Why did Naomi Osaka split with Coach Sascha Bajin?

Why did Naomi Osaka split with Coach Sascha Bajin?

Naomi Osaka split with coach Sascha Bajin

One of Naomi Osaka’s earliest coaches was the German, Sascha Bajin. Naomi Osaka split with coach Sascha Bajin in 2019, after a successful partnership. Naomi Osaka is one of the most feared opponents on the women’s tour currently. The Japanese has claimed two successive Grandslam titles at US Open 2020 and Australian Open 2021, which takes her total tally to four majors. The 23-year old is expected to become the face of women’s tennis after Serena Williams’ retirement, and is a contender to win several titles in the upcoming years.

Naomi Osaka won her first Grandslam at the Flushing Meadows in 2018, when she defeated her idol, Serena Williams in the final. Just after five months, she claimed her second major, as the Japanese lifted the Australian Open title in Melbourne. Her initial taste of success came with her former coach, Sascha Bajin who joined her camp when she was ranked 68th in the world. The duo achieved tremendous amount of success together, as Naomi Osaka soon became the world number one in women’s tennis.

However, just 15 days after winning the Australian Open 2019 title, Naomi Osaka announced her split with coach, Sascha Bajin which came as a shock to many tennis fans.

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Naomi Osaka split with coach Sascha Bajin after Australian Open 2019 triumph

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Naomi Osaka mentioned on her Twitter post that she would split her coach, with whom she had achieved so much success. However, no additional details were provided by either party. However, in February 2019, in leadup to the Dubai Open, Naomi Osaka revealed why she decided to part ways with Sascha.

Initial rumors were that the split was due to money issues, but Naomi Osaka debunked all claims regarding that subject. The Japanese stated that she did not feel happy going into training with Sascha, which was the reason for the split. She also stated that she holds happiness above success and money, and would never want to be around someone, she was not happy with.

“The biggest thing is I don’t want myself to think to be successful I have to put success over happiness, because if I’m not happy being around certain people I’m not going to torture myself,” Osaka had said.  

“If I’m not waking up every day happy to practice and happy to be around the people I’m around, this is my life. I’m not going to sacrifice that just to keep a person around. I have to be happy with where I am at my life,” she stated prior to Dubai Open 2019.

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