Naomi Osaka’s recent exit from the French Open not only ended her 2025 campaign early but also led to an emotional discussion about her relationship with coach Patrick Mouratoglou. The four-time Grand Slam champion’s heartfelt comments caught the attention of Serena Williams’ childhood coach, Rick Macci.
Osaka opened up about the pressure she feels not only to perform for herself but also to meet the expectations of Mouratoglou, who famously coached Williams. Her words have raised questions about how Osaka is handling her comeback challenges on the red clay of Roland Garros.
Naomi Osaka’s Struggles at Roland Garros Continue
Osaka’s journey at the French Open has never been easy. Since her debut at Roland Garros in 2016, the Japanese star has faced several early exits. The 2025 tournament marked her eighth appearance in Paris and her third opening-round loss.
This year’s 6-7(1), 6-1, 6-4 defeat to 10th seed Paula Badosa was a tough blow, especially as Osaka continues her return to the tour following maternity leave. She was visibly emotional in her post-match press conference, breaking down in tears as she spoke about the weight she feels on her shoulders.
In that press conference, Osaka shared how she struggles with the feeling of disappointing those around her, especially her coach.
Four-time major winner Naomi Osaka said she “hates disappointing people” after she lost to Spain’s Paula Badosa in the first round of the French Open. pic.twitter.com/l4icdS00fc
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 27, 2025
“I think as time goes on, I feel like I should be doing better,” she said. “But also, I kind of talked about this before… I hate disappointing people.
“So even with Patrick, I was thinking, he goes from working with like the greatest player ever, to what the f*** is this. You know what I mean? Sorry for cursing, I hope that I don’t get a fine, but…”
Rick Macci Shares His Thoughts on Osaka’s Mindset
Osaka’s vulnerable comments struck a chord with Rick Macci, who coached Serena Williams early in her career. He took to X to share his perspective on Osaka’s mental battle and the importance of reframing her mindset.
Mindset many times determines if you win sets. Osaka mentally has to flip the script and not feel like she is letting others down. It has to be framed your letting the sport down as an athlete as the focus is about the competition and that is it. She can take this negative…
— Rick Macci (@RickMacci) May 28, 2025
“Mindset many times determines if you win sets,” Macci wrote. “Osaka mentally has to flip the script and not feel like she is letting others down. It has to be framed you’re letting the sport down as an athlete as the focus is about the competition and that is it. She can take this negative approach she feels with the right mental advice, think twice, not look back and get on track.”
Macci Believes Osaka Can Return to the Top 10
Macci also shared an encouraging message about Osaka’s chances of climbing back into the top 10. While he acknowledged that her movement isn’t as explosive as before, he believes that hard work and commitment can get her there.
Osaka has all the qualities to get back in the top ten. There is a fine line between winning/ losing. Her movement is not as explosive as before and overall anticipation is not as instinctive. A comeback is a slippery slope like a bar of soap but as long as working hard is her…
— Rick Macci (@RickMacci) May 27, 2025
“Osaka has all the qualities to get back in the top ten,” Macci wrote. “There is a fine line between winning and losing. Her movement is not as explosive as before, and overall anticipation is not as instinctive. A comeback is a slippery slope like a bar of soap, but as long as working hard is her best friend, she can get back in the top ten.”