Super coach Wim Fissette announced today on Instagram he will not be coaching Naomi Osaka anymore.
Fissette and Osaka united in late 2019 and won the 2020 US Open and 2021 Australian Open together. This year Osaka has fallen to no. 85 in the world and her best result was reaching the final of Miami Open, losing to Iga Swiatek.
“It has been a privilege to coach Naomi since 2019 and see her grow into the champion she has become,” Fissette wrote on his Instagram post earlier today. “She has inspired a whole new generation to fall in love with the game and to speak up for what they believe in. It’s been incredible to play a part in that journey. Thank you … I wish you all the best and looking forward to my next chapter.”
Prior to coaching Osaka, the Belgian Fissette has worked successfully with Kim Clijsters, as well as other former WTA world no. 1s Victoria Azarenka, Simon Halep and Angelique Kerber.
It would be reasonable to expect a top WTA player to hire Fissette’s services before the US Open, among the candidates who may consider making the change are Emma Raducanu, Serena Williams, Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens, Jess Pegula and Coco Gauff.
Osaka has accepted a wildcard into San Jose WTA 500 event in August.
AO · Naomi Osaka · US Open · Wim Fissette · WTA
catherine · July 21, 2022 at 4:06 am
Not suprised by this at all. Possibly got his eye on Emma. She lives close by in Europe. Also, Emma’s father is keen on short coaching stints and Wim doesn’t go for the long term either.
Emma and Wim both on the cerebral side too.
I still maintain dumping Fisette was the single worst action of Kerber’s tennis life. It was all there for her and she chucked it all away.
Scoop Malinowski · July 21, 2022 at 7:28 am
Catherine, do you remember who was the first marquee player to employ Fissette as her coach?
catherine · July 21, 2022 at 9:31 am
Scoop – no I don’t, he only came onto my screen as Clijsters’ coach, Belgium not actually being a hotbed of tennis talent before Kim and J Henin.
He coached Konta for a short and fairly successful year and then Joanna decided she didn’t want to do the work so Wim quickly signed with Angie who was desperate at the end of 2017. His time with Simona was before her breakthrough and I think language problems got in the way.
Re Emma – Fisette might consider her too young and maybe not wholly committed. But we’ll find out soon enough.
Scoop Malinowski · July 21, 2022 at 10:03 am
Catherine, Badosa and Kontaveit are also players who may be dialing Fissette’s number today also. We will see which player is the smartest soon enough…