Naomi Osaka’s career has been a journey marked by highs, lows, and a fierce dedication to personal growth. With four Grand Slam titles and numerous WTA victories, she has also faced challenges, including injuries, time away from the court, and a recent split from longtime coach Wim Fissette, who guided her through a comeback after pregnancy. In a recent interview, Fissette reflected on his time with Osaka, from her dominant success to the struggles that shaped her career.
Fissette shared that Osaka’s potential was “huge,” yet her focus on growth waned once she reached the pinnacle of women’s tennis. Her 2020 Australian Open loss to Coco Gauff was a defining moment, one that highlighted the mental challenges she was navigating. He described the match as “a very bad” experience that left Osaka feeling pressured by the rising star. But it also sparked openness between them, and after discussions in Spain during the Fed Cup, Osaka began to reveal her struggles, setting the stage for her resurgence—only for COVID-19 to interrupt her momentum as she prepared to chase another title at Indian Wells.
Osaka herself has spoken candidly about the mental health battles that have accompanied her career. Known for wearing headphones on her way to matches, she shared on Instagram that it’s a way to ease her social anxiety. “Anyone that has seen me at the tournaments will notice that I’m often wearing headphones as that helps dull my social anxiety,” she revealed, adding, “I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world’s media.”
With a new coach now by her side, the question remains: can Osaka reclaim her Grand Slam dominance, balancing her mental health advocacy with her fierce on-court ambition?
