World No. 1 Naomi Osaka splits with ex-Serena coach despite winning last two Grand Slams
World No. 1 Naomi Osaka has called time on her 13-month relationship with coach Sascha Bajin, once the former hitting partner of great Serena Williams, despite their partnership yielding success in the last two Grand Slams.
Japanese sensation Osaka clinched her first ever Grand Slam at the US Open in New York last year with an impressive win over all-time great Serena Williams in the final, a victory somewhat overshadowed by a Serena tantrum that snowballed into a media furore over perceived sexism by an umpire.
Also on rt.com 'No sulking loser to hijack the moment': Classy Naomi Osaka gets to savor Australian Open winLast month, Osaka was triumphant again at Rod Laver Arena, winning the Australian Open against Petra Kvitova to move into pole position in the world rankings, with Bajin being honored with the inaugural WTA Coach of the Year Award 2018 for his part in the successes.
Despite an apparent winning formula on court, Osaka has split with German national Bajin, although the twenty-one-year-old player did hint the two had amicably parted ways.
Hey everyone, I will no longer be working together with Sascha. I thank him for his work and wish him all the best in the future.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@Naomi_Osaka_) February 11, 2019
"Hey everyone, I will no longer be working together with Sascha. I thank him for his work and wish him all the best in the future," Osaka wrote on Twitter.
Already seemed destined to be intertwined with Serena's, the fledgling but fruitful career of Osaka's again overlaps with the 37-year-old American's in that Bajin is also a former coach of Serena's.
An ex-ATP tour player, Bajin won 13 Grand Slams while in the Serena camp, including all four major tournaments and a hat-trick of Wimbledon and US Open titles in a partnership that lasted from 2008 to 2015.
