Naomi Osaka Aims for ‘No Regrets’ After Hiring Serena’s Former Coach!

Former world number one Naomi Osaka, now ranked 73, secured a solid 6-3, 6-2 victory over Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti in the first round of the WTA 1000 China Open, with her new coach Patrick Mouratoglou watching from the players’ box.

At 26, Osaka recently parted ways with Belgian coach Wim Fissette as she seeks to reclaim the form that once led her to the top of women’s tennis. Expressing her need for change, Osaka described Mouratoglou—best known for his long-time coaching of Serena Williams—as “a big persona.”

“I like his coaching style. I think it’s going to be really interesting,” she said in Beijing, where she set up a second-round match against 21st seed Yulia Putintseva. “I’m at a stage in my life where I don’t want to have regrets. I prefer to take action, and while I don’t want to say ‘fail,’ I feel it’s crucial to learn as much as I can at this point in my career. Patrick seemed like the right person to help me.”

Osaka previously worked with Fissette during two separate stints from 2019 to mid-2022 and again last year as she returned to the tour following the birth of her daughter Shai in July 2023. Since her comeback in January, Osaka has struggled to find her rhythm, with her best results being two quarter-final appearances and a second-round exit at the recent US Open.

Initially hesitant about Mouratoglou due to his significant association with Williams, Osaka shared, “I think the fact that he was Serena’s coach made me want to avoid him at first, given his strong persona.” However, after meeting and working with him on the court, she praised him as a great coach, expressing gratitude for his involvement in her journey.

While Osaka admitted to feeling nervous around Mouratoglou—“I kind of look to the floor when he looks at me”—she’s gradually becoming more comfortable. “I’m getting a little more at ease day by day,” she noted.