Patrick Mouratoglou: “That is my challenge; to bring Naomi back to her best level”
While the former world No 1 is recovering from a back injury, her new coach has commented on the collaboration for the first time in detail
Patrick Mouratoglou and Naomi Osaka, Beijing 2024 – ©
The partnership was on show for the first time in their first tournament together during the WTA tournament in Beijing at the end of September where Naomi Osaka won three matches, even taking the first set against Coco Gauff, before she had to retire with a back injury.
That was the first tournament together for Osaka and her new coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, the Frenchman who shot to fame when he was the coach of Serena Williams. Osaka’s performances in Beijing showed plenty of promise but the injury turned out to be slightly worse than first thought, with the four-time Grand Slam winner – according to her Instagram – having a medical check.
While the former world No 1 is recovering from the injury, Mouratoglou will be busy at the UTS tournament in Frankfurt this weekend. But at the press conference on Thursday, he spoke in detail about the new collaboration for the first time.
“One year ago we already had discussions because she was looking for a coach but at this time I was with Holger (Rune) so it did not happen,” Mouratoglou told reporters. “After this year’s US Open, again we had contact because she wanted to change something.” After her separation from Belgian coach Wim Fisette, Mouratoglou flew to Los Angeles and started work with Osaka. Before both announced their partnership officially, they were seen together in practice at UCLA in Los Angeles
“I think it worked well between us,” Mouratoglou said. “It is very simple the way it happened. I am excited because I think she plays incredible, she is obviously a champion, won several slams and has been to number one. I can sense her motivation, a very, very big motivation to comeback as high as she can.”
For Mouratoglou, Osaka sense of motivation is the most important thing, he implied. “And the challenge is very exciting, too.”
Australian Open is the “next big thing”
When Osaka won her first of four Grand Slam titles at the 2018 US Open, Mouratoglou was still coaching her opponent in the final, Serena Williams. The American was penalised for receiving “coaching” from Mouratoglou, who was making hand gestures from the stands. “The fact that he was Serena’s coach made me avoid him, just because his personality is so big,” Osaka said recently. “I would say that I’m still a bit nervous around him. But I’m getting more comfortable day by day.”
After her big success, Osaka spoke publicly about depression and pulled out of the 2021 French Open. Since then, she became a mother and fought her way back in pro tennis in 2024.
“For a long time she has not been able to play her best tennis,” Mouratoglou said. “That is my challenge, to bring her back to her best level and if possible even better. You never know when exactly things all click together. The only thing you know is that it will happen at some time. You have to believe in it but you don’t know when.”
The first big goal of the newly partnership will be the Australian Open in January. “That is the next big thing and we will do everything that is possible to perform already Down Under.”
