Naomi Osaka teams up with former Serena Williams coach Patrick Mouratoglou

Saturday, 14 September 2024 at 19:30

Naomi Osaka surprises with a new partnership with Patrick Mouratoglou after splitting from her former coach Wim Fissette. According to Open Court, the 4-time Grand Slam champion is already working with the French coach, who was formerly Serena Williams’ coach.

Osaka joins forces with Mouratoglou following split with Wim Fissette

On Friday, Osaka surprised fans by announcing on social media that she had ended her partnership with Fissette after nearly a year of working together. It was their second period together, as the Belgian coach had previously worked with Osaka from late 2019 to 2022.

Following Osaka’s break due to mental health issues and then her pregnancy, Fissette teamed up with Zheng Qinwen. This ended in controversy when the coach decided to terminate his contract with the Chinese player to rejoin Osaka upon the return of the former world No. 1, a decision that did not sit well with Zheng’s team, who expressed disappointment at Fissette’s choice.

Despite the controversy, the work with Osaka seems to have yielded good results throughout the season, with the Japanese player rising more than 750 places in the WTA rankings, from No. 833 to No. 75. While still low for a player of Osaka’s calibre, her performances have left a positive impression, with several victories over top players and a memorable defeat at the French Open against Iga Swiatek, where Osaka squandered a match point in her favour.

Naomi Osaka at 2022 Miami Open.

Fissette has an outstanding résumé over the last 15 years as a WTA coach, with partnerships including Kim Clijsters, Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka, Angelique Kerber, and Petra Kvitova, among others. Osaka has yet to provide reasons for her split with Fissette.

According to Open Court, Osaka had been evaluating some coaches for some time, having spoken to Brad Gilbert (before he teamed up with Coco Gauff) and meeting with Mouratoglou shortly before last year’s US Open, as she was looking for a high-profile coach.

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Mouratoglou, former coach of Serena Williams, has been in the spotlight over the last couple of years. He started working with Halep in 2022 and was seen as largely responsible for the 2-time Grand Slam champion’s doping case. With uncertainty surrounding the Romanian's return, Mouratoglou began working with Holger Rune, with whom he has had several splits over the last two years, the most recent being in July of this year.

According to Open Court, Osaka was seen working at the Mouratoglou Academy this morning, although neither the player nor the Frenchman has officially announced their partnership. The former world No. 1’s next appearance will be at the China Open, starting on September 26, where she has received a wildcard for the main draw.

Iván Aguilar

@ivabianconero

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Ojito con esta dupla‼️ Luego de anunciar que dejaba de trabajar con Wim Fissette, parece que Naomi Osaka🇯🇵 encontró nuevo entrenador 👀A la ex No.1 del mundo se le vio entrenando en ultimas horas en las canchas de UCLA con Patrick Mouratoglou

2:15 PM · Sep 14, 2024

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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