Qinwen Zheng and Naomi Osaka, who are about to face each other in the Italian Open, have an added layer of tension to their match, as the coaching change of the two created quite a talk near the end of 2023. After being absent in 2023, Osaka announced her return for 2024. When Osaka announced that she had begun training to come back to the court, many wondered who would guide her. Fissette was the name on the minds of many, but most didn’t believe that he would leave Zheng for Osaka.

The Chinese player’s worst nightmare came true as Fissette abruptly left her team. Soon after the US Open, when the news broke, the Australian Open finalist was left feeling betrayed. “He broke the contract. This is very immoral. I understand his decision, but my family and I feel hurt. Right now I don’t want to talk about this person.” 

Zheng’s collaboration with the Belgian coach didn’t turn out great, especially when she found out he was going to work with Osaka instead. Before they parted ways, Zheng knew Osaka’s team had reached out to him. In another interview, Zheng, who is ranked 7th globally, shared that the coach, Fissette, expressed not feeling a strong connection with her – “Right after the match, he said to me that he felt like he had no connection with me. He never said that to me before. Right after I was defeated, he said that to me. I felt very strange.”

Zheng was worried that he would leave her, but her manager assured her he would not join Osaka’s team. Unfortunately, her nightmare came to life as he left her team to join Osaka after a week. His move left Zheng crying, “It was quite a big impact to me and my team members and my family. I cried after hearing that. There were no fights, no arguments in our collaboration.”

Although they had only been together since 2023 Wimbledon, the move caused mental turmoil for Zheng. However, she eventually found a new coach who was just as great as Fissette.

After reuniting with Pere Riba, Quinwen Zheng doesn’t “want to say about Wim Fissette”

Pere Riba, the former coach of Coco Gauff and Zheng rejoined her team in late 2023. The two had been together for a few years before parting ways in the middle of 2023. Riba would join Gauff’s team, leading her to her first WTA 500, 1000, and grand slam titles. He eventually departed after the WTA Finals. The move was also rather controversial as Riba initially claimed he left Gauff due to family and personal issues. 

However, just one month after he left, he returned to his former team. About their reunion, the world number 7 said, “Honestly, to finish with him last year, that was not my — I don’t supposed to, and it wasn’t my real decision. But right now I’m just happy to be here, to have my team back. Yeah, I just say, Let’s go for it for this tournament. There is nothing I want to say about Wim Fissette, yeah.”

Going into the match with Osaka, Zheng has the mental aggression to make her former coach regret her decision. She found a new coach who is just as great as Fissette. For Osaka, gaining her lost form will be the main goal. Who will come out on top in their clash?