Naomi Osaka is a WTA champion once more, having clinched the first WTA 125 title of her career at the L’Open 35 de Saint Malo.
Patrick Mouratoglou congratulated Osaka on her success, with the coach having helped the former world number one to the title in France.
It represents a first triumph for former WTA number one Osaka since she emerged victorious at the 2021 Australian Open.
That success represents one of four Grand Slam titles for the 27-year-old, all of which arrived between 2018 and 2021.
Osaka beat Kaja Juvan to secure her latest success, with the former beating the Slovenian 6-1, 7-5 in Saint Malo.
Rennae Stubbs praises Naomi Osaka after first WTA 125 title
Former professional Rennae Stubbs praised Osaka for playing the WTA 125 event, for which she accepted a wildcard after exiting the Madrid Open.
And Stubbs has now extended that praise for Osaka after she lifted the trophy, saying on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast: “What people don’t realise is the amount of pressure that would have been on her shoulders to win that tournament.
“[People would say] if you don’t win this tournament, you should not be playing any more. I have seen players go back to playing Challengers, like 25s and 50s, to get matches that are ranked outside the top 250 now that were ranked inside the top 20.
“It’s really hard. It’s a lot of pressure on you. It’s why a lot of them don’t go down to the lower levels because they don’t want even more pressure on them to win the tournament.
“I give her a ton of credit for doing that. And we will see how she does going into the next couple of weeks, because I would not want to play her.”
Naomi Osaka makes fantastic decision as French Open nears
Osaka would have certainly been feeling the pressure in Saint Malo, but she dealt with that pressure expertly.
The surprise appearance came just after she fell at the first hurdle of the Madrid Open, losing her opener to Lucia Bronzetti.
Former world number one Osaka can now take great confidence going forward, particularly for the rapidly approaching French Open.
She has, however, been handed a tricky task first up at the Italian Open, having been drawn to face home favourite Sara Errani in round one.
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