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Nicolas Atkin

There was a curious moment in Naomi Osaka’s first Instagram post after winning the Australian Open, where she thanked her coach Sascha Bajin merely for “hitting with me these past two weeks”.
At first it just seemed like an offhand remark from the socially awkward Osaka – of course, she began her on-court acceptance speech by saying “public speaking isn’t really my strong side”.
But on Monday night the 21-year-old announced a shock split with Bajin, just two weeks after winning her second grand slam in Melbourne.
“Hey everyone, I will no longer be working together with Sascha,” she tweeted. “I thank him for his work and wish him all the best in the future.”












View this post on Instagram


















Hey so I know I’ve been posting a lot sorry but real quick I want to thank everyone around me, because during the ceremony I was too nervous and I didn’t wanna talk for too long lol. Trust me this is super long hahaha feel free to disregard . Firstly thank you Kristy this is our first grand slam together, 2nd overall. I haven’t known you for a long time but I already wonder what I would do without you, I don’t think I could’ve held my sanity together without you lol thank you ️. Thank you Abdul for always pushing me to be a better version of myself and also I don’t think I could’ve played all those three sets without you hahahahaha. Thank you Stu for being the best agent ever and also lowkey therapist sometimes . Thank you Sash for hitting with me for these past 2 weeks. Thank you Carly for texting me jokes that were super lame . Thank you Yoshikawa-san and Toshi for all the support. Thank you MJ for always helping me with everything. Thank you Shimokura-san and Sakai for always smiling, literally . Lastly, thank you dad for teaching me the values in life. I’ve been surrounded by such awesome people this trip and I’m really grateful for it. Love you guys ️ (okay I’ll stop posting for a while now haha)
A post shared by Naomi Osaka 大坂なおみ (@naomiosakatennis) on Jan 27, 2019 at 1:31pm PST



The announcement was so stunning because the pair seemed like such a great fit – Bajin had also coached Osaka to her breakthrough major at the US Open last September.
“Thank you Naomi,” Bajin responded on Twitter. “I wish you nothing but the best as well. What a ride that was. Thank you for letting me be part of this.”
Despite the platitudes, the two appear to have unfollowed each other on Instagram, for what it’s worth, hinting at an apparent rift that may have opened in Melbourne.
It marks a contrast to January 26, when Bajin wrote on social media: “thank you to her mom and dad for trusting in me putting this team together and raising such a humble great soul”.
Naomi Osaka embodies the thorny issue of identity when it comes to sporting success

Perhaps it is Osaka’s Haitian father Leonard Francois and Japanese mother Tamaki Osaka, and not Osaka herself, who have made the decision to axe “Big Sascha” – pushy parents are common in tennis.
But Bajin’s work speaks for itself and he will not be short of offers. When Osaka hired him before the start of the 2018 season, she had never won a tournament, let alone a grand slam, and was ranked No 68. She ended the year as Asia’s first world No 1, male or female.
The German did more than hit balls with Osaka. The former hitting partner of grand slam champions Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki, Bajin was named the WTA coach of the year after a remarkable season which also produced a title at Indian Wells.
He is a fun character who also appeared to recognise that Osaka’s biggest enemy was herself, and helped calm the 21-year-old when her emotions got the better of her on court.
‘I am tan, it’s pretty obvious’: biracial pioneer Naomi Osaka is pushing boundaries to forge a new Japan

Bajin had some innovative methods of getting his points across, too, including whipping out some stats on an iPad mid-match at the WTA Finals in Singapore to show Osaka where she was going wrong with her shot selection.
But in tennis few partnerships last forever, be they among players and coaches or doubles teams, because when results start to slide the easiest option is to rip things up and start again with someone new.
That’s the odd thing about Osaka’s split with Bajin – she had just won her 14th straight grand slam match.
Perhaps Osaka has just outgrown him. Her victory in Melbourne confirmed her status as the new face of women’s tennis, and sponsors are throwing money at her to get a slice of the pie. She may feel she now warrants a superstar name in her coaching box, like when Novak Djokovic had Boris Becker, and Andy Murray had Ivan Lendl.
Australian Open: Naomi Osaka beats Petra Kvitova in final to become Asia’s first world No 1

Noodle-maker Nissin apologises, withdraws ‘whitewashed’ anime ad featuring Japanese-Haitian tennis star Naomi Osaka
But that would go against Osaka’s genuine down-to-earth nature. Maybe she just thinks she can fully realise her potential under the guidance of a different coach (a scary thought for the rest of the WTA Tour).
Either way, it’s a needless risk for Osaka to make such a change, professionally and commercially – if it ain’t broke, why fix it?
She is now a superstar in Japan and is on course to be the poster girl for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. But a bad run of form could limit her marketability.
Most of her fans were stunned by the news, one even asking, “Are you sure???” on Twitter, another suggesting that February 11 is Japan’s version of April Fools Day.
Everyone should know by now though that, despite her gentle nature, Osaka doesn’t play around – there’s a ruthless streak inside her and she will certainly have a plan to continue her dominance in 2019, without Bajin.


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Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka’s split with coach Sascha Bajin seems like a needless risk – did a rift open up at the Australian Open?

Sascha Bajin coaches Naomi Osaka during a practice session at the Australian Open. Photo: AP

epa07323118 Japan's Naomi Osaka (L) poses for a photo with her father Leonard Francois (R) and the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup at Brighton Beach in Melbourne, Australia, 27 January 2019. EPA-EFE/JULIAN SMITH EDITORIAL USE ONLY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Naomi Osaka (R) of Japan and her coach Sascha Bajin are pictured after a practice session ahead of her semifinal at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Jan. 24, 2019. Osaka announced on Feb. 11 that she will no longer be working with Bajin, around two weeks after winning the tournament, her second straight Grand Slam title. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

epa07320610 Coach Sascha Bajin (L) is seen in the player's box during the women's singles final between Naomi Osaka of Japan and Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 26 January 2019. EPA-EFE/DAVID CROSLING EDITORIAL USE ONLY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Naomi Osaka embodies the thorny issue of identity when it comes to sporting success

Naomi Osaka has faced some searching questions over her ethnicity since her recent successes. Photo: Kyodo

epa07341071 Real Madrid's French striker Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Deportivo Alaves played at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, 03 February 2019. EPA-EFE/JUANJO MARTIN

The All Black's Sitiveni Sivivatu (L) beats France's Thomas Castaignede to score a try in the first rugby union test match at Eden Park in Auckland, June 2, 2007. REUTERS/Anthony Phelps (NEW ZEALAND)

Soccer Football - FA Cup Fourth Round - Arsenal v Manchester United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - January 25, 2019 Arsenal's Mesut Ozil looks dejected after Manchester United's third goal REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Noodle-maker Nissin apologises, withdraws ‘whitewashed’ anime ad featuring Japanese-Haitian tennis star Naomi Osaka

Haitian-Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka, as depicted by a Nissin anime ad campaign, and in real life at the Australian Open tournament. Photos: Nissin / AP

(190123) -- MELBOURNE, Jan. 23, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Naomi Osaka serves during the women's singles quarterfinal match between Naomi Osaka of Japan and Elina Svitolina of Ukraine at the 2019 Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 23, 2019. Naomi Osaka won 2-0. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)

Uproar as anime ramen ad by manga artist Takeshi Konomi shows the half-Japanese, half-Haitian US Open champion with brown hair, pale skin and European features. Captured from Youtube

Nissin ad depecting tennis player Naomi Osaka

Australian Open: Naomi Osaka beats Petra Kvitova in final to become Asia’s first world No 1

Naomi Osaka celebrates with the championship trophy after winning the Australian Open final. Photo: AFP

Japan's Naomi Osaka reacts after her victory against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova during the women's singles final on day 13 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 26, 2019. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

Tennis - Australian Open - Women's Singles Final - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, January 26, 2019. Japan's Naomi Osaka during the match against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Japan's Naomi Osaka reacts after a point against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova during the women's singles final on day 13 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 26, 2019. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova reacts after a point against Japan's Naomi Osaka during the women's singles final on day 13 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 26, 2019. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova speaks during the presentation ceremony after her defeat against Japan's Naomi Osaka in the women's singles final on day 13 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 26, 2019. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

Tennis - Australian Open - Women's Singles Final - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, January 26, 2019. Japan's Naomi Osaka reacts during her match against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

Japan's Naomi Osaka receives championship trophy from China's former tennis player Li Na during the presentation ceremony after her victory against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova in the women's singles final on day 13 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 26, 2019. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

‘I am tan, it’s pretty obvious’: biracial pioneer Naomi Osaka is pushing boundaries to forge a new Japan

Japan's Naomi Osaka reacts after a point against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova during the women's singles final. Photo: AFP

Japan Times columnist Baye McNeil. Photo: Handout

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No reason given for departure but there were apparent signs of tension at Australian Open
Japanese star ditches WTA Coach of the Year Sascha Bajin in shock announcement


No reason given for departure of WTA Coach of the Year Sascha Bajin, but there were apparent signs of tension with the Japanese star in Melbourne


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Naomi Osaka’s split with coach Sascha Bajin seems like a needless risk – did a rift open up at the Australian Open?

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}No reason given for departure but there were apparent signs of tension at Australian Open Japanese star ditches WTA Coach of the Year Sascha Bajin in shock announcement

No reason given for departure but there were apparent signs of tension at Australian Open

Japanese star ditches WTA Coach of the Year Sascha Bajin in shock announcement