Patrick Mouratoglou, the coach famous for his decade-long partnership with Serena Williams, and Naomi Osaka joined forces in late 2024 with sky-high expectations. But just 10 months later, the high-profile collaboration was over, leaving fans wondering what went wrong.
Now, months after their abrupt split in mid-2025, the Frenchman is finally opening up about the one critical issue that doomed their partnership.
What Did Patrick Mouratoglou Say About Coaching Naomi Osaka?
Following a second-round exit at the 2024 US Open, Osaka parted ways with her coach, Wim Fissette, and hired Mouratoglou. Their on-court debut at the 2024 China Open, however, set a rocky tone for the partnership when Osaka had to retire from her fourth-round match against Coco Gauff.
That was followed by more injury-related withdrawals, including a retirement in the third round of the 2025 Australian Open. Despite the struggles, the pair did find a bright spot in May when Osaka won the WTA 125K Saint-Malo, her first trophy since returning from maternity leave and her first-ever title on clay .
The partnership officially ended in July 2025, after Osaka lost to Emma Raducanu in the Round of 16 at the Citi DC Open. Following the defeat, she announced the split on Instagram. In a recent interview, Mouratoglou revealed that a critical issue undermined their efforts, even as he saw major improvements behind the scenes.
“The results weren’t good enough, which completely made sense,” Mouratoglou said. “I think she improved so much, I was seeing it on a daily basis. And her mindset was great. But she was not performing well enough during the matches, so that was the one piece that was ruining the whole thing.”
How Did the Serena Williams Effect Impact Their Partnership?
Mouratoglou also acknowledged his role in the challenge, admitting that his famed history with Serena Williams created pressure on Osaka that he couldn’t deflect.
“She mentioned it a few times actually, even publicly, and I didn’t find a way to take that pressure away,” he explained. “I think maybe that’s why she wasn’t performing. As soon as I was not in the loop, she felt probably lighter. By not having that pressure, she could express her tennis more freely.”
Naomi Osaka and Patrick Mouratoglou have ended their coaching partnership:
“Merci Patrick. Wishing you nothing but the best. You are one of the coolest people I’ve ever met and I’m sure I’ll see you around.” ❤️
(via Naomi’s IG) pic.twitter.com/sCVqIQBR4N
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 27, 2025
Despite the end of their professional relationship, the French coach praised Osaka’s skill and confirmed “there are no hard feelings” between them.
What Is Next for Naomi Osaka?
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1, had returned to competition in early 2024 after her maternity break in 2023. While her time with Mouratoglou showed progress in conditioning and technique, the key moments in big matches failed to deliver the desired results.
After their split, Osaka quickly moved on, hiring Tomasz Wiktorowski, who was seen in the stands during her Canadian Open campaign, signaling a new chapter for the Japanese star.
AloJapan.com