Serena Williams ' coach says that the star's move away from tennis into other avenues makes it 'complicated' for a potential comeback.
The 41-year-old said that the chances of her returning to competitive action was 'very high' just weeks after waving goodbye to fans in September's US Open at Flushing Meadows. Fans were even more excited by a potential Williams return when she was pictured last month training with sister and doubles partner Venus.
Patrick Mouratoglou has coached Williams for 10 years helping her to seven Grand Slam titles and Olympic gold. With Williams now venturing into other fields, including venture capital, her coach feels that a return is 'complicated'.
“I think to be exceptional at something, and God knows she's been exceptional, you have to be a little bit obsessive about it," Mouratoglou told Eurosport. "You have to be 100% focused on the activity, otherwise even for tennis geniuses, it's complicated.”
Williams, mother to five-year-old Olympia, explained one of her reasons for choosing to stop playing was to further support and expand her family with husband Alexis.
After turning professional in 1995 Williams was ranked world No.1 for a total of 319 weeks of which 186 weeks were consecutive. Mouratoglou said he would like to see Williams play again but thinks that will only happen if the American star feels strong.
He added: “Do I want to see her play? I want to see her play again. Yes, yes, if she enjoys herself on the court. For that, she has to feel strong. If she doesn't feel strong, she won't enjoy herself.
"I want to see her play good tennis. If she can play good tennis, of course, I want to see her play. Everyone wants to see her play!”
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The final years of Williams' career were plagued by injuries but she did show glimpses of her formidable former self by beating world No.2 Anett Kontaveit in the US Open second round.
Mouratoglou added that people will remember Williams for her victories in years to come.
"I think if she's happy at the end of her career, that's all that matters because nobody will remember the end of her career," he added.
"You remember it now because it's fresh, but everyone will remember what a champion she was, all the Grand Slams she won, the things she brought to tennis and how she made history. The end of her career is an anecdote."
