French tennis participant and analyst Alize Lim believes the rumored partnership between Naomi Osaka and Patrick Mouratoglou may positively flip into one thing nice as she sees a number of methods of how Serena Williams’ former long-time coach will help the Japanese.
After the previous world No. 1 gave beginning and launched her preparation for her comeback round 12 months in the past, she reached out to Wim Fissette – the coach who guided her to 4 Grand Slam titles up to now. From Day 1, the 26-year-old highlighted that her purpose was to return to being among the finest within the recreation and contend for Majors.
However almost 10 months into her post-pregnancy comeback, Osaka is simply 19-16 – hasn’t made it previous the quarterfinal stage in any occasions – and likewise picked up three second-round outings in Slams and had one first-round exit. Additionally, it grew to become fairly evident within the final two months that the Japanese was rising extra pissed off and dissatisfied together with her recreation and outcomes.
All coach Fissette paid the worth as the present world No. 76 determined final weekend to half methods with the Belgian coach. Shortly after the information dropped, it was additionally reported that she already had a brand new coach in place – none apart from Mouratoglou.
And this week, Osaka was noticed arriving in Beijing with the French coach, who labored with Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune and Simona Halep in recent times.
Lim: Not stunned, Mouratoglou will help Osaka tactically and psychologically
Following some powerful losses – together with among the current ones – the 26-year-old indicated that sure doubts had been beginning to creep into her thoughts. Additionally, she just lately made that “out-of-body” revelation the place she shared that she did not really feel like she was in her physique and that sure emotions or touches had been possibly misplaced.
Nonetheless, if true that Mouratoglou is her new coach, the Eurosport tennis knowledgeable is optimistic that he’s the proper man to information the Japanese to the Promised Land.
“I used to be not stunned as a result of, regardless of the actual fact she was getting back from motherhood, we knew how excessive her targets had been. For certain, she’s 100% dissatisfied and 100% desires to go greater rapidly. She has the weapons and she or he has the extent to return there – bear in mind her match in opposition to Iga Swiatek on the French Open. She is aware of greater than us. She will really feel it inside and I really feel it could be an incredible affiliation with Patrick Mouratoglou, to be sincere,” Lim stated on Tennis Channel’s Inside-In podcast.
“It’s so thrilling to observe her play. She would deliver a lot to girls’s tennis if she may get again to that degree. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see what he does tactically together with her but additionally psychologically. I believe his power is to essentially assist the participant consider in themselves. This what she wants now, and that’s life; if the sparks occur, and if there’s chemistry between two folks, you can’t know earlier than attempting.”
Osaka did not shrink back from revealing her true emotions after the US Open exit
Earlier than her US Open return, the two-time champion stated it was a circled Slam on her calendar and that she wished to do effectively. However after impressively dismantling Jelena Ostapenko within the first spherical, the previous world No. 1 did not ship the identical degree of play in her subsequent match and misplaced to Karolina Muchova in two units.
“It is slightly tough as a result of I do take these losses actually personally. It is like a dramatic phrase, however I really feel like my coronary heart dies each time I lose. I have been attempting to be extra mature and study and discuss extra about them,” Osaka admitted after the loss.
In the identical presser, the Japanese additionally famous that her woes transcend this yr.
“I really feel like I am getting back from being pregnant, but additionally it wasn’t like in 2022 I used to be the perfect model of myself. So indirectly I needed to catch as much as that, after which additionally I am attempting to go it on the identical time. It has been slightly tough as a result of clearly I can solely gauge how I am doing by outcomes. I really feel sooner. I really feel higher, however I misplaced within the second spherical. So it is slightly tough,” she defined.
“I believe this yr for me has been a studying yr. I put numerous vitality and energy into all of the tournaments that I performed. Australian Open was so quick, so I in all probability forgot that one. I loved studying learn how to benefit from the French Open. I have not been to Wimbledon in years, so it was good to return there.”
On the WTA 1000 event in Beijing, it’s anticipated that Osaka will formally affirm Mouratoglou as her new coach.
