Naomi Osaka parts ways with coach Patrick Mouratoglou as hard-court season approaches

Naomi Osaka Parts Ways with Coach Patrick Mouratoglou

Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam titleholder, has chosen to part ways with her coach Patrick Mouratoglou after nearly a year of collaboration. This announcement comes just before the WTA 1,000 Canadian Open in Montreal, where Osaka is set to compete.

Gratitude and Reflections

In her social media post, she expressed gratitude to Mouratoglou, stating:

“Merci Patrick. It was such a great experience learning from you. Wishing you nothing but the best. You are one of the coolest people I’ve ever met and I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

Mouratoglou, renowned for his previous work with tennis great Serena Williams, has yet to make a public statement regarding the split. The 27-year-old Osaka began her partnership with him after the 2024 U.S. Open, but their time together has been characterized by both encouraging performances and significant challenges, including injuries that hampered her progress.

Mixed Outcomes and Challenges

Throughout their coaching tenure, Osaka experienced a mix of outcomes, often finding herself in matches that slipped away due to close defeats. For instance, she reflected on her first-round loss to Paula Badosa at the French Open, indicating that Mouratoglou was likely left perplexed at the string of narrow outcomes.

This summer has seen Osaka struggle with her physical fitness, leading to early exits, including her performance at the Italian Open in Rome where she faced a disappointing finish. Subsequently, she rebounded by winning a WTA 125 event in Saint Malo, France. However, the emotional toll of her injuries has clearly affected her performance, as evidenced by her frustrations during close contests in late 2024 and early 2025.

Final Matches and Future Prospects

In her last competitive outing at the D.C. Open, Osaka faced Emma Raducanu and lost 6-4, 6-2, marking the end of her partnership with Mouratoglou. This match was emblematic of a pattern, with many recent contests settled in tight third sets or tiebreaks. Following her Wimbledon defeat to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Osaka elaborated on her emotional shift, noting that her feelings were muted compared to her tearful reaction after the loss in Paris, indicating a change in mental perspective.

As she prepares for her initial match against Canadian qualifier Ariana Arseneault on Monday, the tennis world will be watching how Osaka navigates this new chapter in her career, particularly on the hard courts where she traditionally excels.