The buzz around Naomi Osaka’s new coaching partnership with Patrick Mouratoglou has taken center stage at the 2024 China Open, with fans and media alike eager to witness the four-time Grand Slam champion as she begins a new chapter in her career. Jimmie48 took photos of Osaka practicing with Mouratoglou ahead of her first-round match in Beijing, sparking widespread excitement about the potential this collaboration holds.
For Osaka, this partnership is both thrilling and intimidating. Despite her long-standing admiration for Serena Williams, Osaka admitted to initial hesitation about working with Mouratoglou, who was instrumental in coaching Williams to 10 major titles between 2012 and 2022. “I think the fact that he was Serena’s coach made me want to avoid him, just because his persona is so big,” Osaka revealed during a press conference 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 if he coached Serena.”
The opportunity to work with Mouratoglou came after Osaka’s split with her previous coach, Wim Fissette, following the US Open. Osaka has since expressed optimism about her future with Mouratoglou, calling it a potential long-term partnership. “I think I’m at a stage in my life…
