Naomi Osaka has announced the conclusion of her partnership with Patrick Mouratoglou, a former coach of Serena Williams, after less than a year of collaboration. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Osaka expressed her gratitude, 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.”
Despite being a four-time Grand Slam champion, Osaka has struggled to replicate her past successes during her time with Mouratoglou, culminating in her recent round of 32 exit at the Washington Open against Emma Raducanu. Since her victory at the 2021 Australian Open, the 27-year-old has not secured a WTA Tour-level title. However, there have been glimpses of her potential resurgence, evidenced by her reaching the final at the Auckland Open in January 2025.
Following the split, Osaka is looking to collaborate with Tomasz Wiktorowski, Iga Swiatek’s former coach, on a trial basis. Wiktorowski has a notable coaching history, including his time with Agnieszka Radwanska, where he guided her to the Wimbledon final in 2012 and helped her achieve a career-high ranking of world number two.
The coaching change comes amid some criticism directed at Mouratoglou from tennis commentators. Journalist Catherine Whitaker remarked that Osaka appears “lost,” a sentiment echoed by Matt Roberts, who highlighted concerns about Mouratoglou’s impact on other players he has worked with in the past. Roberts noted several troubling signs during the partnership, including Mouratoglou’s comments regarding women’s tennis and Osaka’s struggles in maintaining confidence.
Osaka’s shift in coaching strategy could bring renewed energy and direction as she seeks to regain her competitive edge. Given Wiktorowski’s successful track record with elite players, there is hope that this new collaboration may help Osaka find her footing and return to the top of her game.