Polish coach Tomasz Wiktorowski has made a successful return to coaching in Montreal.
After winning four Grand Slam titles together between 2021 and 2024, Wiktorowski and Iga Swiatek parted ways during the latter stages of the 2024 season.
Making his return to the WTA Tour in Montreal, Wiktorowski joined Naomi Osaka’s team on a trial basis.
Osaka had split with her previous coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, recently, as she looked to Wiktorowski to help her rediscover the form that saw her win multiple major titles.
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The pair got off to a winning start, as Osaka defeated Ariana Arsneault and Liudmila Samsonova en route to the third round.
There, Osaka produced another big win, as Wiktorowski achieved something he had failed to do during his four-year stint as Swiatek’s coach.
Tomasz Wiktorowski guided Naomi Osaka to a win over Jelena Ostapenko
In straight sets, Osaka beat Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-4, to advance to the fourth round in Montreal for the first time in her career.
During his time with Swiatek, Wiktorowski had famously struggled to devise a game plan that could beat the Latvian.
Playing four matches against Ostapenko, Swiatek lost all four with Wiktorowski by her side.
2019 Birmingham R32 – Jelena Ostapenko defeated Iga Swiatek, 6-0, 6-22021 Indian Wells R16 – Jelena Ostapenko defeated Iga Swiatek, 6-4, 6-32022 Dubai R16 – Jelena Ostapenko defeated Iga Swiatek, 4-6, 6-1, 7-62023 US Open R16 – Jelena Ostapenko defeated Iga Swiatek, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
However, just one week into his coaching relationship with Osaka, Wiktorowski has already beaten Ostapenko, securing his third career win over the world number 26.
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Wiktorowski had last beaten Ostapenko as a coach when he was working with his fellow Pole, Agnieszka Radwanska, between 2011 and 2018.
MatchWinnerLoserScore2025 Canadian Open – R32Tomasz Wiktorowksi (Naomi Osaka)Jelena Ostapenko6-2, 6-42024 US Open – R16Jelena OstapenkoTomasz Wiktorowksi (Iga Swiatek)3-6, 6-3, 6-12022 Dubai Tennis Championships – R16Jelena OstapenkoTomasz Wiktorowksi (Iga Swiatek)4-6, 6-1, 7-62021 Indian Wells – R16Jelena OstapenkoTomasz Wiktorowksi (Iga Swiatek)6-4, 6-32019 Birmingham – R32Jelena OstapenkoTomasz Wiktorowksi (Iga Swiatek)6-0, 6-22018 Eastbourne – QFTomasz Wiktrowksi (Agnieszka Radwanska)Jelena Ostapenko6-2, 7-52016 New Haven – R16Tomasz Wiktrowksi (Agnieszka Radwanska)Jelena Ostapenko7-5, 6-1Tomasz Wiktorowski’s coaching head-to-head record v Jelena Ostapenko
The 44-year-old will be pleased to have banished those personal demons in the third round, but will be more than aware of the opportunity that he and Osaka have now earned themselves.
Osaka is just one match away from reaching the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 event for the first time in three years, and she will likely step onto the court for her last 16 tie as the favorite.
Naomi Osaka’s potential route to the Canadian Open title
Next up for Osaka is another Latvian star, Anastasija Sevastova, who stunned Jessica Pegula in her previous match.
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Entering the tournament with her protected ranking, the world number 386 will be a big underdog once more when she takes on Osaka.
Osaka will be confident of making it through to the quarterfinals, and if she were to do so, she’d then be met with several big challenges en route to the title.
Naomi Osaka’s projected route to the Canadian Open title4R v Anastasija SevastovaQF v Amanda AnisimovaSF v Iga SwiatekF v Coco Gauff
A quarterfinal tie with Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova would be difficult, but the prospect of a mouthwatering semifinal clash could motivate Osaka to a big win.
Playing Swiatek with Wiktorowski in her corner, the man who had coached the Pole to four of her six Grand Slams, would certainly add a layer of intrigue to the match.
Interestingly, Osaka last beat Swiatek at the Canadian Open six years ago, taking her down in the fourth round in Toronto.
It’s tough to predict who would win if they played for the first time in Montreal, but neither player will want to get too far ahead of themselves, as they first focus on their fourth-round matches.
On Sunday, August 3, Swiatek will play Clara Tauson, and Osaka will play Anastasija Sevastova.
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