Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka (27) of Japan has pulled out of next week’s Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo because of a back injury.
The former world number one has been sidelined since she retired from her last-16 match at the China Open against eventual champion Coco Gauff at the start of the month. She then pulled out of this week’s Japan Open in Osaka.
The 27-year-old was set to compete at the Pan Pacific Open as a wildcard but organisers said she would be “absent because of a lower back injury”.
Osaka’s appearance at the China Open was her first tournament under Patrick Mouratoglou, the Frenchman best known for being the long-time former coach of Serena Williams.
She has struggled for consistency since returning to tennis in January after the birth of her daughter Shai in July 2023. Her best results since becoming a parent have been two quarter-final appearances.
China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen – ranked number seven in the world – is the top-ranked player at the Pan Pacific Open. Russia’s Daria Kasatkina and Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia are also set to compete.
World number one Iga Swiatek says she is “very excited” to get to work with Wim Fissette after appointing the Belgian as her new coach.
Swiatek, 23, parted ways with Tomasz Wiktorowski earlier this month after three seasons together with the Pole.
Fissette, 44, has worked with former Grand Slam winners Kim Clijsters and Angelique Kerber during his coaching career.
He split with Japan’s Naomi Osaka in September, having helped the 26-year-old to two of her four Grand Slam titles.
“I want to say that I’m very excited and looking forward to working with Wim,” Swiatek said on Instagram.
“I’m preparing for the WTA Finals but my perspective is, as always, long term, not short term.
“I said many times that my career is a marathon, not a sprint, and I’m working, operating and making decisions with this approach.”
Swiatek added that Fissette “seems to have a great attitude, vision and huge experience at the very top level of tennis”.
The Pole’s split with Wiktorowski came after winning four of her five Grand Slams with the 43-year-old – including this year’s French Open.
However, she was unhappy with her hard court performances this season and felt the time was right for a change.
Why Fissette fits the bill for Swiatek – analysis
Jonathan Jurejko – BBC Sport tennis news reporter
When Swiatek ended her partnership with Wiktorowski, she made clear she was planning to move away from an all-Polish team and recruit a leading coach “from abroad”.
Fissette, a Belgian who has worked with a wide pool of top WTA players, fitted the bill.
In truth, there was not a vast range of candidates which fulfilled the criteria – namely Grand Slam-winning coaches with a global reputation – Swiatek demanded.
Fissette’s credentials are plain to see. He has guided fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters, Germany’s Angelique Kerber and Japan’s Naomi Osaka to major titles, also working with former world number ones Simona Halep and Victoria Azarenka, while helping Britain’s Johanna Konta reach the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2017.
The cool and composed 44-year-old describes himself as a coach who believes in “the magic of positive reinforcement” and “getting in sync” with a player to create a team environment.
Those are qualities which would be attractive – and prove very beneficial – to Swiatek right now. Despite her dominant success over the past few seasons, she has cut a frustrated figure recently.
After losing in the Olympics semi-finals, she said she cried for “six hours” and was also overcome with emotion after losing in the US Open quarter-finals. She has not played since because of personal reasons, having spoken out about the effects of “crazy” scheduling on the top players.
Interestingly, Swiatek stresses her career is “a marathon not a sprint”. However, Fissette – who has never been one for long collaborations with his players – does seem more of a short-term fix who could help revitalise a player looking to rediscover her mojo.
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