The buzz around Naomi Osaka’s new coaching partnership with Patrick Mouratoglou has taken center stage at the 2024 China Open, with fans and media alike eager to witness the four-time Grand Slam champion as she begins a new chapter in her career. Jimmie48 took photos of Osaka practicing with Mouratoglou ahead of her first-round match in Beijing, sparking widespread excitement about the potential this collaboration holds.
For Osaka, this partnership is both thrilling and intimidating. Despite her long-standing admiration for Serena Williams, Osaka admitted to initial hesitation about working with Mouratoglou, who was instrumental in coaching Williams to 10 major titles between 2012 and 2022. “I think the fact that he was Serena’s coach made me want to avoid him, just because his persona is so big,” Osaka revealed during a press conference at the China Open. “Like, this isn’t rude because I found out it’s not true, but I didn’t know if he was a good coach or if he coached Serena.”
The opportunity to work with Mouratoglou came after Osaka’s split with her previous coach, Wim Fissette, following the US Open. Osaka has since expressed optimism about her future with Mouratoglou, calling it a potential long-term partnership. “I think I’m at a stage in my life that I don’t want to have regrets,” she said. “I’d rather pull the trigger on something and — I don’t want to say ‘fail’ — but I feel like I really need to learn as much as possible in this stage of my career.”
For Osaka, who enters the China Open ranked No. 73, Mouratoglou represents the chance to fine-tune her game and return to the top of the sport. After spending time with the renowned coach on the practice courts in the lead-up to the Asian Swing, Osaka expressed relief at discovering Mouratoglou’s expertise firsthand. “Then I met him, talked to him, worked with him on the court. He absolutely is a really good coach. I’m really glad that he’s taking this project on, as well,” she said, noting her desire to learn as much as possible from his vast knowledge and experience.
The early signs of success were evident in Osaka’s first match since New York. She took to the court with renewed focus and determination, earning a solid 6-3 6-2 victory over Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti in the first round of the China Open, which saw her come back from a break down in the first set to dominate the rest of the match. This win marked her return to the tournament for the first time since capturing the title in 2019.
Osaka made her return to the WTA Tour at the start of the season after giving birth to her daughter, Shai, last year. However, she has expressed frustration with her progress since her comeback. As the 26-year-old continues her campaign in Beijing, all eyes will be on her to see if this dynamic collaboration can propel her to new heights.
