CHINA OPEN

September 25, 2024

Naomi Osaka

Press Conference

N. OSAKA/L. Bronzetti

6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: How did it feel to be back on this court in the China Open?

NAOMI OSAKA: It felt really good. I was really happy I was able to play well. Yeah, I think this court really suits my game. I hope I'm able to play a couple more matches.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Putintseva leads in your meetings overall, but you won your most recent matchup. What are your expectations going into the next game with each other?

NAOMI OSAKA: Honestly, I don't really have expectations. Especially now I'm just trying to work on a bunch of different things.

When I play her, I just try to focus on my side of the net. Yeah, I mean, I try to do that in general. Against her, especially.

Q. Congratulations on a pretty emphatic victory. A lot of interest in your players box today. Are you able to tell us, please, what's the arrangement with Patrick? Do we now call him your coach?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, I'm calling him my coach right now. I didn't know there was a lot of interest in my players box, but...

Yeah, I would say he's my coach right now.

Q. Long-term?

NAOMI OSAKA: I would hope so. I try not to, I guess, get into relationships with people for short-term. I try to think of it as a long-term commitment.

Yeah, I like the way he coaches. I think it's going to be really interesting.

Q. Obviously the first time we've spoken to you since New York. Can you give us a little bit more insight into the decision with Wim first of all. Also, how much has your team changed? I see Simone and Flo. Just a little bit more detail on that.

NAOMI OSAKA: You know me, I think Wim is one of my favorite people. I don't want to say 'one of', but definitely one of my favorite coaches.

It wasn't, like, anything personal. Like nothing crazy happened. I just felt like I needed a change. It sucks because I wanted to lift trophies with him. I know we went into that relationship wanting to do that together.

I think I'm at a stage in my life that I don't want to have regrets. I'd rather, like, pull the trigger on something and I don't want to say 'fail', but I feel like I really need to learn as much as possible in this stage of my career. Patrick seemed like the guy with I guess the information that I wanted to learn from.

I didn't answer the second part (smiling).

I think other than that, Flo and Simone are pretty much staples in my box. And Matee, you've seen him around, too.

Q. Obviously we all know Patrick from his work with Serena. How does that approach kind of happen? How did you link up? What is it that he says to you in a coaching perspective that makes you want to have him as your coach?

NAOMI OSAKA: You know, should I be honest? Because being honest gets me in trouble often (smiling).

I think the fact that he was Serena's coach for me made me want to avoid him just because his persona is so big. Like, this isn't rude because I found out it's not true, but I didn't know - this sounds so bad - I didn't know if he was a good coach or he coached Serena. Does that make sense? I'm like, I'm just going to do my own thing.

Then I met him, talked to him, worked with him on the court. He absolutely is a really good coach. I'm really glad that he's, I guess, taking this project on, as well.

I would say I'm still a little nervous around him. I kind of look to the floor when he looks at me. I'm like... I think I do need a lot more time to spend together with him.

I'm getting a little more comfortable day by day.

Q. As this is the start of the Asian Swing for you, goal-wise with you and the team, looking at the next six weeks of what you want to accomplish, what would be the goal? Can you give us insight on that? Secondly, what does the Asian Swing mean to you as a player? What is the challenge of it and what excites you about it?

NAOMI OSAKA: I think for me the Asian Swing is full of possibilities. I've always done really well at the end of the year. I always look forward to it. Especially with the two tournaments in Japan, for me it's kind of the time to dig deep and try to get really good results.

My goal now, I think to be seeded in Australia. I would really love that. I would love to avoid Caroline Garcia (smiling). Yeah, just being seeded. But not putting too much pressure on myself. I'm just trying to take it day by day.