Many fans were probably surprised to hear that Haitian-Japanese professional tennis player Naomi Osaka will no longer be working with her coach Sascha Bajin just weeks after winning the 2019 Australian Open. Osaka made the announcement on Monday on her Twitter account. Hey everyone, I will no longer be working together with Sascha. I thank him for his work and wish him all the best in the future. — NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@Naomi_Osaka_) February 11, 2019 “Hey everyone, I will no longer be working together with Sascha. I thank him for his work and wish him all the best in the future,” the 21-year-old athlete wrote. Osaka won back-to-back Grand Slam tournaments, including defeating Serena Williams in a last year’s memorable US Open final. This was followed up by another victory over Czech player Petra Kvitová in the 2019 Australian Open final last month – all under the guidance of her coach, Bajin. Advertisement “Winning back-to-back Grand Slam tournaments is a rare and special achievement, and I’m thrilled these results have propelled Naomi to the top of the women’s game,” said American tennis player, Chris Evert, the first to become Women’s Tennis Association world number 1, according to AsiaOne. “Her exciting brand of tennis, coupled with the dignity she displays on and off court, is a winning combination that tennis fans really embrace.” Thank you Naomi 🙏🏽 I wish you nothing but the best as well. What a ride that was. Thank you for letting me be part of this. — sascha Bajin (@BigSascha) February 11, 2019 Under the announcement thread on Twitter, Osaka’s coach wished her luck moving forward in her career. “Thank you Naomi,” he said, adding, “I wish you nothing but the best as well. What a ride that was. Thank you for letting me be part of this.” Featured images via YouTube and Instagram / WTA (left) and naomiosakatennis (right)<doc-sep>One might argue that having won two back-to-back Grand Slams, Osaka has nothing to prove at the moment. On the contrary, it is now, out of her true comfort zone, having to maintain momentum after summiting the peak, as it were, that her harshest tests will come. In a surprising announcement this Tuesday, current World No 1 Naomi Osaka announced she had split with her coach of a year, Sascha Bajin. The 21-year-old made the announcement via a tweet, “thanking him for his work” and wishing him the best for his future. While the circumstances of the pair's split are still not known, they have already become the subject of intense speculation, largely due to the minimal statements provided by each. While the split does not appear to have been acrimonious, that it has come hot on the heels of not one, but two consecutive Grand Slam titles, is surprising. There may have been a few indications of the chill in pair’s coaching relationship, however. Earlier this year, following her win over Petra Kvitova for the title at the Australian Open, Osaka referred to Bajin as her “hitting partner”, rather than her coach, a stark contrast to how she had spoken of him the previous year. At the start of Bajin’s coaching tenure in 2018, Osaka was ranked 72 on the WTA circuit. At the end of the year, she beat her idol, Serena Williams, at the American’s strongest bastion — the US Open — for her maiden Grand Slam. For his own achievements with Osaka last year, Bajin was named the WTA coach of the year, the debut of that award title. Prior to his stint with Osaka, Bajin had worked with former number ones Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka, and for eight years was the hitting partner of Serena Williams. Wozniacki, in 2017, made eight finals on the WTA Tour and won the year-end championships, while Azarenka won the Sunshine Double (Indian Wells and Miami) with Bajin in 2016. There is enough, then, to indicate, that Bajin has experience. The German, both from his own history and the experience of working with an illustrious clientele, would thus have had more than few crucial pointers to impart to his youngest charge yet, pointers that would have held her in good stead having to defend her No 1 ranking. To say that the Osaka-Bajin pairing has been a successful one would be an understatement, considering the young player’s meteoric rise and the significant successes she has since had. As recently as September of last year, both Bajin and Osaka indicated they were invested in building on the latter's growing successes, and a future as coach and charge together. In an interview last year, Bajin said that he was with Osaka “for the long haul”. Bajin spoke warmly of Osaka, saying he “… always wanted to figure out why she hasn't been winning tournaments or competing, and what I could maybe do to help her, if I'm the one or not.” Why then the breakup is a bad idea, especially right now? Osaka’s aggressive baseline play is perhaps most conducive to committing unforced errors, something that has been a problem for her in the past, and something she has said in numerous interviews that Bajin has been instrumental in helping her control. That style of play, in addition to her intense, fast serves are best suited to hard courts, and that has been Osaka’s earliest, most recent, and most successful surface. Both her Grand Slam titles, and her three WTA title wins, have been on the same surface. If she is to maintain her ranking — and more importantly, her momentum, she will need to continue those results on the upcoming clay and grass seasons, which, so far, have been her weak point. Last year, Osaka made the third round at the French Open and at Wimbledon, but lost in straight sets each time. Her only WTA Premier title — at Indian Wells last year — was also played on hard courts, and all five of the singles finals she has played in her career, Grand Slams included, were on hard courts. While her opponents have been varied, the surface has been familiar territory for the young player, and although she has excelled in her comfort zone, the real test is what lies outside it. It is in navigating more unfamiliar surfaces as a World No 1 that Bajin’s presence would have been crucial for Osaka. Peculiar to Osaka is the young ace’s issues with confidence. Still at the beginning of her career, Osaka is often nervous on court, something that could well be attributed to her inexperience and age. Only this January, Osaka said that everyone around her “had more confidence” in her than she did in herself. According to her, her low confidence caused her to commit numerous unforced errors. “I think my biggest improvement is mental. My game is more consistent, there are not so many unforced errors. I'm not sure how many I hit today, but sometimes last year I was hitting a lot,” she had said last year. As things currently stand, not one of the current reigning champions of the women’s Grand Slams are still with the coaches with whom they won those Slams: French Open champion Simona Halep split with her coach Darren Cahill, while reigning Wimbledon winner Angelique Kerber split with Wim Fissette following her win. Cahill was one of the names speculated in terms of taking over as Osaka’s coach, but considering the Australian has decided to move back to his home country permanently, it seems unlikely. Fissette helped both Sabine Lisicki and Simona Halep to better results at Wimbledon, meaning that he may have been a good fit for Osaka at the moment. However, given that the Belgian has returned to coaching Azarenka, that is no longer an option for Osaka.<doc-sep>World No. 1 Naomi Osaka was adamant that her shocking split with coach Sascha Bajin had nothing to do with money but it was because she was determined that her career would not be about putting “success over happiness.” The German had guided the Japanese player to back-to-back Grand Slam titles as well as to the summit of the WTA rankings. But just two weeks after her triumph at Melbourne Park, Osaka abruptly severed ties with Bajin. That led to suggestions the two had fallen out over money. “Everyone thinks it was a money-related issue, but it wasn’t,” the U.S. and Australian Open champion told the WTA in Dubai. “That’s one of the most hurtful things I’ve ever heard. “I travel with everyone on my team, I see them more than my family. I would never do that to them. My reason is I wouldn’t put success over my happiness — that’s my main thing. I’m not going to sacrifice that just to keep a person around.” Bajin, a former hitting partner of Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki, was named as the WTA’s coach of the year in 2018 after his success with Osaka. During their time together, Osaka rocketed from 72 in the world at the start of 2018 to No. 1 last month. Osaka said it was clear things were not right between them during the season’s opening major. “It was kind of brewing in Australia. I think some people could see that if they saw how we interacted,” the 21-year-old added. “I would not want to split on really bad terms. I’m not going to say anything bad about him because, of course, I’m really grateful for all the things he’s done. “During the Australian Open, I was just trying to tell myself to get through it. I’m not sure, but I think you guys noticed.” Osaka said she hopes to have a new coach in place by March at Indian Wells. “It’s not really ideal to go to Indian Wells without a coach. I don’t want someone that’s in the box saying negative stuff. That would be the worst,” she said. “[I want] someone that’s kind of direct, not afraid to say things to my face. I’d rather someone say it directly to me than go around my back. That’s one of the biggest things.”<doc-sep>Naomi Osaka doesn’t want a coach in her box “ saying negative stuff.” (Getty) Naomi Osaka fired coach Sascha Bajin last week, two weeks after winning her second straight Grand Slam at the Australian Open. She did not give a reason, leaving a mystery as to why she would sever such a successful partnership. Some speculated it was a money issue. On Sunday, Osaka opened up and said that happiness was her motivation for the move. Osaka: Decision wasn’t about money “Everyone thinks it was a money-related issue, but it wasn’t,” Osaka told WTA Insider. “That’s one of the most hurtful things I’ve ever heard. I travel with everyone on my team. I see them more than my family. I would never do that to them. “I think my reason is I wouldn’t put success over my happiness. That’s my main thing.” So what about Bajin affected Osaka’s happiness? She didn’t go into detail. But she did allude that Bajin was a source of negativity and a person she doesn’t like on a personal level. Osaka: ‘I’m not happy around certain people’ “The biggest thing is I don’t want myself to think to be successful, I have to put success over happiness,” Osaka sad. “Because if I’m not happy being around certain people, I’m not going to torture myself. … So I’d rather just surround myself with people that I really like and that truly care about me and are just really positive. I think I’ve been able to do that. “If I’m not waking up every day happy to practice and happy to be around the people I’m around, this is my life. I’m not going to sacrifice that just to keep a person around.” So yeah. Osaka reached the pinnacle of the sport with the help of a man that she didn’t like. And she decided it was time for a change. Osaka happier since Australia She said she wasn’t happy while winning the Australian Open and is happier since letting Bajin go. “Compared to Australia, I feel really happy now,” Osaka said. “That’s the funny thing because I heard some people saying I looked really sad in Australia every day.” Asked about what she seeks from her next a coach — a vacancy that’s still open as Indian Wells approaches — Osaka is looking for more positivity. Story continues “I don’t want someone that’s in the box saying negative stuff. That would be the worst.” More from Yahoo Sports: • Thunder guard Diallo skies over Shaq to win NBA Slam Dunk Contest • Forde: Kentucky exposes Vols as overrated, no matter what Calipari thinks • Real Madrid suffers shock home defeat as captain Ramos is sent off • Steelers’ Brown: Players fear losing ‘meal ticket’ if they challenge Big Ben<doc-sep>
Sascha Bajin. The world No. 1 says public speculation that a dispute over money prompted the parting is wrong and "hurtful." Watch: Monfils Tops Wawrinka To Win Rotterdam Osaka says the reason for the split is simple: she wasn't happy working with Bajin anymore. "I think during the Australian Open, I was just trying to tell myself to get through it," Osaka told the media in Dubai where she will face Kristina Mladenovic in her opener. "I'm not sure, but I think you guys noticed. "Everyone thinks it was a money-related issue, but it wasn't. For me, that's one of the most hurtful things I've ever heard. I travel with everyone on my team, I see them more than my family. I would never do that to them. Money can't buy happiness and Naomi Osaka says salary wasn't the cause of her split with coachThe world No. 1 says public speculation that a dispute over money prompted the parting is wrong and "hurtful. "Osaka says the reason for the split is simple: she wasn't happy working with Bajin anymore. "I think during the Australian Open, I was just trying to tell myself to get through it," Osaka told the media in Dubai where she will face Kristina Mladenovic in her opener. "I'm not sure, but I think you guys noticed. "Everyone thinks it was a money-related issue, but it wasn't. For me, that's one of the most hurtful things I've ever heard. I travel with everyone on my team, I see them more than my family. I would never do that to them. "Everyone thinks it was a money-related issue, but it wasn't. For me, that's one of the most hurtful things I've ever heard.” Naomi Osaka opens up about her decision to part ways with coach Sascha Bajin. #DDFtennis READ: https://t.co/efukP2RDXx pic.twitter.com/O6f70S8lia — WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) February 17, 2019 "I'm not going to say anything bad about him because, of course, I'm really grateful for all the things that he's done. I wouldn't come here and say anything bad. The biggest thing is I don't want myself to think to be successful I have to put success over happiness, because if I'm not happy being around certain people I'm not going to torture myself." A week ago, Osaka announced the break with Bajin on Twitter. Hey everyone, I will no longer be working together with Sascha. I thank him for his work and wish him all the best in the future. — NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@Naomi_Osaka_) February 11, 2019 The pair began working together in December of 2017 and shortly thereafter Osaka started her meteoric rise up the rankings. She defeated Daria Kasatkina to win the BNP Paribas Open title at Indian Wells last March. Osaka swept Serena Williams in the US Open final winning her maiden Grand Slam title last September then defeated Petra Kvitova in three sets to collect her second straight Slam at the Australian Open. The 21-year-old Japanese, who was ranked No. 72 a year ago, said she'll start considering coaching candidates after Dubai and plans to have a new coach in place in time for her Indian Wells title defense next month. "After this tournament, I would want to start looking at options," Osaka said. "It’s not really ideal to go to Indian Wells without a coach." So what's the key prerequisite for her next coach? A clear communicator and plenty of positivity are among the assets Osaka values most. "For me, just to have a positive mindset," Osaka said. "I don’t want someone that’s in the box saying negative stuff. That would be the worst. Yeah, someone that’s kind of direct, not afraid to say things to my face. I’d rather someone say it directly to me than go around my back. That’s one of the biggest things." Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve