Coach Mouratoglou also emphasized that superstar Naomi Osaka can compete for the title immediately with current No. 1 Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka or Coco Gauff.
Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka has a big dream, aiming for a spot at the Paris Olympics and winning more Grand Slam titles after returning to competitive tennis.
Former world No. 1 Osaka just gave birth and has not competed since September 2022. The first tournament marking Osaka’s return will be the Brisbane International in January, and she has made no secret of her goal of winning more titles after four Grand Slam championships.
Osaka will participate in the WTA Tour 250 that brings together world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, US Open champion Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina, among others.
Sharing with Eurosport, former coach of Serena Williams and Holger Rune – Mouratoglou said: “That is the best news for women’s tennis. Now there’s Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka, of course there are many other players but I think those two are extremely interesting. They are superstars, so they are great for the WTA – the WTA needs superstars.
We’ve had so many great years with Serena, Venus and Maria Sharapova, three huge stars. Women’s tennis will attract more attention when there are such players. I’m so excited for Naomi Osaka’s return. She’s really good and can play well. I feel like she has a lot of motivation to come back.”
The last time, superstar Naomi Osaka won the Grand Slam at the Australian Open in 2021. But at the end of the year, the Japanese tennis player had to temporarily hang up her racket, after she admitted that she was struggling with anxiety and depression. Before returning, Osaka admitted that she was quite nervous but also excited and excited.
Commenting on the return of superstar Naomi Osaka, coach Mouratoglou added: “When you can’t play tennis, you know how much you miss tennis. So when you come back, you have an even greater desire. That’s what happened to her all along. She’s got big shots, big fights. I think with her mindset and will, her blows are really very damaging.
She will be ready for the Australian Open but only the matches. Will Osaka compete immediately or need more time to adapt? I feel like she will compete for the title right away.”
Osaka’s return will be one of the notable stories, when the new world tennis season kicks off in January.
However, for superstar Naomi Osaka to win more Grand Slam titles, she will have to face stiff competition from Swiatek, Sabalenka and Gauff. They are all names mentioned with success in Melbourne next month.
Analyzing the current context of the WTA, coach Mouratoglou emphasized: “You have Coco, currently the Grand Slam champion. She has become more confident in both her matches and her ability to win professional tournaments. This will be very interesting.
Of course I also don’t forget other players like Swiatek, Sabalenka or Rybakina. Last year’s players dominated women’s tennis until Coco was truly revealed. There will be a big battle between ‘huge’ players. It will all bring more excitement to women’s tennis next year.”
