Naomi Osaka’s path back to the top of tennis has been anything but straightforward.
When she made her comeback at the start of 2024, even she probably didn’t expect it to take so long.
The 27-year-old took time away from the sport in 2023 after giving birth to her first child, a break that came after she had already won four Grand Slam titles.
READ MORE: Coco Gauff told to take time away from tennis after US Open exit
Before stepping away, she was a force in every tournament she entered. Returning with a new set of challenges, it must have been tough for Osaka to keep losing matches against players she would have beaten easily before her break.
But now, it finally feels like Naomi Osaka is back where she should be. And Tomasz Wiktorowski has played a big part in that turnaround.
Lindsay Davenport backs Naomi Osaka’s coaching setup
While there had been incremental progress under Patrick Mouratoglou, it’s clear that the Polish tactician has brought a fresh approach, helping Osaka rediscover the form that once made her a Grand Slam champion.
Osaka’s recent win over Coco Gauff at the US Open only added to that narrative, even if Gauff is still working her way through some well-documented struggles.
Mary Carillo, speaking on The Tennis Podcast, broke down what she sees as the main issues facing the young American: “Honco’s… I felt bad for her, not terrible for her, because she did serve better, but the fact that she won a major just a couple of months ago and now she kind of feels like she’s got to get her game down to the studs. I’m kind of thinking, like what took her so long? You know what I mean?
“I’m not saying that she’s not doing well enough because of course she’s doing great and she’s a nice kid. But you can’t have those grips. They’re sort of criminal grips. And for her to… obviously she can win on clay and when she can win on hard when she’s confident.
The defeat prompted Gauff to make a public commitment about changes ahead as an attempt to prevent similar losses going forward.
How Naomi Osaka has performed since Tomasz Wiktorowski took over as coach
Osaka has looked impressive since hiring Wiktorowski. But their partnership didn’t get off to the best start, with a second-round loss to Emma Raducanu in Washington.
Even though this happened during their trial period, the Japanese star was clearly taking a lot from their early sessions together.
That feeling grew stronger when she reached the final of the Canadian Open, and soon after, they made their partnership official.
Osaka has since reached the US Open quarter-finals and is now seen by many as a genuine contender for the title.
The way Wiktorowski has quickly changed the narrative around the four-time Grand Slam winner hasn’t gone unnoticed. He’s earning plenty of praise for his impact so far.
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