The two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has hired Jermaine Jenkins as her new coach after splitting from her former coach Sascha Bajin last month.
Osaka’s agent announced this to the media on Thursday about the new development after the player had earlier tweeted about it.
This move comes barely two weeks after sacking Bajin over irreconcilable differences. Bajin had previously worked with American tennis star, Serena Williams.
Bajin started coaching Osaka before the start of the 2018 WTA season and guided her to her first ever Grand Slam title at the US Open where she defeated her finalist opponent, Serena in controversial circumstances.
Her success on the grand stage was replicated once again earlier this year when she won her second major title at the Australian Open.
Her latest victory saw her rise up the ranks to become World number one for the first time in her career.
Their combination brought both player and coach success on and off the pitch as Naoki won the award for the Breakthrough Sports Star of the year at the recently concluded Laureus Sport award last month while Bajin was crowned tennis coach of the year for the 2018 season.
However, their relationship broke down after just over a year together which led to the dismissal of the Australian who had led her from 72nd on the WTA ranking to top spot.
Her new coach, Jenkins was a one time hitting coach for Venus Williams and was also an all-American player in college. It was announced by the US Tennis Association that Jenkins had being hired as a WTA coach last month. He will join Osaka at the Indian Wells Open.
Osaka will be hoping to get back to form under the tutelage of the American after faring badly in recent tournaments and exiting last month’s Dubai Duty Free Tournament at the first round.
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