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\u2019 box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s tennis. Expressing her need for change, Osaka described Mouratoglou\u2014best known for his long-time coaching of Serena Williams\u2014as \u201ca big persona.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI like his coaching style. I think it\u2019s going to be really interesting,\u201d she said in Beijing, where she set up a second-round match against 21st seed Yulia Putintseva. \u201cI\u2019m at a stage in my life where I don\u2019t want to have regrets. I prefer to take action, and while I don\u2019t want to say \u2018fail,\u2019 I feel it\u2019s crucial to learn as much as I can at this point in my career. Patrick seemed like the right person to help me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Initially hesitant about Mouratoglou due to his significant association with Williams, Osaka shared, \u201cI think the fact that he was Serena\u2019s coach made me want to avoid him at first, given his strong persona.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Osaka admitted to feeling nervous around Mouratoglou\u2014\u201cI kind of look to the floor when he looks at me\u201d\u2014she\u2019s gradually becoming more comfortable. \u201cI\u2019m getting a little more at ease day by day,\u201d she noted.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"