Naomi Osaka's coach Patrick Mouratoglou makes his feelings known on Japanese's retirement admission

Naomi Osaka’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, shared his thoughts on the Japanese tennis star’s recent comments about her potential retirement. Osaka, currently competing in the Australian Open, has sparked discussions after her admission.

Mouratoglou has worked with some of the biggest names in the sport. He previously coached Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Simona Halep and Holger Rune. In September 2024, Mouratoglou began coaching Naomi Osaka.

Osaka experienced the joys of motherhood in 2023 when she welcomed her daughter, Shai. Returning to the court in the 2024 season, Osaka gave her all to make a strong comeback.

However, the season didn’t go as planned. She struggled to find her rhythm, failing to progress beyond the second round in any of the Grand Slam tournaments. Her best performances came at the Qatar Open and the Libema Open, where she reached the quarterfinals but fell short of advancing further.

Before her appearance at the ASB Classic in Auckland in December, Osaka clarified that she would rather spend time with her daughter than compete in lower rankings that don't align with her ambitions. She even hinted at the possibility of retirement, saying she wouldn’t stick around without achieving meaningful results.

“I don't think I'm the type of player that would hang around….if I'm not above a certain ranking, I don't see myself playing for a while. Does that make sense? " she said.

On Wednesday (Jan. 15), Mouratoglou posted his reaction on Instagram after a follower asked him to share his thoughts on the Japanese player's unexpected retirement thoughts. He responded:

“ I totally understand. When you've been a multiple Grand Slam winner, I think it's very difficult mentally to be far from the level that you know you can play.”

He talked about Osaka's approach, explaining that she doesn't settle for less when she knows she can achieve more.

“I don't see her playing either to be top 20. I don't think she has this mindset that she wants to be there. She wants to win; she wants to feel that she's great at what she's doing,” he said.

Mouratoglou said if Osaka were to settle for a lower ranking, her chances of winning a Grand Slam would be significantly reduced. He added:

“And I think it's a good thing because if you accept to be top 20, there's no chance you're going to win a Grand Slam.”

“You have to refuse to be at a certain level because you deserve better or you think you're able to do better. It's not disrespectful for anybody else; it's just something between you and yourself. So she's right to say that—it's not disrespectful to anyone,” he continued.

The coach expressed optimism about the Japanese's chances of reclaiming her No. 1 spot, noting that she was getting back into shape after having a baby. He encouraged everyone to trust in the “long-term process,” emphasizing the hard work and dedication she’s shown.

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Naomi Osaka to play Belinda Bencic in Australian Open 2025 R3

Naomi Osaka at 2025 Australian Open - Day 2 - Source: Getty

Naomi Osaka will take on Belinda Bencic in the third round of the 2025 Australian Open on Friday (Jan. 17). The tournament kicked off on January 12 and will run till January 26.

Osaka began her campaign in Melbourne on Monday, facing France's Caroline Garcia. After a tough start, she secured the win in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

In the second round, she met Karolina Muchova. Despite a challenging opening set, Osaka rallied to win the match 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.