Naomi Osaka announces she is no longer working with coach Patrick Mouratoglou
"Merci Patrick," Osaka began her post, with a photo of her hitting a practice serve while he stands nearby. "It was such a great experience learning from you. 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."
The news comes three days after Osaka lost her second match at the D.C. Open and just before she begins competing in Toronto. The U.S. Open, the year's last major tournament and an event Osaka won twice, begins in New York on Aug. 24.
Osaka hired Mouratoglou -- who was the longtime coach of Serena Williams -- when she fired Wim Fissette shortly after her second-round exit at last year's U.S. Open.
Osaka, a former No. 1, is currently ranked 51st and has a 21-11 record this season.
She hasn't been past the third round at a Grand Slam tournament since winning the 2021 Australian Open.
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'Baseball is much more than just hitting, throwing and running. Baseball taught me to make valued decisions about what is important. It helped shape my view of life and the world. … The older I got, I realized the only way I could get to play the game I loved to the age of 45 at the highest level was to dedicate myself to it completely,' he said. 'When fans use their precious time to see you play, you have a responsibility to perform for them whether you are winning by 10 or losing by 10. 'Baseball taught me what it means to be a professional and I believe that is the main reason I am here today. I could not have achieved the numbers without paying attention to the small details every single day consistently for all 19 seasons.' Now he's reached the pinnacle, overcoming doubters, one of whom said to him: ''Don't embarrass the nation.'' He's made his homeland proud. 'Going into America's Baseball Hall of Fame was never my goal. I didn't even know there was one. 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