In Pictures: Naomi Osaka and Patrick Mouratoglou make first public appearance; duo arrive in Beijing for China Open together amid coaching rumors

Naomi Osaka has landed in Beijing in style for the 2024 China Open alongside Patrick Mouratoglou amidst the rumor that the two have joined hands. The Japanese, who is a former champion at the tournament, has received a wildcard to compete at the WTA 1000 event, which is slated to begin on September 25.

Osaka, who gave birth to her daughter Shai last year, took a long absence from tennis due to her motherhood duties. However, she made her return to the court this year and though there have been some fair share of ups for the Japanese, she has struggled to return to the upper echelons of the sport.

The four-time Grand Slam winner had a disappointing North American hard-court swing. She was ousted in the second round of the Canadian Open, failed to make it to the main draw of the Cincinnati Open, and was eliminated in the second round of the US Open.

Following her disappointing outing, the 26-year-old decided to part ways with her coach Wim Fissette. She announced the split via her Instagram where she thanked the Belgian coach for their time together.

"4 years, 2 Slams and a whole lot of memories. Thanks Wim for being a great coach and an even greater person. Wishing you all the best," Osaka posted on her Instagram story.

Reports later emerged that Naomi Osaka had joined hands with Serena Williams' ex-coach Patrick Mouratoglou. Amid this rumor, the duo made their first public appearance arriving together in Beijing for the China Open.

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Serena Williams' ex-coach Rennae Stubbs and tennis journalist Caitlin Thompson comment on Naomi Osaka's split with coach

Naomi Osaka and Wim Fissette (Source: Getty)

Naomi Osaka and Wim Fissette worked together from 2019-2022, following which the Belgian started working with Zheng Qinwen as the Japanese took a break from tennis due to her pregnancy. However, Fissette controversially ended his partnership with the Chinese in order to become Osaka's coach again.

In the latest episode of Rennae Stubb's podcast, Caitlin Thompson, who is a tennis journalist and the founder of Racquet Magazine felt that the split was initiated by Osaka since she already had a replacement lined up (in Patrick Mouratoglou) whereas Fissette didn't seem to have one for Osaka

"I think he (Wim Fissette) got played. I think she (Osaka), based on no insider knowledge whatsoever, but based on the fact that she already has, what appears to be, her next coach lined up, and Wim Fisette does not have, what appears to be, his next player lined up. As far as we know, it does seem to indicate based on speculation that maybe she initiated this and wanted a change," Thompson said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast (at 13:10).

Rennae Stubbs also wasn't happy with Naomi Osaka's decision to go with Mouratoglou and questioned the French coach's credentials. She pointed out how he "destroyed" Simona Halep's career while also claiming that any coach could have done wonders with Serena Williams.