Naomi Osaka has officially teamed up with Serena Williams‘ renowned former coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, and the results are already showing. In her first match under Mouratoglou’s guidance at the Beijing Open, Osaka secured a solid victory, setting a positive tone. While Osaka was initially hesitant to hire Mouratoglou because of Williams’ previous partnership with him, she reconsidered the possibility of working with him.

The 73rd-ranked tennis player beat Lucia Bronzetti of Italy in the opening round of the WTA 1000 China Open. With her new coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, observing from the players’ box, the 26-year-old performed confidently on the court.

It was not easy for Osaka to choose Patrick Mouratoglou as her new coach because of his association with Serena that grabbed the center stage. She said, “I think the fact that he was Serena’s coach for me made me want to avoid him just because his persona is so big. 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 he coached Serena.”

Following that, Osaka added, “Then I met him, talked to him, worked with him on the court. He absolutely is a really good coach. I’m really glad that he’s taking this project on, as well.”

The Japanese star also emphasized how working with Mouratoglou, who coached Serena Williams to ten major titles between 2012 and 2022, provided her with a rare opportunity to improve her game, and she was ready to take advantage of it.

She stated, “I think I’m at a stage in my life that I don’t want to have regrets. I’d rather pull the trigger on something and I don’t want to say ‘fail’, but I feel like I really need to learn as much as possible in this stage of my career.”

Following the US Open, Osaka announced the end of her coaching collaboration with Wim Fissette and began training with Patrick Mouratoglou for the Asian Swing. Currently rated No. 73, the former World No. 1 hopes that this new relationship will be long-term.

Naomi Osaka, in the meantime, continues to captivate her fans not just on, but off the court as well, with her latest US Open outfit leaving a lasting impression.

Naomi Osaka’s US Open outfit continues to win hearts

Osaka may have had a difficult season, including a second-round exit at the US Open to Karolina Muchova, but her impact extended much beyond her on-court play. Despite her early defeat, Osaka’s distinct fashion sense dominated the show, and her eye-catching US Open dress with a giant green bow still continues to inspire fans.

More than two weeks after the competition, a fan posted photographs on Instagram of a young woman and six others wearing identical attire as Osaka and holding tennis racquets. Osaka quickly responded by reposting the tribute on her Instagram story and wrote, “💚🎀The bow lives forever,” expressing her excitement at the ongoing legacy of her signature style.

This fusion not only captured attention but also reinforced Osaka’s status as a trendsetter in the world of tennis, proving that even amid on-court challenges, her fashion statements remain impactful and inspiring.

Nevertheless, what are your thoughts on the Serena Williams’ ex-coach being a part of Osaka’s team now? Let us know in the comment section below.