Serena can get even better – Coach

Serena Williams plays a forehand against Varvara Lepchenko during day one of the Brisbane International at Pat Rafter Arena on Sunday.

| credits: Getty Images

Serena Williams’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou says the world number one can do even better next year.

Williams retained the WTA Championships on Sunday, her 11th title of the season, to improve her 2013 record to 78 wins with only four defeats.

“We’ve spoken about 2014 already with goals to do better than this year because I think it is possible,” Mouratoglou told BBC Sport.

“If we keep this mentality I don’t see any reason why she would slow down.”

American Williams, who came from behind to beat Li Na in three sets in Istanbul, has won 20 more matches this season than she has ever managed previously.

As well as winning 25 sets by a 6-0 margin, the 17-time Grand Slam winner has also become the first woman to win more than $10m (£6.19m) prize money in a single season.

“She loves playing tennis, she loves winning, she wants to stay number one, she wants to keep on winning – and she wants to be better,” added Mouratoglou.

Even at the age of 32, Williams says she cannot imagine life without playing tennis.

Roger Federer, also a 17-time Grand Slam champion, is 49 days older than Williams and the Swiss has experienced a slide down the men’s world rankings this season.

In contrast, Williams has had arguably the most successful season of her career.

“She has 100 per cent of her physical abilities today, which counts for a lot,” said Mouratoglou.