Serena Williams is going through a "difficult period," according to her coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who also said the two are still working together.
Williams' physical and mental condition has been the subject of speculation since she appeared disoriented during a doubles match at Wimbledon and retired after serving four double faults in the third game. The official reason given for the withdrawal was "viral illness," but commentators have openly questioned this explanation.
At the time, Mouratoglou said he had not seen Williams for two days going into the match. Williams had been defeated by Alize Cornet in the third round of the singles tournament. Since then, she withdrew from this week's event in Bastad.
"Serena is clearly going through a difficult period. But since Wimbledon, we have had long hours of talks and we are getting back to work," Mouratoglou told Tennis Magazine France.
"Today she is in the mood to get back to training so she can return even stronger. At no time was there any question of us stopping our collaboration.”
Mouratoglou would not comment on their personal relationship. The two were widely considered to be dating but there are now rumors of a rift.
"I have never discussed private matters and I am not going to talk about them now. There have been difficult things. For sure, Serena is in a difficult phase but I will leave it there.”
Williams, who is reported to be training in Croatia with hitting partner Sascha Bajin, is next scheduled to play in Stanford, which begins in two weeks.