How my work with Serena is helping Osaka. SASCHA BAJIN

Naomi Osaka has captured the imagination of many tennis fans after winning an incredible title against Serena Williams in a very complicated final at the US Open.

No struggle after the US Open

However, Naomi hasn’t impressed “only” for this achievement, but also for how she managed her emotion during and after the US Open.

Many players have experienced a sharp deep after winning a slam, especially the US Open that is the last major of the year. Sloane Stephens was not even able to win a match after winning the title at the Flushing Meadows in 2017; a couple of years ago, Flavia Pennetta even decided to retire from tennis after winning the Us Open.

Instead, Naomi has impressed for keeping her cool in the aftermath of such a great achievement and she reached the final in Tokyo where the expectations were huge, and soon after the semifinal in Beijing.

How my work with Serena is helping Osaka. SASCHA BAJIN

Sascha Bajin, Naomi’s coach, used to work a lot in Serena Williams’ team and he makes no mystery how that experience allowed him to help the Japanese.

During an extremely packed press conference, Sascha commented

“I have been blessed with having worked with Serena for so long. We won 12 Grand Slams together. If we won a Grand Slam, we went back to work Monday. It was kind of expected.

So, I believe that because I was in a situation and as a coach before, if I wouldn’t have, maybe I would have been super happy after reaching the semifinals or just getting to the finals.

So even for me and my whole team, wherever we go, we have had this experience of winning titles back to back, of performing day in, day out. I believe that’s the energy and vibe I can give to my player and that Naomi feeds off that, despite the fact that she’s just awesome, as well.”

Osaka’s strong coping mechanism

About how Naomi is coping, Sascha added

“I think that after the US Open, we have seen in the past with a lot of players who kind of fall into a little dip after achieving such a big milestone because it is kind of satisfying and it’s something you dream of so long.

Kerber, when she won the Australian Open, struggled for a little while. Sloane lost eight first-round matches, I believe, in a row. Ostapenko. Everybody kind of struggled.

Seeing Naomi doing so well right after that in her home country, Tokyo, all the big sponsors were there, all the CEOs, and not having an easy draw, playing great players, and then immediately playing finals there was really impressive. Going back to Beijing, also, semifinals there was a really great run.

Just seeing her, how she manages all of it, it’s pretty impressive.”

Naomi is about to start to play the WTA Finals for the first time in Singapore where she will face Sloane Stephens in their first encounter.