Patrick Mouratoglou has shared his honest thoughts about working with Naomi Osaka. In a recent Instagram reel, the French coach explained why he believes admiration is essential while coaching top players.
He said, “I would never work with a player if I don’t admire that player.”
Mouratoglou and Osaka started working together in September 2024. The partnership came after Osaka split from her previous coach Wim Fissette following the 2024 US Open. Their first tournament together was the China Open in Beijing, where Osaka showed promise before injury forced her to retire.
Patrick Mouratoglou Explains Why Admiration Is Important in Coaching
The 54-year-old coach believes that genuine admiration is important for successful coaching relationships. In his Instagram reel, Mouratoglou emphasized that players can sense their coach’s true feelings every second they are together. He thinks coaches can maintain authority while still admiring their players.
“I think it’s absolutely necessary to have this admiration for your player, because the player is going to feel it every second,” Mouratoglou explained in his post. He added that he finds incredible pleasure watching Osaka play because he loves her game style.
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“And if you look at Naomi for example, that I work with at the moment, I admire her a lot. I think she’s an incredible player. When I watch her play, I have an incredible feeling of pleasure, because I love her game. And I think it’s very important,” Mouratoglou said while talking about Osaka.
Mouratoglou brings significant experience to this partnership. He coached Serena Williams for almost a decade from 2012 to 2022, helping her win 10 Grand Slam titles during that period. Before Osaka, he also worked with players like Marcos Baghdatis, Grigor Dimitrov, and Holger Rune.
Naomi Osaka’s Journey Back to Top Form with Patrick Mouratoglou
The four-time Grand Slam champion has been working hard to return to her best level after taking maternity leave in 2023. Her 2024 season was challenging, with a win-loss record of 22-18 and no titles. She also dealt with injuries, including bulged disc in her back and ruptured abdominal muscles that ended her 2024 season early.
However, 2025 has started much better for Osaka. She reached her first final since her comeback at the Auckland Open in January, though she had to retire due to injury while leading. At the Australian Open, she made it to the third round, her best Grand Slam result since returning from maternity leave. She currently sits at No. 56 in the WTA rankings.
Mouratoglou sees clear signs of progress in Osaka’s game. He noted improvements in her physical condition, practice intensity, and match handling. The coach believes she has made significant strides in staying injury-free and has reached a new level in training compared to months earlier.
