Patrick Mouratoglou released a short statement about his work with Naomi Osaka after she concluded her first event under his guidance, expressing pride in what they accomplished.
Osaka has had an interesting season with many ups and downs. She played wonderful tennis at times but also performed below expectations on other occasions. Her inability to come close to her stated goal for the year, which was reaching the Top 10 on the WTA Tour, prompted her to part ways with her previous coach, Wim Fissette, who closely oversaw her this year.
It wasn’t so much a criticism of him personally, but Osaka wanted to try something different, as she would regret it if she didn’t. That’s how she described her choice to work with Mouratoglou, even though she wasn’t sure at first if she wanted to.
In a candid moment, Osaka admitted she wasn’t sure if Mouratoglou was the right coach for her but quickly changed her mind after a few practice sessions with him. The first event under Mouratoglou's guidance was the 2024 China Open in Beijing, and it was a fairly decent showing from the Japanese player.
She won three matches at the WTA 1000 event, which was notable, but one of her tougher matchups ultimately ended her run. She faced Coco Gauff, who used to work with Mouratoglou for a while and had attended his academy before becoming a professional player.
It was a strong showing from Osaka, as she played superb tennis and was well on her way to defeating Gauff. Unfortunately, she experienced some back issues that forced her to retire when the score was tied at 1-1 in sets.
After the match, Osaka reassured everyone, explaining that it was not a serious issue. Overall, it was a very positive showing from the Japanese player, who could have technically made the quarter-finals if not for the back issue.
Following the tournament, Mouratoglou released a statement highlighting how proud he was of all the efforts they put in during a short time.
The French coach was excited about the future with the former World No. 1, as Osaka's focus and willingness to learn stood out to him during the brief period he was able to coach her, and that bodes well for what lies ahead.
"It’s been our first tournament together with Naomi Osaka and it was so rich in terms or learning. From the practice sessions to the warm-ups on match days to all the preparations and the match briefings and debriefings, I learned so much about her."
"I also got to spend time with the amazing team around her. I am really proud of all her efforts, her focus and willingness to learn and progress. It’s the best attitude to be in a growth process. Now is time to heal and get ready for new challenges."
The partnership will certainly command interest in the months to come because they’re both superstars in their own right. Mouratoglou has a very public persona, as does Osaka, so in a sense, they are a super pairing.