September 25, (THEWILL) – Former world number one tennis player, Naomi Osaka, has confirmed her partnership with renowned coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. The announcement came after Osaka’s victory over Lucia Bronzetti in the first round of the WTA 1000 ChinaOpen on Wednesday.
Osaka, currently ranked 73rd, defeated the Italian player 6-3 6-2 with Mouratoglou present in her players’ box. The 26-year-old Japanese star recently parted ways with her Belgian coach, Wim Fissette, as she aims to regain her top form.
Speaking about the decision to work with Mouratoglou, who is best known for his long-term collaboration with Serena Williams, Osaka stated she did not want to have regrets. She expressed interest in Mouratoglou’s coaching style and saw him as a source of valuable information for her career development.
Osaka admitted to initial hesitation about working with Mouratoglou due to his strong association with Williams. However, after meeting and training with him, she recognised his coaching abilities. The four-time major champion acknowledged feeling nervous around Mouratoglou but said she is becoming more comfortable day by day.
Since returning to competitive tennis in January 2024 following the birth of her daughter in July 2023, Osaka has struggled to achieve consistent results. Her best performances this year include two quarter-final appearances and a second-round exit at the US Open.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
