EXCLUSIVE: Naomi Osaka’s Ex-coach Gets Candid in a Free-Wheeling Conversation About Serena Williams, Coaching Victoria Azarenka, Simona Halep, and Others

Former Belgian tennis player turned professional tennis coach Wim Fissette is a well-known name on the tennis circuit, especially on the WTA tour. He has coached a series of Grand Slam champions, including Naomi Osaka, Victoria Azarenka, and Simona Halep. In August 2022, Fissette and the 4-time Grand Slam champion ended their partnership, one that had yielded tremendously for Osaka .

Fissette and Osaka’s remarkable partnership began in 2020. It was during her time with the Belgian virtuoso, Osaka won the 2020 US Open title and the 2021 Australian Open title, two of her four Major titles. However, after the 2021 Australian Open success, Osaka had a different career trajectory and one year after their Melbourne success, the duo decided to part ways with each other.

In an interview, Osaka talked about the split and praised her coach for those wonderful years. Later, Fissette also took to Instagram and called it a ‘privilege’ to coach the Japanese player.

Aside from Osaka, Fissette has had fruitful partnerships with the legendary Belgian player Kim Clijsters and German player Angelique Kerber. In 2007, Clijsters had retired from tennis but came back in 2009 and decided on partnering with Fissette. Notably, Fissette had been Clijsters’ hitting partner back in the day; hence, they already had a great relationship to begin with. Under his guidance, Clijsters won 2 US Open titles and one Australian Open title and even went on to securing the World No.1 position.

Read More: ‘The Most Difficult Time in Her Life’- Naomi Osaka’s Former Coach Details How Kobe Bryant’s Death Affected Her Tennis Career Heavily

Later, the Belgian coach helped Simona Halep reach the no.2 position in the WTA rankings. Although Halep did not win any Grand Slam title, she did reach the French Open final under Fissette’s immaculate coaching. He also spectacularly delivered during his time with Victoria Azarenka. Further, his pupils, Johanna Konta and Sabine Lisicki, also boast of a hoard of distinguishable achievements .

Recently, Fissette had an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, where he sat down with Mahalakshmi Murali and talked about his time with Osaka, Kerber, and Clijsters; he also talked about the 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams and other things.

One of the high-profile tennis players today with us Mr. Wim Fissette. He has worked and produced some of the greatest tennis players in women’s game. And he has immensely contributed to the sport. And all his contributions have simply given a new direction to tennis. And he has trained Grand Slam champions, including the likes of the legend Kim Clijsters, Angelique Kerber, Victoria Azarenka, Simona Halep and Naomi Osaka, and many more. So Wim, a warm welcome to our show, and thank you very much for your time. So, we at Essentially Sports, we cover almost 11 Sports right now. And we started off in the year 2014. And we are a digital Sports Media House and we cover tennis exclusively. Thank you so much, once again.

Yes, and thanks for having me. Thanks for the kind words, we appreciate it. And it’s good to be at to show.

And how have you been?

I’m doing good. I’m currently at home in Belgium, living the normal life with my family, two young kids. Currently still between jobs. So we stopped with Naomi (Osaka) at the middle of the summer in July. And now just waiting for, let’s say the right opportunity to go back on a tour with the right player.

So who is the right player? So when do we see your coaching in the near future? Or for the Australian summer, do we get to see you?

Probably not. I have been speaking to a few players in the past months, but nothing really, let’s say worked out for both. And what is the right player? I mean, I think there are different kinds of players that I like, but the right player is definitely ambitious and ready to develop more, doesn’t matter what’s ranking if it’s top five in the world, or a top 15 in the world, but really ready to develop day by day. And yeah, is ambitious to maybe try to win Grand Slams.

So by looking at your resume, I could say like you have always chosen the correct players, you have always been here, led them to enjoy the pinnacle of their careers. So I think you know, who is the right player.

I mean, it’s always difficult to say. I’m super happy with my path until now, the last 12 years have been really exceptional. And I really like, like, appreciate that. And I love the career I’ve had so far. And but every new player is also like a new start. And after speaking like a few times, you really don’t know what you’re gonna get. So it’s always yeah, you always have some question. And it’s always surprising when you when you start a new partnership, but I’m definitely like, ready for it. And I’m excited for the future and excited who will come on my path as a next player.

So let’s rewind the clock a little bit. What motivated you to take up tennis coaching? What made you dive into tennis coaching and pick it up as a career?

Yeah, well, it’s a long story, but it starts with like tennis really being my absolute passion in my life. Since the first time I picked up my racket. I loved playing tennis being on a tennis court, and I still do. Every day, every time I am on a tennis court, I’m really happy. So that’s the start, of course. But I was a solid player in Belgium, I tried a bit internationally. It didn’t work out. It’s definitely not easy. And to be honest, I also didn’t really believe in the path of becoming an international coach because let’s say nobody in Belgium has done it before. And you know, it was just like, how do you get into that? So how do you get onto the tour? And so actually I started working in a company after I studied and actually was coaching a little bit on the side to earn a little bit of extra money, but I did enjoy it and I enjoyed like different levels of play from not really beginners but very young player still like very very good juniors. And there was this moment when they were in Belgium, a small WTA event in Belgium, and they were actually looking for hitting partners. And since it was in my hometown, I was like, Okay, I would like to do that. Why not? And then is actually, the moment that I met Kim Clijsters again, because actually, when we were young, we practiced together for three years. So we met again, and I was her personal hitting partner for that week. And step by step, I was realizing, hey, this, this is actually a nice life and to follow the tennis tour to be on the tour. And then one little bit step by step sometimes I went to practice with her and there was a moment then she took me on a tournament as a hitting partner and that was really a moment where I felt like hey, this, this could be really something for me. So I went to develop myself as a coach. I mean, it’s all the coach courses in Belgium, but also went to lots of international seminars. I probably read all the books at that time that were available. Just I want it to be I wanted to be an expert. You know, if you do something, you have to do it the right way. And that’s actually how step by step I grew into the coaching job.

So speaking about Kim Clijsters, she is a legend on the WTA tour, still she is.  And both of you are from the same country, your compatriot. And when you had that partnership with her, it was her second innings of her career. She was coming back from her pregnancy hiatus after delivering a kid and everything. And at the US Open 09, she was a wildcard entrant and she beat (Marion) Bartoli, (Kirsten) Flipkens, Venus Williams, Serena Williams. And then finally Caroline Wozniacki in the finals. So can you tell us something about that magical moment? How did that happen?

Well, the magical moment happened actually, about eight months before when she decided to come back right. Eight months that we had the time. And it was also a moment where it was a completely new start. And whether it was like, from Kim 1.0 to Kim 2.0, the new and better version of her that’s something that we created. And like with all the players I work with, everything starts with like a with a good plan and a vision. Like how are we going to be successful. And with Kim, it was definitely a little bit different than in her first career, we wanted to be like, the more aggressive player, use her phenomenal groundstrokes a little bit more, be less of a defensive player than she was in her first career. So we didn’t want to see that. That’s super split, everyone wanted to see, you know, on the court or defensive forehand slice in a split, but we didn’t want to see that anymore, because we wanted a dominant player on the baseline. And I think we just had, like, seven months preparation are unbelievable, like every day was was such a pleasure and hard work and with a very strong team. And then, of course, we had the first comeback tournament in Cincinnati, where she had to play the number 12 in the world and that was like Bartoli. And I remember just the night before, she of course came with a lot of questions like, am I gonna, am I still good enough? Can I still do it? And I told her like, ‘the way I see it there’s really nobody that is able to beat you when you’re going to be on your best. So you really have to believe in yourself. And I do believe you’re the strongest player out there.’ So the first match, she immediately wins against Bartoli in Cincinnati, and that was, of course, a big confidence boost and she won a few matches after also in Toronto. And then of course, the US Open. That was of course her favorite tournament, tournament, the Grand Slam that she won before, but probably the toughest draw you can imagine. But on the other hand, that was also the purpose of her comeback, you know, she wanted to come back to beat the best players at the biggest stages. So that was her goal and that’s where actually she almost fulfilled all her goals in one tournament. So it was like incredible, it looked like she was never away. She was the best player out there. Yeah, it was it was a phenomenal team feeling there.

US Open 09 was simply a surreal moment for tennis world indeed like she entered the club of mothers with Grand Slams championships with Evonne Goolagong and Margaret Court and that’s a definitely a remarkable moment that took place. Also, not just US Open 09, both of you won altogether three hard court slams. So after achieving all those incredible feats, what is that one incredible moment that stands out with Kim Clijsters for you?

It’s hard, but I still say that the US Open, the complete tournament 09. I mean, that’s so special to come back after like, giving birth and then have like, the third tournament you play which is like, exceptionally unbelievable. You’re not seeded, you play all the best players in the world. Like that’s just like, perfection in execution, I would say, you know, like, you get challenged in so many ways. And yeah, you just win the tournament. So that was really exceptional. And like you say, she changed a lot for like WTA because if you see now how many players out there with children on the tour she made or she showed the world that you can do it as a mother and maybe you can come back stronger as a mother and before that, because we’re in such a generation where everyone is physically so strong where for sure there were doubts before but she showed everyone you can do it as a mother so that was like I think she Yeah, she opened a lot of opportunities for a lot of players.

Speaking about tennis players as mothers, you coached another talented, incredible and a ferocious player on tour who’s a mother right now and tennis player Victoria Azarenka. With Victoria Azarenka. Both of you lifted the Sunshine Doubles in the United States, which was, again another incredible feat, I think after Steffi Graf, it was Azarenka who did it. And Kim also did it in 05. So how was it working with Vika for you? 

Well, Vika was, very special for me. Because, first of all, before we start working together, my wife was pregnant. And honestly, I did not believe I could combine the family life with coaching like, with the highest or the best players on the tour. And so when her agent called me, I, I told him, ‘Hey, like, I would love to coach Vika, like, She’s a phenomenal player, I really believe in her. But it’s not possible because my wife is gonna give birth, I can’t travel like all the weeks and you know, it’s just too difficult.’ And from the first moment her agent and Vika herself, they told me, ‘that’s absolutely no problem. And when you need to be at home for the family, you can be at home. But you’re always welcome to bring the family and it’s going to be great all together and it’s going to work out we’ll make sure it works out.’ So I was actually really positively surprised because I almost gave up my international career and Vika really showed me that I can do it and it was never a problem. It was always like, really nice to have the family there when I was coaching her. But so that was, of course a very important first step. But Vika was a fantastic player to coach because she’s such a hard worker and always has that unbelievable focus on the practice court. She’s always like fist-pumping on the other practice court. When she does something she was really working on when she hits like the perfect return. I would say that is Vika like, so focused in training. Yeah, we had a really good time. Like you say the Sunshine Double was unbelievable. After that, of course, she was pregnant. And it was so nice working with her. That’s why also in 2019, I went back to Vika because I felt our story wasn’t finished together, but yeah, unfortunately, wasn’t the best year but still like I really enjoyed that partnership.

What were the technical nuances that you developed in Vika’s game? Because to me, Vika has one of the best backhands in the woman’s game, for sure, and also in the tennis entire like men’s tennis and women’s tennis, her backhand is admired a lot. So can you please highlight the technical nuances that you developed in Vika’s game?

Well, the backhand is definitely maybe the best backhand on the women’s tour. And as a coach, I learned a lot from Vika; that’s the interesting part. The backhand side that was already also before my time, it was one of the best shots in women’s tennis and I learned a lot from it, how to like, how to develop it better and how to like activate the right muscles. So I learned a lot from her and used it actually with other players I worked with. That’s the interesting part. But we definitely worked more on the serve; the serve before that was an issue, not enough power on the first serve, and the second serve a little bit more unstable. So that was a very important point. And also we tried to make the forehand little bit of a bigger weapon than in the past. And yeah, for me, it was of course unfortunate that she was pregnant in 2016 because she was for me like on the way to become number one. That year she won Brisbane, quarterfinals Australian Open, Sunshine Double she won. So she was almost like unbeatable, but, of course, things like that happen and as a coach yeah, you have to accept that of course.

Another talented player that you coached Simona Halep. Under you, she made it to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the very first time in her career, and it was in Melbourne. And later at the French Open. She was the finalist, and she was playing Maria Sharapova and that final lasted for three long hours. And also like few weeks later, she was there in the semi finals of Wimbledon. But presently, Halep, she’s going through a tough time, a rocky road, she’s traveling, her personal life has taken a toll and everything that is going around her. So do you have any words for her? What would you like to tell her right now?

Well, I think firstly, her biggest problem right now is of course the doping, right? That she’s suspended and can’t play. The way I know Simona like, there’s zero doubt that wasn’t on purpose or she never wanted to do that. So probably something happened or like she maybe didn’t check her drink the right way. It’s difficult to say but I’m really certain she’s an honest player and she’s definitely not a cheater never cheated in matches or did something. So yeah, I just want to wish her like, of course, a lot of strength, mental strength to stay tough in this difficult times. The world has enjoyed her tennis so much for the past. It’s already eight, nine years at the top of women’s tennis and it’s always a pleasure to see her fight and to see her play great tennis on the court. And everyone’s looking forward to see her back on the tour and especially all the Romanian fans all over the world.

So I think definitely she’ll come back like even in her game, if you see she’s a set down, break down, she turns around the tables pretty quickly. So Halep is someone who never gives up. 

Exactly, yes, she’s a true fighter and she will stay like that for sure.

Also, you were coaching Johanna Konta. While you were with her, she attained her career-high ranking. She was Britain’s number one tennis player. She was getting a lot of media attention and immense pressure from all over the country and also she was one of the biggest hope for a Grand Slam contender from the UK. So how did you guys manage with the immense pressure and expectations from the British media?

Well, Johanna was was one of the first players was traveling also a lot with a mental coach. So working mentally was a very important part for her. It’s something she struggled with when she was young, like most of the junior players and transitioning to the tour. So the mental part was super important for her to speak on a daily basis with an expert. And I’m sure like, that’s really helped during that time to stay in the moment, not to start dreaming or focus too much on everything was going around and the 1000s or 10,000s of people watching from everywhere and just focus on her tennis and on trying to win win the matches the day by day or match by match. So I think like when we were there, I still remember it quite well. We were in our team staying together and yeah, just focusing on what we needed to focus on and that was like, trying to beat the next opponent and it was a phenomenal tournament. She played great matches, and the atmosphere of the fans was unbelievable. I still feel like it’s very unfortunate she didn’t play our best match against Venus. Otherwise. Yeah, she could have done better, but it was still a fantastic tournament. To be honest, I did feel because during the tournament we were trying to stay in inside our small bubble. But after I definitely felt there was like a lot of pressure and expectations was super high from the press and just on her. So after Wimbledon was a little bit more difficult to control that. And it was also I feel for every player, like going that far in Grand Slams is an experience and you need to learn how to deal with that. And for her that was also definitely something new and yeah, but she did well with that.

So speaking about the mental coaches, so like it helped Johanna Konta very well. And presently, if I’m not wrong, Iga Swiatek, Ons Jabeur, all of them have mental coaches on their team. So do you think in the near future, everybody on the tennis circuit will be traveling with a mental coach?

Not necessarily travel with someone but have someone in the team you know, like, we have the team that travels that’s usually the coach sometimes hitting partner and physio. But you also have like people in your team that are not traveling like you have your probably the doctor you always go to or some other experts. And the mental coach is just part of a tennis team these days. I think that’s really normal. Like, you work physically hard, you work tactically, technically hard. I mean, it’s also normal that you work mentally. And if you want to work mentally, you work with experts. So I do feel that’s a normal thing to have. And when you see it in, in academies, big academies that have like mental coaches, if you see Federation’s where young players Junior train there. Yeah, I think it’s just part of tough sport. Yeah. Just like, big managers also speak to some mental coaches that can help them have a state stay in the right moment or stay in the right zone. So I do feel it’s important.

So in few years down the line, I think everybody will be having not necessarily traveling, but at least personal mental doctor or mental coach on their team.

For sure, yeah.

That’s a big information that you have.

Well, yeah. I mean, it’s it started with I think, 15 years ago, there were some players struggling with a physio, and it was already pretty special. And now it has become the new normal. And, you know, the last two years like there have been a lot of people speaking about the mental health and everyone realizes also, it’s just normal to speak to someone when you’re on the highest level, there’s so much challenges, there’s so much pressure on you, expectations. You can speak to your parents or to your friends or to your coach, but why not speak to an expert? So I think it’s always if you have the opportunity to work with experts like you should do that.

Okay, so yeah change is only constant so everything will be normal in few year’s time. Speaking about in the year 2018, Serena Williams, she was juggling between breastfeeding and professional tennis. And despite her maternity hiatus, less than a year, she came back and she made it to the finals of Wimbledon. And you were also there during the Wimbledon final, but you were sitting in her opponent’s box, which was Angelique Kerber. Kerber, that year I remember she played fantastic tennis. She defeated the GOAT in straight sets, I believe. And so how was that entire Wimbledon for you? Definitely for a tennis fan for a tennis player Winning Wimbledon is the highlight of their career. So how was that special moment for you? And against Serena, who had previously won that title seven times?

Yeah. Starts with first of all the right play plan and confidence. I felt like I mean, the whole year, Angelique was playing really well. She played semis in Australia. And for her quarters, actually, after tough claycourt season. Claycourt was not her specialty, absolutely not. But she made it to the quarters. And that was already like a very very good start for her to have like to go into the grass court season with a lot of confidence. And she knew like grasscourt was her best surface. And we had a fantastic training week in Mallorca where she also played the tournament. That was the level she was playing there. We could all see her like win Wimbledon there. So very important. And then we had one preparation tournament, it was in Ben Birmingham, not not in Birmingham was on the grass in England. Eastbourne, yes, yes. Angelique was playing great and she had to play Wozniacki and Angelique had a match point, but what happened there and that was typically something that could happen to Angelique, that she was very passive and more defensive. And then the match changed and she lost the match. Where I believe that was a huge moment, because that was also the moment we could speak until ‘Okay, Angelique. That’s not going to happen in Wimbledon, right? Like, if you have the chance to win, you’re going to take it in your own hands, and you’re going to play aggressive and you’re going to try to win the point yourself, you’re not going to wait for the opponent to make an error. Like when there is an opportunity, you’re going to be aggressive. Let’s let’s make a deal. That’s how we were going to win Wimbledon.’ And I feel that’s really how she won Wimbledon. To be honest, she didn’t start good. I knew she was very confident she could win Wimbledon, she had a lot of pressure. So the first two matches were actually not good at all. Until we had to play (Naomi) Osaka in the third round. I remember talking to her saying, ‘Angelique, you have like one chance and you have to be like, she’s going to expect you to just bring the balls back. But you have to be aggressive. You’re not going to be aggressive. You’re not going to try to make the winners yourself. You have no chance.’ And that was like one of the best matches she played there. From there on, I think she really kept her level. She was very tough to beat. She was serving pretty well for her, was never the best server but she served well that tournament and I think she played really well. Winning Wimbledon, it was her dream, but also my dream. I was in the final in 2012 with (Sabine) Lisicki but this was a unique opportunity to beat Serena in the final. I mean it was the complete package Wimbledon final you play Serena the best player of all time and you win that match that was phenomenal.

So wonderful to know, like just by playing aggressive attacking tennis. Angelique really pulled off the Venus Rosewater Dish, correct?

Angelique is known by everyone for like fighting and defensive skills. I always say to her like ‘If you want to play that tennis that’s going to bring you to the quarterfinals. But then it’s over. The best Angelique is going to win tournaments, that’s going to be the aggressive Angelique.’ Because I always felt before I coached to Angelique, I had to coach a few times against her. And every time she was she was really taking the initiative, she was offensive. That’s always where she was the most dangerous so that was really clear to me that that’s the way she had to play.

After all your thriving achievements working with all top-notch players, Grand Slam champions, you were there and you were there in so many Grand Slam finals. And then also WTA Tour Championship also, you won with Kim Clijsters. After everything, all these big achievements. you joined hands with another established player who had multiple Slams to her name, Naomi Osaka. How did that alliance begin and how did the icebreaker between you and Osaka look like?

Well, it was the season when I was, with Victoria Azarenka. But unfortunately, Vika had some personal issues. To be honest, at the end of the season, we didn’t know where her life and her career was going. She had a lot of questions. So it was a little bit uncertain for me. And right at that time, I was contacted by Naomi’s agent they felt I was available. So really an honest conversation I had with Vika and asked her what direction are you going because I have to make this decision, and we decided it was better for me to go with Naomi. Of course, there was also a unique opportunity from the potential I don’t think after, Serena, there has been such a player like Naomi, the potential is unreal, she has everything to be the best player in the world. And there was a huge opportunity to take and so I started at the end of 2019 with Naomi in Los Angeles. So it was really interesting. Naomi is especially at that time also, she’s not the most open person but she’s super kind and super nice. Like, of course, I didn’t push her it was more like, okay, let’s step by step get to know each other. Her parents were around and the rest of our team was around and without forcing just do the work. And again, start with a clear plan. What are we going to work on? What are the goals for the next year? Yeah, just day by day.

And ironically, you had to play against Vika twice after 10 months. So it was in Cincinnati, but unfortunately, Naomi had to withdraw from that big match. And then a week or two weeks later in the US Open finals. Both of them played a spectacular match. So you were against Vika.

That was really tough because first of all, I would have been very happy for Victoria because after you had a tough year she had to play a final was incredible. I was really happy for her. On the other side, it was also difficult for me to coach against someone I know so well. Because Naomi is also, she’s got great intuition on the court. She understands the game well, but also I couldn’t give her like too much information. So I have like all this information about Victoria Azarenka, I almost could predict every bowl she would play. And then I have my player Naomi, who is who’s a great, fantastic player, very intuitive, but I couldn’t give her too much information. So I had really had to select okay, what information do I give her, and still after like watching the first, let’s say, set and a half, I’ve felt that I maybe over coached her because she was, I don’t know she was struggling. She couldn’t play free. Vika was playing like very, very well. So it really took Naomi some time to really like play her best tennis and I’m super happy she did that. Only after the match, I did not over coach her, I prepared her to the match, like all the other matches. But of course, yeah, it was fantastic to win that US Open. I mean, it was a tough time, months we could not play with COVID and no tournaments. But also there we had an for us, we had a lot of months, the time to become a better player to develop. I think especially the first months that Naomi, that there was no tennis and I was in Belgium, I couldn’t travel. For her also to have a few months without tennis, to clear the head and to really look for that motivation again, I think that that really helped. And then the months we had to make her a better player that was definitely the part of the success for that US Open.

I think it’s a really difficult job when you’re coaching someone, you become good friends with them ultimately, and you know each other in and out your training tactics, and everything, and one fine day you need to play against them. And it’s really difficult to like to contradict, you know, each and every ball that they are playing. So I think your job is really, really tough.

It is tough, right? Because I mean coaching is always you know, the strengths the weakness of that opponent, you know, the strengths weakness of my player. Okay, what are we going to do? Are we going to focus on their weaknesses, maybe on our strengths? It’s always, yeah, it’s you have a lot of stats. You always have to think, what information are we going to give the player? What does she need today? So it’s, yeah, the better you know, your player also, the better you can help them. But it also depends a little bit from day to day, how much information we going to give her today. So it’s, it’s yeah, it’s interesting. It’s a fascinating job.

So beginning of the year, 2020 was really difficult for Naomi Osaka. She was the defendant champion at the Australian Open, but she was knocked out in the third round by Coco Gauff. And two days later, Kobe Bryant passed away. It was a really tragical moment for the sporting community indeed. And that had affected Osaka immensely, it affected her on-court performance as well. But how did the entire team deal with that tragic incident?

It was difficult because like after Naomi lost early in the new Australian Open, she flew home. And of course, we wanted to give her a bit of time for herself to regroup. And we were going to see her like a week later at the Fed Cup in Spain, where team Japan had to play Spain. And then the tragic accident happens. So it was a lot. It was very difficult. But then I think four or five, five days later, we saw her in Spain. And it was a really difficult moment. Because she was very emotional, and she was going through probably the most difficult time in her life. That was clear. It’s on the court, she could not really play well, because she was just too emotional. But because of everything happened, like we were as a team, we were really able to connect and to have to really start open conversations. So she expressed her feelings and that was really because I started in December and that was February. So I didn’t get to know her very well. And that was for myself a very important moment to really speak to her and open conversation how she was feeling and how she was dealing with certain stuff and how some things affected her. From that moment on, we were like true team and we felt all free to speak to each other very openly. And it’s also the moment she realized because before she lost to Coco Gauff or before that match, I felt there was like she had a lot of tension but she couldn’t really speak about it. So we were not able to get really good conversation before that match. And after we had that week in Spain there was definitely, like, very different like she was expressing her feelings before matches because she had trust in a team that we could help her. You know, if you don’t speak about a problem, we can also can’t help you solve the problem. So that’s the start and for that reason, it was a really good week for us.

I think that the Tour going off right after she lost that Fed Cup match, I think she regrouped her. Her team helped her to regroup her well.

Yes, very well. And I saw, I remember preparing for Indian Wells. And I was confident she was going to win Indian Wells because she was practicing so well and such intensity. So with focus, she really like regrouped and she wanted to show the whole world that Naomi Osaka was still the best player in the world. And that was very unfortunate Indian Wells didn’t happen.

But ultimately, like Cincinnati, she was there in the finals, and again, two weeks later, she won the US Open.

Yeah, yeah. Fantastic.

Naomi is not just a great tennis player, she has also become a global icon right now. Even people who outside tennis they recognize her as like she was one of the best tennis players from Asia. To you, like who is Naomi? What are her best qualities and just as a human being not as a tennis player?

Well, she’s a great person, great heart. She’s, I mean, a lot of people have watched her Netflix show, I think. I do think it’s real, but it’s also like just one part of Nomi. I’ve seen a lot of times a very funny Naomi. Unfortunately, they didn’t show that too much. But she’s funny. she’s happy most of the time, not always like speaking about the tennis court but also in her private life. So I see her like happy with her friends with her family. It was a real pleasure to work with her for about almost three years. Always respectful to her team and the people around her or to the people we meet. I don’t know worker in the hotel or we see on the street. Always takes time to make a photo with fans. It was never an issue. So a really kind girl but also like a true champion. So that’s always that’s interesting mix. When on the court she was real champion, she hated losing. She was really tough mentally but in life, she was yeah, just a very kind girl. Yeah, that’s how I would describe her.

Speaking about women’s tour in general, the competition is rising day by day. We see new Slam champions, new faces, every Slam. And a lot of people say like there is a lot of inconsistency in women’s game. But on the contrary, we do hear people say there’s a lot of competition, versatility, and depth in women’s game. But what is your take on that?

Yeah, that has changed a lot last 10 years like a top 50 player is not far away from a top 20 level and on a good day, top 50 and maybe not the perfect day for top 20 It’s almost the same level. So it’s every round is like a final I would say; you have to be at your best. Let’s say 10 years ago that was a bit different, but that has changed a lot. I do feel when we speak about Grand Slams and in men’s tennis you have the best of five of course and that changes a lot. I’m certain if it would be best of three you would also see a lot more upsets than we see now because it’s mentally complete different if (Novak) Djokovic loses the first set, there’s absolutely no problem the other one has to keep his phenomenal highest level ever for another two sets if he wants to beat Novak. Novak and Rafa and also Federer, they just stay very calm or they lose the second set, you know, okay, they still have to win and it’s very different if you play best of three and you lose the first set, maybe you had a bad start. Well, if you’re a new player, best tennis immediately it could be over and that’s the moment where you can get a bit nervous or like ‘I lost the first set, now I have to, I can’t afford like a break or something like that.’ And it can be very quickly so if it’s the best of three like the consistency we have seen the past 20 years in men’s tennis will for sure change a little I don’t know how much but it will change. In women’s tennis, there’s a lot of different Grand Slam champions, but I do feel that with the number one we have like Iga (Swiatek), I feel like she will consistently and she will stay there for a few years she is going to be very tough to beat. Still working on herself, developing and she’s hungry to become a better version of herself to win a lot of Grand Slams. So I think we’re going to see a little bit more consistency there in the next year or so.

So do you think Iga Swiatek will continue her consistency and she will become a game changer? Will she be associated with what the Williams sisters did, what Kim Clijsters did?

I think she is already a little bit of a game-changer. In fact, the way she plays and the way athletic she is. I feel like we come from first of all the generation where it was kind of a chess players, you know, the old days and then we had Steffi Graf and then (Monica) Seles. Then we had, of course, the power generation with Serena and Venus and, and also Kim and other players. I feel like then we had like the generation that’s also like, very, very athletic. But now it’s like it’s a lot of power, they’re all super athletic, but it’s also more variation into the game. We get like the forehand slice defense, we get a good backhand slice, we get the net game as well. So it’s more I feel like it’s all coming like together closer to men’s tennis than a few years back. So, for me, Iga doesn’t have the biggest serve yet. Maybe I think she’s working on that, she will improve that. But like great groundstrokes, super athletic, defensively super strong, offensive, she got a lot of variation. So for me in that way, she’s already like a bit of a game changer.

So I think technology is also playing a role in that like you explain the evolution of the game. It was like a chess game before and when Williams Sisters were dominating, it was more about power. And right now it’s more about the technique and everything. So I think technology is playing its role in changing the game with the tennis players evolving themselves, correct?

100% Yeah, technology helps you also to work and helps the coach to develop the player. It’s very clear in stats where the player needs to improve or can improve and yeah, it really helps the day-to-day coaching and development.

So speaking about your professional career, you have always been with female tennis players. Why didn’t you train male professionals or why did you choose WTA over ATP?

I love working with the women so much (laughs). I mean, I enjoy it, I enjoy it a lot. Never really had the opportunity to work in men’s tennis, to be honest. I would be interested of course to also work with some male players. I don’t think it’s a big difference. I mean, technically it’s the same sport and tactically it’s more or less the same. So I do feel like could also be a coach on the ATP Tour but I don’t know. I started on the WTA tour I got opportunities WTA Tour. People know me better at the WTA Tour. So, to be honest, I’ve always enjoyed working with females. And I don’t see men’s tennis as an upgrade for myself. If I can work with the best females in the world I’m super happy and I really enjoy it and I yeah, I don’t think working with a male would be a better job for me now.

So if given the chance Who would you like to coach on the men’s side presently?

Probably someone like Alcatraz. I mean, I would definitely enjoy to watch the matches. No, but there are so many good players, good young players also like Felix (Auger-Aliassime) or Holger Rune. Probably forgetting a lot of players, but I think it’s a fantastic generation.

I have one last question for you. There are so many tennis enthusiasts out there in the world. And they are trying, they are aiming to become a tennis coach, just like what you do. So what is that one piece of advice you would like to give those tennis enthusiasts and budding coaches?

Well, first of all, knowledge is power. So the more you know about your job, the more of an expert you can become, the more chances you have. It’s really not easy to become a tour coach to get that chance with an international player. But the more you put yourself also, in a position like working maybe, going to big academies where international players or tour players come maybe in the preseason to prepare and they get to know you. I think that could be a good step. You know, maybe first as a hitting partner and then more into a coach to get to know the tour to learn from maybe older coaches or more experienced coaches. But I will always start with the base. The base is always knowledge; know what you’re talking about, know the tactics, know the technique, try to become technically the best you ever can. So many good books out there. So many good seminars also online. And teach a lot of different levels; so you can, I don’t know, help them to correct their technique and become better every day. And then yeah, I would say like, try to get a position somewhere in an International Academy or a big Academy where top players play and who knows that there’s a window to get that dream job.

That’s a great piece of advice. So, thank you very much for your time during the festive season. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a really happy New York to you. 

Thank you, thank you very much. 

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