21-year-old Naomi Osaka has revealed the reason behind her shock decision to sack her coach Sascha Bajin, after having just won her second major in a row and it had nothing to do with money.
After winning the Australian Open title, the young Japanese star shocked the tennis world by firing coach Bajin who also won the 2018 WTA coach of the year award.
The combination between the duo had yielded amazing results during the period they worked together. At the time Bajin took over coaching responsibilities, Osaka was 72nd on the WTA rankings but he guided her to her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open.
Although the split happened after winning her second major title in Melbourne, the Japanese claimed there were already issues during the tournament in Australia.
Naomi said:
“I think during Australia Open, I was just trying to tell myself to get through it. I’m not sure but I think, you guys noticed.”
“I’m not going to say anything bad about him because, of course, I’m really grateful for all the things he’s done I wouldn’t come here and say anything bad.”
Their relationship appears to have broken down due to the coaching style of Bajin which seemed to have rubbed off on the young player the wrong way.
The two-time Grand Slam winner who is the first player to win a second major title immediately after winning the first since Jennifer Capriati in 2001 insists that the split had to happen to safeguard her happiness as a human being and wasn’t money-related.
Osaka also said she hoped to have a new coach before the start of the Indian Wells Open next month where she will be looking at defend the title she won last year. Incidentally, it was her win at Indian Wells last season that kick-started her ascent in the world rankings that saw her climb to number one in the world.
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