‘Don’t Need to Have Regrets’-Coach Patrick Mouratoglou Changed Her ‘Favorite’ Wim Fissette

Naomi Osaka isn’t any stranger to creating daring strikes, each on and off the tennis court docket. In a current shake-up, the Japanese sensation introduced a major change in her staff, parting methods along with her former coach Wim Fissette for the second time. This resolution sparked fairly a buzz within the tennis world, particularly as Osaka was quickly noticed hitting the courts with none apart from Serena Williams’ ex-coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. Naturally, followers and insiders alike have been left questioning—what led to this sudden break up? Osaka, at all times one to be candid, has now given her facet of the story.

The 26-year-old engaged in an interview with the press on the China Open, the place she has made a successful begin to her marketing campaign. Osaka defeated Lucia Bronzetti within the first spherical in straight units and could be dealing with Yulia Putintseva within the subsequent spherical. She opened up in regards to the causes that led to her break up with Fissette and her new stint with Mouratoglou. 

Within the interview, Osaka clarified that there was no rift between her and Fissette. “I believe Wim is certainly one of my favourite folks. I don’t need to say ‘certainly one of’, however positively certainly one of my favourite coaches. It wasn’t, like, something private. Like nothing loopy occurred.” She justified her resolution and mentioned that she needed to make some adjustments to her recreation to realize extra success. “It sucks as a result of I needed to raise trophies with him. I do know we went into that relationship wanting to try this collectively.” Keep in mind, this was Osaka’s second stint with Fissette. 

The duo partnered first between 2019 and 2022, that witnessed Osaka successful three of her 4 Grand Slams. Their second stint began in 2023 however was marred by poor performances. This season, Osaka witnessed a number of stunning defeats and early exits, together with on the laborious court docket surfaces the place she has witnessed most of her success. The truth is, she was ousted within the second spherical of her US Open marketing campaign. Osaka additional justified her resolution by highlighting these information.

“I believe I’m at a stage in my life that I don’t need to have regrets.” She claimed that she needs to be taught as a lot as attainable at this stage of her profession and located Mouratoglou to be the very best match for the duty. “Patrick appeared just like the man with I suppose the knowledge that I needed to be taught from.” Quickly after her break up, Osaka was seen practicing with the seasoned coach Mouratoglou at the UCLA tennis center. She additionally arrived on the China Open together with Mouratoglou, who has an unlimited expertise of teaching among the iconic names of the world.

For the unversed, the 54-year-old has labored with the likes of Laura Robson, Grigor Dimitrov, Serena Williams, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Simona Halep. Simply earlier than becoming a member of Osaka’s staff, he was working with the Danish star, Holger Rune. Whereas will probably be fascinating to see the end result of Naomi Osaka’s newest partnership, she has certainly struggled quite a bit this season. 

“It’s actually draining,” When Naomi Osaka opened up on her challenges 

It might have positively been a stunning expertise for the fans who noticed Osaka at her peak to witness her struggling terribly this season. Whereas the star participant did attain the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open and the Libema Open after coming again on the courts from her hiatus, which she took as a result of her being pregnant, the outcomes that adopted weren’t passable. Osaka herself opened up about her woes.

In a heartfelt admission after the Cincinnati Masters, the place she was whisked out within the second qualifiers, Osaka mentioned, “My greatest difficulty presently isn’t losses although, my greatest difficulty is that I don’t really feel like I’m in my physique.” Persevering with additional, she elaborated on her struggles. “It’s a wierd feeling, lacking balls I shouldn’t miss, hitting balls softer than I keep in mind I used to. I attempt to inform myself, ‘It’s fantastic, you’re doing nice. Simply get by means of this one and preserve pushing,’ however mentally, it’s actually draining.” She additionally in contrast these struggles to that of her “postpartum,” which was unsettling for her.

For now, it might be fascinating to see if Osaka can return to her dominant type with a change of staff. Can she shine brightly on the Asian Swing? Properly, solely time will inform.