Naomi Osaka has expressed her gratitude to coach Patrick Mouratoglou after reaching the ASB Classic quarter-finals.
Speaking before the WTA 250 event, Osaka said Mouratoglou has ‘changed a lot’ about her game since becoming her coach.
She has now reached her first tour-level quarter-final in six months, having also reached this stage of the 2017 ASB Classic, her only other appearance in Auckland.
Osaka has hinted towards retirement, but for now she is going strong in New Zealand after back-to-back straight set wins.
A 6-4, 6-4 round of 32 victory was secured over Lina Glushko before a 7-5, 6-3 triumph for Osaka over Julia Grabher.
What Patrick Mouratoglou told Naomi Osaka in her ASB Classic second round match
Osaka overcame both the Austrian world number 470 and a rain delay in Auckland, where she saved both break points faced and lost only 13 points on serve.
Asked in her post-match press conference what Mouratoglou said to her during the break and indeed if she thinks their relationship is progressing positively, she replied: “Yeah, definitely.
“I think for me it’s about trust. I don’t really talk too much when I first meet a person, but obviously as the weeks and the days and the matches go by, we talk more and more and we build a better relationship.
“So during the, not changeover, but during the little rain delay, he just had two points for me that were very clear, and I was really grateful for that, because it wasn’t like he gave me a whole spiel on what to do. I definitely do trust him a lot.”
And when asked to share the two points Mouratoglou mentioned, she responded: “He’s going to kill me, because if I say I don’t remember… I think one of them was definitely swinging a bit more and feeling more free, because when I tense up I think I don’t follow through on my shots. And then the second one is just to stay a little further back on my return.”
What will Naomi Osaka want to achieve under Patrick Mouratoglou?
Osaka has endured a tricky time of late, having only just made a return to tennis following the birth of her first child.
But injury issues went her way at the China Open in October, where the former world number one was forced to retire against Coco Gauff.
READ MORE: Coco Gauff shares what she told Naomi Osaka after knocking her out of the China Open
A four-time Grand Slam champion, Osaka boasts seven tour-level titles from her fantastic, trophy-laden career so far.
Currently occupying 57th spot in the rankings, she will be eager to add more silverware to her collection in 2025.
It certainly seems a wise decision to bring in Mouratoglou, who arrived in September shortly after the departure of Wim Fissette.
She has made a strong start under the former, although perhaps staying fit and healthy will also be high on her list of priorities for the new season.
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