Naomi Osaka says that her cutting ties with coach Sascha Bajin is not over money. She also insists that she would never put success over happiness.
The German coach, who helped Osaka win back to back Grand Slam titles in these two years, was cut loose by Osaka after few weeks of her winning the Australian Open title. This sudden severing of ties between the two led to the assumption that this might be over money.
Osaka at Dubai, told WTA, “Everyone thinks that it is a money-related issue but it was not. This is one of the most hurtful things I have ever heard. I travel with everyone on my team and I seem them more than my family. I would never do that to them. My reason is that I don’t put success over happiness. I could never let go of my happiness for keeping a person around me for success.”
Bajin the former hitting partner for great female tennis stars like Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki. He has been named as the WTA’s coach of the Year in 2018 after Osaka won the US Open in 2018.
During their time together, Osaka from her world ranking of no.78 has skyrocketed to World No. 1 last month.
Osaka says that she is hoping that a new coach will be at her side by March at Indian Wells.
She said, “It is not ideal to go to Indian Wells without a coach. I do not want anyone to be in the box that is saying negative stuff to me. That would be the worst. I want someone who says things directly to my face rather than someone who would say things behind my back. That is one of the biggest things.”
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