Naomi Osaka releases statement after ending her coaching partnership with Patrick Mouratoglou

Naomi Osaka has officially confirmed her split with Patrick Mouratoglou, leaving a big vacancy in her coaching department.

This cuts short a ten-month working relationship, with the Frenchman having been hired in September of last year to replace Wim Fissette.

There was hope that this union might have sparked the 26-year-old back into action, having only returned to the WTA Tour in July earlier in 2024 after the birth of her child.

However, it has brought little success, with Naomi Osaka now without a title at the 250 level or above since her Australian Open triumph all the way back in 2021.

Something had to give eventually, and whilst we are yet to receive the full details behind the split, Osaka has now sent a message on social media to Mouratoglou to offer some additional insight.

Naomi Osaka splits with Patrick Mouratoglou

The Japanese tennis star was once the dominant force on the women’s tour, so there’s reason for her frustration at being unable to reclaim her spot at the pinnacle.

However, in her absence, superstars like Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka have stepped up to claim many of the major titles.

It has created a forcefield at the apex of tennis which many are struggling to penetrate, and Osaka is clearly of the mind that a change in coach will improve her chances of finally breaking through.

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She remained thankful for Mouratoglou’s input in her career, no matter how brief, calling him ‘one of the coolest people I’ve ever met’.

Naomi Osaka’s frustration since returning to tennis

As noted earlier, Osaka’s frustration at failing to swiftly soar back to the top of the rankings has spilt over in a few press conferences.

And understandably so, given how much she demands of herself.

In one recent chat with the media after losing early at Wimbledon, a tearful Osaka admitted: “I’m just going to be a negative human being today. I’m so sorry. I have nothing positive to say about myself, which is something I’m working on.”

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She finished by stating: “Yeah, I’m glad to be done with this, and I’m looking forward to the hard courts.”

It seems like losing to Emma Raducanu at the Washington Open marked the final straw for her working relationship with Mouratoglou.

That is, despite Raducanu saying Osaka does something better than anyone else on tour after their match.

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