Naomi Osaka has made a significant move in her career by hiring Patrick Mouratoglou, former coach of Serena Williams, stating she is at a point in her life where she wants “no regrets.” This decision comes after Osaka’s first match with Mouratoglou at the China Open, where she triumphed over Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti with a score of 6-3, 6-2.
The 26-year-old recently parted ways with Wim Fisette, with whom she won two of her four Grand Slam titles, and had initially hesitated to work with Mouratoglou due to his strong association with Williams. “The fact that he was Serena’s coach made me want to avoid him just because his persona is so big,” Osaka explained. However, after meeting and training with Mouratoglou, she recognized his coaching abilities. “He absolutely is a really good coach,” she noted.
Related Posts
Osaka, who returned from maternity leave in January, has faced challenges with consistency this season, reaching the quarter-finals in only two of the 16 tournaments played and failing to advance past the second round in any Grand Slam. Reflecting on her new partnership with Mouratoglou, she emphasized the importance of learning during this phase of her career: “I’d rather pull the trigger on something… I feel like I really need to learn as much as possible.”
Looking ahead, Osaka is set to face 21st seed Yulia Putintseva in the second round in Beijing, as she continues her journey under Mouratoglou’s guidance.
