Naomi Osaka, a four-time major champion, announced on Wednesday her collaboration with Patrick Mouratoglou, the renowned former coach of Serena Williams, stating she “didn’t want to have regrets” as she aims to revitalize her tennis career.
In her first round match at the WTA 1000 China Open in Beijing, Osaka, currently ranked 73rd, secured a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti, with Mouratoglou present in her player’s box. This follows Osaka’s recent split from Belgian coach Wim Fissette, as she seeks to regain her former top-tier form.
The 26-year-old expressed a need for change, describing Mouratoglou as a “big persona” and noting, “I like the way he coaches. I think it’s going to be really interesting.” After her match, Osaka highlighted the importance of this new phase in her career, stating, “I don’t want to have regrets. I’d rather pull the trigger on something… I feel like I really need to learn as much as possible.”
Mouratoglou is well-known for his long-term association with Williams, which initially made Osaka hesitant to engage with him. “The fact that he was Serena’s coach made me want to avoid him just because his persona is so big,” she remarked. However, after working with him on the court, she has come to appreciate his coaching skills and is pleased with his involvement in her career.
Osaka also shared her initial nervousness around Mouratoglou, admitting, “I kind of look to the floor when he looks at me.” Despite this, she is gradually becoming more comfortable with him as they continue to work together.
Osaka’s next challenge at the China Open will be against the 21st seed Yulia Putintseva from Kazakhstan, as she aims to build momentum following a challenging return to the WTA Tour after the birth of her daughter, Shai, in July 2023.
