"Why are all of these WTA coaches so nasty and disrespectful" - Qinwen Zheng's coach breaking contract to join Naomi Osaka's team angers tennis fans

Qinwen Zheng's recent revelation that her coach Wim Fissette broke contract with her to join Naomi Osaka's team starting next year has not gone down well with tennis fans.

Zheng had a fairytale run at the 2023 Asian Games, taking home the gold medal in women's singles. In the final, she beat compatriot Lin Zhu in straight sets to win her maiden medal at the continental event.

At her press conference, though, the Chinese looked remarkably upset, disclosing that her coach Fissette had "brought harm" to her and her family with his decision to break their agreed contract.

While Zheng said that she would respect his decision on the matter, she also made it clear that she was not happy with it.

"He broke the contract, and it is very immoral. This is his choice, and I will respect that. Even though this brings some harm to me and my family, I don’t want to talk about that person right now, don’t want to talk about him,” Zheng said.

Fissette previously coached Naomi Osaka before, between 2020 and 2022, leading her to Grand Slam titles at the 2020 Australian Open and the 2021 US Open.

The Belgian has always been a short-term coach, having coached the likes of Kim Clijsters, Sara Errani, Johanna Konta, Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka in short spells. His partnership with Qinwen Zheng had only begun this summer.

With news of their sudden break-up surfacing, fans on social media called out Fissette for his lack of professionalism. Many opined that it's disrespectful to the 20-year-old and hoped Fissette waas more committed to his job with the promising youngster.

"Why are all of these wta coaches so nasty and disrespectful," one fan said.

"Need Qinwen to drag Osaka in Australia," another fan said.

Here are a few more reactions from fans on X, previously called Twitter:

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Have Naomi Osaka and Qinwen Zheng met on tour?

Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka and Qinwen Zheng have met on tour once, at the 2022 San Jose Open, before Fissette started his partnership with Zheng. That meeting went in favor of the four-time Grand Slam champion, who prevailed in three sets to reach the Round of 16.

Following her Asian Games triumph, Zheng will be in action at the WTA 1000 China Open, where she takes on fifth seed Elena Rybakina in the first round. Osaka, meanwhile, is on maternity leave and is expected to begin her comeback at the start of next year at the United Cup or the Australian Open.