Naomi Osaka leaves rival Zheng fuming after stealing her coach ahead of comeback

Halep given four-year ban from tennis over doping offences

Tennis star Qinwen Zheng has been left feeling ‘hurt’ after her coach Wim Fissette decided to end his partnership with her so that he could return to working with Naomi Osaka. The pair began working with each other in June earlier this year after taking the ‘tough’ decision to change her coach mid-season.

Former world No 1 Osaka revealed earlier this month that she will return to the court in 2024 after giving birth to a baby girl in June. The 25-year-old has not featured since participating in the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo and has highlighted the Australian Open as a good starting point to return to the court.

Osaka is now training ahead of her much-anticipated return and was spotted at the US Open supporting her rivals. She is also now working with her former coach Fissette, much to the frustration of Zheng.

The Chinese prospect began working with Fissette earlier this year but just months later, the 20-year-old finds herself on the search for a new coach that can help her continue to progress on the WTA Tour. Zheng explained: “He broke the contract. This is very immoral.

Click here to join our WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive tennis news

Don’t miss… Andy Murray smashes racket and fumes at camera operator in sickening defeat[LATEST]

“I understand his decision, but my family and I feel hurt. Right now, I don’t want to talk about this person.”

Zheng had admitted previously that she felt there was a significant risk involved in changing coaches earlier this year so that she could work with Fissette, so to see the decision backfire so soon has understandably been a tough pill to swallow.

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Speaking earlier this month about working with the Belgian coach to the US Open site, Zheng explained: “It’s tough at the beginning for sure, to get the confidence from each other, because we need to know more about the person, how he’s doing things, the way I am playing and the way I am thinking on court,” she said. “We are still working on it, but so far I am feeling pretty good with him and I think it will be better and better in the future.”

Fissette was also full of praise for Zheng when quizzed about her potential and raw talent, though the opportunity to reunite with Osaka ultimately appears to have proven more persuasive. They spent two years working together previously when Osaka enjoyed success when lifting the US Open and the Australian Open, taking her career Grand Slam tally to four in the process – and the duo will be hoping to build on that further next year.

Source: Read Full Article