Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka shocked the world of tennis with her announcement on Friday that her second stint with coach Wim Fissette has come to an end. The former world No. 1 took to Instagram to thank Fissette for their fruitful partnership, which included “[four] years, [two] Slams and a whole lot of memories.”
In her emotional Instagram post, Osaka expressed her gratitude to Fissette, saying, “Thanks Wim for being a great coach and an even greater person. Wishing you all the best.” The duo first joined forces ahead of the 2020 season and enjoyed great success together, with Osaka claiming the 2020 US Open and the 2021 Australian Open titles during their initial collaboration.
The Belgian coach, known for his work with other tennis legends like Kim Clijsters, Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber, and Victoria Azarenka, rejoined Osaka’s team last year as she made her comeback to the sport after the birth of her daughter, Shai. Their partnership, however, has now reached its conclusion, leaving fans and experts speculating on what the future holds for both Osaka and Fissette.
Despite her best efforts, Osaka’s return to tennis has not gone as smoothly as she had hoped. The four-time Grand Slam singles champion struggled to replicate her previous success on the court, failing to advance past the second round of any Grand Slam tournament this year. While she did manage to secure her first Top 10 victory in four years at the US Open, her overall performance fell short of expectations.
Currently ranked No. 75 in the world, Osaka faces an uphill battle as she works to regain her form and climb back up the rankings. With her split from Fissette, the Japanese star will now have to regroup and find a new path forward in her career. Only time will tell what the future holds for this talented athlete.