'I have never seen a 21-year-old do that' - Coach praises Naomi Osaka
Chris Evert definitely has a special relationship with Naomi Osaka. The American 18-time Major winner often sees the Japanese training at her Academy in Florida. Speaking after Osaka's triumph at the Australian Open, Evert said: "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. Her exciting brand of tennis, coupled with the dignity she displays on and off the court, is a winning combination that tennis fans really embrace."
On Osaka splitting with Sascha Bajin, the former Roger Federer's coach Paul Annacone, speaking on Tennis Channel, said: "Everything has been great. You just don't know what happened. When you look at her result, and her ability, this (Australian Open win) has been the most amazing moment for Naomi Osaka, she had three match points, lost the second set, and she regrouped over ten minutes. I have never seen a 21-year-old do that. It looked they were doing everything great, so I don't know what to think really. With players on the road, Lindsay you know much better than me, there is just more than forehands and backhands, sometimes it's just professional differences. When you look at these numbers you wanna go, "Guys do not do anything."
Lindsay Davenport commented on the Osaka's split with Bajin: "It's such a huge shock, they started working together in the 2017 off-season, she started the new year like 66 and now she is world No. 1, she has won two Grand Slams, it does not make really a lot of sense on paper. There are a few potential sides if you look at the Australian Open, she was asked about her turnaround with Sascha and she said: "I did not really talk to him". That's weird. To see a player improving that much, not only on her game but also how she acted on court, I don't know. Sometimes it's not easy to find two people that match really well together. She has a big team around. She has both parents involved, she has a full-time physio, she has a full-time fitness trainer. I am surprised that two weeks after winning the second title, that it was announced so soon."
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2Jf1hmG
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