Naomi Osaka Joins Forces with Patrick Mouratoglou: Moving Towards No Regrets
Naomi Osaka has taken a significant step in her career by partnering with Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena Williams' former coach. Despite her initial hesitancy given Mouratoglou's imposing persona, Osaka decided to end her association with Wim Fissette after the US Open and embark on a new chapter with Mouratoglou, starting at the China Open.
Upon their partnership kickoff, Osaka celebrated a triumphant first-round victory against Italy's Lucia Bronzetti in straight sets. Mouratoglou, renowned for coaching Williams to 10 major titles and a career golden slam, brings a wealth of experience, also having coached stars like Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune.
Osaka candidly admitted that Mouratoglou's association with Williams initially made her cautious. "The fact he was Serena’s coach made me want to avoid him because his persona is so big," Osaka mentioned. However, her perception changed after meeting and working with him. "He absolutely is a really good coach. I’m really glad he’s taking this project on," she noted, although she still feels a degree of nervousness around him.
Returning to tennis after maternity leave earlier this year, Osaka now ranks 73rd globally. Her comeback has seen a blend of high points and struggles; including winning her first match back, a first Wimbledon victory since 2018, and reaching a quarterfinal at a WTA 1000 event. Despite these highs, she has also faced challenges adjusting back to competitive play, expressing her feelings in a recent Instagram post where she felt out of sync with her game.
Driven by a resolve to avoid any career regrets, Osaka views this new coaching relationship as critical. As she aims to soak up as much knowledge as possible, the long-term potential of working with Mouratoglou excites her. "I try not to get into relationships with people for the short-term. I try to think of it as a long-term commitment. I like the way he coaches," she elaborated.
Osaka is hopeful for a strong finish at this season’s Asian Swing, facing 21st seed Yulia Putintseva next. She anticipates a positive end to the year and underscores the importance of Mouratoglou’s expertise in her journey back to the top.
"I’ve always done really well at the end of the year. Especially with the two tournaments in Japan, it's the time to dig deep and try to get really good results," she concluded, eager for what lies ahead.
Earlier, SSP wrote about Manchester City's concern over Rodri's injury.