How ‘teddy bear’ coach is helping Osaka find mojo

Naomi Osaka addressed the media at Wimbledon with little to say. Apathy had replaced anger.

After a demoralizing third-round exit, the four-time major champion thought she had “nothing positive to say.”

Less than two months later, Osaka’s face is now smiling again.

As the 27-year-old former world number one tries to avoid Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova in Wednesday’s US Open quarter-finals, the 27-year-old appears to have regained her energy.

Former British no. 1 Annabel Croft, who analysed Osaka’s impressive fourth-round victory over third-seeded Coco Gauff for BBC Radio 5 Live, said, “Some of her tennis has been reminiscent of when she won her two titles here.”

“Here, the ball-striking is all about taking control of the baseline, opening the court, building up the point, and hitting a winner,” she said.

She makes the game seem so simple and effortless when she is confident.

Since the birth of her daughter Shai in July 2023, Japan’s Osaka has been playing for only 14 months, and her recovery from a game she once dominated has been gradual.

She is preparing for her first Grand Slam quarter-final since the 2021 Australian Open after lacking optimism at Wimbledon and questioning her course.

The most important decision for her was to switch her coach.

She parted ways with Polish coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and Frenchman Patrick Mouratoglou, who had worked with 23-time major champion Serena Williams.

Wiktorowski is best known for guiding fellow compatriot Iga Swiatek to four Grand Slam victories during a three-year spell that ended in October.

Osaka responded to Wiktorowski’s approach by saying, “He seemed like such a tough guy to me, but when he smiles, he actually looks like a teddy bear.”

He says, “He’s not harsh at all when we talk after matches.” He’s always encouraging and proud.

I think it kind of gives me a safe place to express my tennis.

Instantaneous impact.

Osaka’s renowned ball-striking returned to her game, and her rediscovery of confidence helped her reach the final of her first tournament against Wiktorowski, which was more at ease.

I persevered until the very end, against Samsonova. From that point on, I believed I was going to be the strongest fighter I could be, Osaka said.

When I played Svitolina, I felt really good. I believe the match demonstrated how much I can unite with everyone.

Victoria Mboko, a Canadian teenager, defeated Osaka in the final, which gave her a bad rap, but she also gained momentum for the US Open.

Osaka said, “I want to take away from this tournament just smiling and having fun.”

“I’m aware that in my first round, I was too apprehensive, and in my second-round game, I was just really not smiley at all.”

“I just wanted to be grateful before the Gauff] game. When I play against the best players, I have the most fun.

Osaka has benefited from a largely more restrained approach, wisely utilizing her baseline power to make mistakes in front of her foes.

According to the statistics, her all-around ability ranks among the tournament leaders, with 79% of her service games, 56% of her return games, and 19% of her shots ending in winners.

“Osaka is a very rhythmic player; not much creativity, but beautiful timing, and effortless power,” Croft said.