Williams, but also added that coaching was common in almost every match.

‘I’m honest, I was coaching. I don’t think she looked at me so that’s why she didn’t even think I was,’ he said.

‘But I was, like 100% of the coaches in 100% of the matches, so we have to stop this hypocritical thing. Sascha Bajin, Osaka’s coach, was coaching every point, too.’

Williams was surprised to hear of Mouratoglou’s admission, saying she had sent her coach a text asking for an explanation.

‘We have never discussed signals. I don’t even call for on-court coaching. I’m trying to figure out why he would say that,’ she said. ‘I don’t understand. I mean, maybe he said, “You can do it.”

‘I was on the far other end, so I’m not sure. I want to clarify for myself what he’s talking about.’

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