Naomi Osaka credits Mouratoglou’s key advice for Auckland victory: "I definitely do trust him a lot"

Naomi Osaka praised her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, after securing a victory over Julia Grabher at the ASB Classic. The former world No. 1 advanced to the quarterfinals in Auckland, marking her first appearance at that stage of a tournament since June last year.

The four-time Grand Slam champion returned to the tour in 2024 and made significant progress in the rankings, finishing the year as world No. 57. With her sights set on climbing back to the top, Osaka brought on high-profile coach Mouratoglou to guide her journey. The Frenchman has previously coached Serena Williams, Simona Halep, and Holger Rune, among others.

Osaka hails Mouratoglou’s guidance

The match against Grabher, a former world No. 56 recovering from a wrist injury in 2023, was no easy task. The Auckland encounter was interrupted by rain, providing Osaka with an opportunity to consult with Mouratoglou. His clear and concise advice proved pivotal.

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“I think for me it’s about trust. I don’t really talk too much when I first meet a person, but obviously as the weeks and the days and the matches go by, we talk more and more and we build a better relationship,” Osaka shared.

“So during the, not changeover, but during the little rain delay, he just had two points for me that were very clear, and I was really grateful for that, because it wasn’t like he gave me a whole spiel on what to do. I definitely do trust him a lot.”

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When asked about the key points Mouratoglou mentioned, Osaka said: “He’s going to kill me because if I say I don’t remember… I think one of them was definitely swinging a bit more and feeling more free because when I tense up, I don’t follow through on my shots. And then the second one is just to stay a little further back on my return.”

The two-time Australian Open champion now awaits her quarterfinal opponent, who will emerge from the match between Jodie Burrage and Hailey Baptiste.

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