Naomi Osaka will be aiming to get her 2025 season off to a very strong start at the ASB Classic in Auckland.
Osaka is excited for the new season, with her 2024 season having ended early with a back injury that forced her to retire from the China Open.
The four-time Grand Slam champion is already off to winning ways in New Zealand, beating Lina Glushko in round one.
Former world number one Osaka needed one hour and 25 minutes to land a second round spot at the WTA 250 tournament.
The ASB Classic seventh seed now faces Julia Grabher in round two, having reached the quarter-finals of the competition in her only other appearance in 2017.
Naomi Osaka makes two big changes under Patrick Mouratoglou
A lot of success has gone her way since then, with Osaka now looking to clinch more silverware under coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
She spoke of her development under Mouratoglou ahead of the event, saying in her pre-tournament press conference: “I think he has changed a lot.
“You might be able to see it in my play style from China and I guess when I play my match here this week. Definitely a lot more aggressive and he makes me feel very confident in myself.”
What Naomi Osaka has told a lot of people about Patrick Mouratoglou
Osaka had been working with Wim Fissette, but decided to part ways with the Belgian coach in September.
He has moved on to work with another former world number one in Iga Swiatek, with Osaka quickly turning to Mouratoglou.
She beat Lucia Bronzetti at the China Open in her first match since hiring the Frenchman, who previously worked with Serena Williams.
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Osaka has enjoyed her time with Mouratoglou thus far, with the world number 57 adding: “With Patrick I have told a lot of people this but he has such a big persona but I am quite a shy person, so getting to know him and trusting him and interacting with him, we have been able to do that a lot more this tournament. I am happy about that and curious to hear what he says.”
American star Coco Gauff has won the last two editions of the ASB Classic, but she has opted to play at the United Cup this year instead of chasing a third successive title in New Zealand.
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