MATCH REPORT | 2024 WTA China Open: Perfect start as Naomi Osaka wins first match under new coach Patrick Mouratoglou

Naomi Osaka has started her coaching relationship with Patrick Mouratoglou in winning ways. She saw off Lucia Bronzetti at the China Open 6-3, 6-2 in the opening round in a solid win.

Osaka has long idolised Serena Williams by her own admission and admitted herself that the hesitancy in working with Mouratoglou came down to previously working with Serena Williams. He has also worked with Simona Halep and Holger Rune in recent times and they started their partnership after she ended hers with long-time ally, Wim Fissette.

"I think the fact that he was Serena's coach for me made me want to avoid him just because his persona is so big," Osaka said 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 he coached Serena.

"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."

Returning to the China Open for the first time since winning it back in 2019, she began training with Mouratoglou in the lead up to the Asian Hard Court swing. The former World No.1 is hoping it is a long term partnership and after having fits and starts since her tennis return will hope it pays dividends.

In particular when it comes to major titles. Whilst Mouratoglou comes with controversy due to his role in the Halep doping scandal, he has long shown himself to be a renowned coach and one where his record speaks for itself. In particular in anchoring Serena Williams to 10 major titles between 2012 and 2022.

"I think I'm at a stage in my life that I don't want to have regrets," Osaka 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. Patrick seemed like the guy with I guess the information that I wanted to learn from."

Against Bronzetti, she came from a break down in the first set going down 3-2 but rallying for a 4-3 lead. Osaka fired winners with great venom as she hit 15 in all in the first set and dropped just one game for the remainder of the 1 hour and 23 minute match. She hit 30 winners in all to 22 unforced errors with only seven of the latter coming in the second set. Rallying from an early downturn, Osaka showed signs of a flourish already in Beijing.