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Wim Fissette will again work as coach of the Japanese Naomi Osaka. Both parties have not yet officially announced the news, but the Chinese Qinwen Zheng (WTA 23) announced the news himself.
Zheng stated in an interview after her final win at the Asian Games – 6-2 and 6-4 against compatriot Lin Zhu (WTA 33) – that Fissette will no longer coach her, but will return to Naomi Osaka. Fissette accompanied Zheng from June. He was Osaka’s coach from 2019 to 2022.
“He has decided to coach Naomi Osaka again,” Zheng said. “I understand his choice and respect it, but I think it is immoral for him to break a contract. This case hurts me and my family very much.”
With Fissette as coach, Osaka won two Grand Slam titles: the US Open in 2020 and the Australian Open in 2021. The now 25-year-old Japanese did not play any matches in 2023. She struggled with mental problems and became a mother for the first time in July. In 2024 she hopes to find her way back to the top of tennis.
Fissette is also captain of the Belgian Billie Jean King Cup team. In the past he also coached Kim Clijsters, the Romanian Simona Halep, the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, the Czech Petra Kvitova and the German Angelique Kerber.