Four-time Grand Slam singles champion Naomi Osaka will work with Polish coach Tomasz Wiktorowski on a trial basis, following her recent split from Patrick Mouratoglou after less than a year together. The announcement came on Monday via Osaka’s social media, shortly before her first-round match victory at the WTA Canadian Open in Montreal.
A New Chapter with Tomasz Wiktorowski
Osaka, currently ranked 49th, began working with Wiktorowski in Canada. Wiktorowski brings a strong coaching pedigree, having guided Poland’s Agnieszka Radwańska from 2011 to 2018, during which time she reached the Wimbledon final and achieved a career-high ranking of world number two. More recently, he coached former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek from late 2021 until last October, a period in which Swiatek won four of her six career Grand Slam singles titles. Wiktorowski also earned the WTA Coach of the Year award in 2023 for his work with Swiatek.
The End of the Mouratoglou Partnership
The decision to part ways with Patrick Mouratoglou comes after a 10-month collaboration that began in September 2024. Mouratoglou, renowned for his work with Serena Williams, had partnered with Osaka in a move many saw as an effort to reignite her career. Despite some initial optimism, including reaching the Auckland final in January (where she retired due to injury) and winning a WTA 125K title in Saint-Malo, the partnership did not yield the consistent results Osaka had hoped for.
Osaka expressed gratitude for their time together on social media, posting, “Merci Patrick it was such a great experience learning from you. Wishing you nothing but the best. You are one of the coolest people I’ve ever met and I’m sure I’ll see you around.” Mouratoglou responded with a message of mutual respect, thanking Osaka for the “trust, the journey and what we have built together,” and stating he would “always root for” her.
Seeking Stability and Form
Osaka’s coaching changes reflect an ongoing search for the right formula to return to the top of the WTA Tour. She has openly discussed balancing motherhood with her return to professional tennis and has also been candid about her mental health struggles. With a current ranking outside the top 50, and early exits in recent tournaments, the need for a fresh approach has become apparent.
Osaka’s performance this season includes an 11-1 record against players ranked outside the top 100. She defeated Canadian qualifier Ariana Arseneault 6-4, 6-2 in her first-round match at the WTA Canadian Open in Montreal. Her next challenge will be against the 13th seed Liudmila Samsonova, against whom she has split their four prior meetings, winning the two on hardcourts.
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