Brussels (AFP)
New season, new coach for Naomi Osaka: the former world N.1, currently 3rd in the ranking, has already started to collaborate with Belgian coach Wim Fissette, according to information from the WTA and the Belga agency.
"The double winner of Grand Slam tournaments (US Open 2018 and Australian Open 2019, note) will be coached by Wim Fissette in 2020," said the umbrella body of women's tennis on its website on Sunday.
A few hours earlier, the architect of Kim Clijsters' return to the fore between 2009 and 2011 had told the Belga agency that he was in Los Angeles with the Japanese player.
"I arrived at the beginning of December in Los Angeles, where I was introduced to its impressive group of sponsors. Then we got to work," said Fissette, whose first tournament with Osaka should be that of Brisbane (Australia ), from January 6.
Long accompanied by the German Sascha Bajin, Osaka separated from his mentor shortly after his victory in Melbourne, in favor of the American Jermaine Jenkins. The latter was replaced in September by Osaka's father for the last months of the 2019 season.
With Fissette, the Japanese chose an experienced coach, who has already trained the former world N.1 Victoria Azarenka, Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep.
During her collaboration with Kim Clijsters, the Belgian won the WTA ranking and won two US Open and one Australian Open.
© 2019 AFP