Naomi Osaka: Back to the beginning - with the daddy who dances
Naomi Osaka (WTA No. 41) makes her comeback at the WTA tournament in San Jose - without coach Wim Fissette. Instead, dad Leonard Francois is back by her side, just like in the old days.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Aug 02, 2022, 09:35 pm
Naomi Osaka is back where it all started for her on the WTA Tour: it was 2014 when she qualified for her first WTA peloton in San Jose and she caused an upset right away. Osaka, then ranked outside the top 400, beat Samantha Stosur, then one of the top 20 tennis players in the world.
Not only that: Osaka held their first press conference. And: She met Serena Williams, her great idol – a selfie was of course a matter of honor. Or as Osaka tweeted these days: "I remember thinking back then: This is the best day of my life."
A lot has happened to the 24-year-old since then, from the run to the top of the world rankings with four Grand Slam tournament victories, to health problems that have recently stopped her on the way back up. Most recently it was an Achilles tendon injury, Osaka has not played a game since the French Open.
Papa Osaka brings relaxation to the team
In the middle of the break, she also separated from coach Wim Fissette. They parted on good terms, Osaka assured before the start of the tournament , "it was a good time, he's a wonderful coach," she said in a press conference. She needed a different kind of energy, she explained, while at the same time Fissette was very ambitious. "I got injured and I'm sure he would have wanted to go to Wimbledon." So it was "two different ways of thinking," she mused. "But he's a cool guy, so I can confirm that nothing bad happened."
And so the circle is currently closing for the Japanese woman. Because Papa Leonard Francois is currently at her side again, like before, until 2018. He would help her to think a little more unconventionally. "When I think something is really bad, he always makes it clear to me that things are a lot more positive than they seem. When I'm stressed, he starts dancing or something to make me feel better."
There were times when you had to fight for a place to train, Osaka said, "and now I'm at a point where people are paying to see me play. And I'm very grateful for that. I would have never expected as a kid."