via Getty
PARIS, FRANCE May 29. Coach Wim Fissette talks to Naomi Osaka of Japan while practicing on court five in preparation for the 2021 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on May 29th 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
via Getty
PARIS, FRANCE May 29. Coach Wim Fissette talks to Naomi Osaka of Japan while practicing on court five in preparation for the 2021 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on May 29th 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Naomi Osaka, one of the finest WTA players at the moment, split with her coach Wim Fissette in June 2022. The Japanese player has won four Grand Slam singles, including two US Open and two Australian Open titles. Two of these were won under the guidance of Wim Fissette. The duo started working together in 2019 and continued to enjoy three successful years on the WTA Tour. After splitting from the Japanese star’s coaching team, the Belgian coach is now set to work with the raising Chinese star on the WTA Tour, Qinwen Zheng.
Having helped Osaka win the Australian Open in the same year he started coaching her, Fissette is now hoping to work his magic on the 20-year-old Chinese sensation.
Will Fissette make a difference in the career of one of the most promising players on the WTA Tour?
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Qinwen Zheng is still an emerging player, carving her career with seven ITF singles titles. The Japanese player needs a perfect sculptor to her carve out a successful career on the professional circuit. With Wim Fissette, she might have found the perfect coach. According to a post uploaded by ‘The Tennis Letter’ on Twitter, the Belgian coach and Chinese player have commenced their work together.
Naomi Osaka’s former coach, Wim Fissette, is officially working with Qinwen Zheng
Wim has worked with Kim Clijsters, Simona Halep, Vika Azarenka, Angie Kerber, & Petra Kvitova.
A world renowned coach & one of the brightest talents WTA has seen in years.
Let’s see what happens. pic.twitter.com/BIpaLfPxVI
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 16, 2023
The twenty-fourth seed had her best finish in a Grand Slam at the 2022 French Open, when she reached the fourth round. Though she did not make it to the latter stages, this improved her ranking remarkably. Pere Riba, a former Spanish player, previously coached her, and her main goal in 2022 was to end up in the Top 30, which she achieved.
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Will the Chinese emerging star carve a successful path under Fissette like Naomi Osaka?
The 20-year-old promising professional has qualified for Wimbledon 2023. The Chinese player went from 143rd rank to 125 in 2021 and took a gigantic leap to become the 24th seed in 2022. She has come a long way and ticked all her goals to date. Her career-high ranking was 19, which she achieved in May 2023. Zheng holds the record as the only player to win a set against Iga Swiatek in the 2023 French Open.
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With her impeccable growth and a legendary coach by her side, the 24th seed is making her 2023 Wimbledon entry. Besides Osaka, Fissette also trained former world number one stars, like Kim Clijsters, Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka, and Angelique Kerber. Can the Belgian star coach be a gateway to Zheng’s first Grand Slam glory?
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