Patrick Mouratoglou began his coaching relationship with Naomi Osaka last year as the pair now search for success on the WTA Tour.
Former world number one Osaka returned from maternity leave in 2024 looking to add a fifth Grand Slam title to her name.
Osaka hired French coach Mouratoglou last year, in the hope that his Major winning experience would lead her to glory in 2025.
The Japanese star reached her first final since 2022 in January, as Osaka retired with an injury against Clara Tauson in Auckland.
A third-round defeat for Osaka at the Australian Open followed before she traveled to California for the Indian Wells WTA 1000 event.
Osaka lost to Camila Osorio in the first round of Indian Wells, and was asked for her thoughts on the conditions at the tournament after the match.
The 27-year-old couldn’t give too much insight on the ‘new’ surfaces, having not played at Indian Wells for several years, although her coach was happy to share his thoughts.
Patrick Mouratoglou says the conditions at Indian Wells are ‘very difficult’ and reveals who has the advantage
Naomi Osaka’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou recently took to Instagram to deliver his verdict on the conditions at Indian Wells.
“The ball is a bit hard, the conditions are very dry so the ball doesn’t get fluffy very fast compared to Miami, for example, where it does,” he said.
“So the ball flies fast, but is slowed by the court so it is a good combination and I think that is the reason why the court is that slow, because the ball is very fast.
“It’s always very difficult to control the ball well at the start.
“There’s a bit of altitude, the balls are reacting in that way so they just go out of the racket really fast and it takes a little while to get used to the conditions.
“Also they’re a bit faster because the air is very dry compared to Miami where the air is very humid and the balls get very fluffy very fast.”
Mouratoglou then predicted which WTA players would excel the most in the ‘very difficult’ conditions at Indian Wells.
“Players who like pace are a bit advantaged,” he said.
The Frenchman will have been disappointed to see Osaka fall to defeat in her opening match at Indian Wells, as she lost to 23-year-old, Osorio, 4-6, 4-6.
Osaka’s first-round defeat in California was the worst of her career to date, having previously won the tournament in 2018.
- 2025 – Lost in 1R to Camila Osorio
- 2024 – Lost in 3R to Elise Mertens
- 2022 – Lost in 2R to Veronika Kudermetova
- 2019 – Lost in 4R to Belinda Bencic
- 2018 – Won, beat Daria Kasatkina in the final
- 2017 – Lost in 3R to Madison Keys
What’s next for Naomi Osaka after first round defeat at Indian Wells?
The four-time Major champion will look to return to winning ways later this month when she heads to Florida for the Miami Open.
Osaka enjoyed a strong run to the final in Miami three years ago, as she came up short against world number two Iga Swiatek.
| Round | Opponent | Result | Score |
| F | Iga Swiatek | Loss | 6-4, 6-0 |
| SF | Belinda Bencic | Win | 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| QF | Danielle Collins | Win | 6-2, 6-1 |
| 4R | Alison Riske | Win | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 3R | Karolina Muchova | Win | W/O |
| 2R | Angelique Kerber | Win | 6-2, 6-3 |
| 1R | Astra Sharma | Win | 6-3, 6-4 |
In just their second career meeting, the Pole dominated proceedings, handing Osaka a ‘bagel’ [6-0] set, to lift the title in style.
Returning to the tournament in 2024, Osaka beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Elina Svitolina to advance to the third round, where she lost to Caroline Garcia.
She’ll no doubt be hoping to go further this year when the Miami Open kicks off on Monday, March 17.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
