Who is Naomi Osaka's new coach? All you need to know about the Japanese's team as she mounts China Open charge after Wim Fissette break-up
Naomi Osaka made a winning return to the China Open with a 6-3, 6-2 over Lucia Bronzetti on Wednesday, September 25. This marks her first appearance at the venue since winning the title there in 2019. As such, she extended her winning streak in Beijing to seven matches.
Furthermore, this was also Osaka's first win under her new coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. She parted ways with her previous coach, Wim Fissette, shortly after the conclusion of the US Open, where she bowed out in the second round.
Osaka and Fissette first joined forces at the start of the 2020 season and remained a pair for over two years. When she announced her comeback following the birth of her first child last year, she poached the Belgian from Zheng Qinwen, and their second innings lasted for almost a year.
Mouratoglou is no stranger to coaching high-profile players. He first opened his own tennis academy in the mid-1990s and then branched out to coaching players. His very first pupil was Marcos Baghdatis in 1999, and their partnership would last until 2006.
During this time, Mouratoglou helped Baghdatis reach the final of the Australian Open in 2006 and a career-high ranking of No. 8. He turned his sights on the WTA Tour after that and coached Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Aravane Rezai, Yanina Wickmayer, and Laura Robson over the next few years.
Mouratoglou returned to coach ATP players in 2012 with short-lived stints with Jeremy Chardy and Grigor Dimitrov. His next gig would see him team up with one of the very best in the sport and help her cement her status as a legend of the game.
Naomi Osaka's new coach Patrick Mouratoglou previously worked with Serena Williams
Patrick Mouratoglou joined Serena Williams' team on the heels of her very first opening-round exit at a Major, which came at the French Open 2012. Their partnership bore immediate results as she won the Olympic gold in singles and doubles, along with Wimbledon and the US Open.
Williams and Mouratoglou worked together for a decade, during which she won 10 Major titles, along with three titles at the WTA Finals, among other accolades. He became a part of Simona Halep's camp after his split with the American in 2022.
However, Mouratoglou's tenure as Halep's coach didn't last long as she was suspended in October for alleged doping. He then teamed up with Holger Rune, and their on-and-off collaboration lasted until July this year. He will now aim to help Naomi Osaka reclaim her former glory.